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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Surprise!

Surprise!

Curiosity is triggered when something unexpected happens. These problems aim to draw students in by offering that element of surprise.

Read more...



Next-door Numbers 
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Florence, Ethan and Alma have each added together two 'next-door' numbers. What is the same about their answers?

Light the Lights 
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Investigate which numbers make these lights come on. What is the smallest number you can find that lights up all the lights?

How Would We Count? 
Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

An activity centred around observations of dots and how we visualise number arrangement patterns.

Square Surprise 
Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Why do you think that the red player chose that particular dot in this game of Seeing Squares?

Pouring Problem 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

What do you think is going to happen in this video clip? Are you surprised?

Consecutive Numbers 
Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.

Subtraction Surprise 
Age 7 to 14
Challenge Level Yellow star

Try out some calculations. Are you surprised by the results?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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