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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Properties of Shapes

These activities are part of our Primary collections, which are problems grouped by topic.

Paper Patchwork 2

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Have a go at making a few of these shapes from paper in different sizes. What patterns can you create?

Inside Triangles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

How many different triangles can you draw on the dotty grid which each have one dot in the middle?

Paper Partners

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you describe a piece of paper clearly enough for your partner to know which piece it is?

Building with Solid Shapes

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

We have a box of cubes, triangular prisms, cones, cuboids, cylinders and tetrahedrons. Which of the buildings would fall down if we tried to make them?

Data Shapes

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Sara and Will were sorting some pictures of shapes on cards. "I'll collect the circles," said Sara. "I'll take the red ones," answered Will. Can you see any cards they would both want?

Let's Investigate Triangles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Vincent and Tara are making triangles with the class construction set. They have a pile of strips of different lengths. How many different triangles can they make?

Paper Patchwork 1

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you work out what shape is made when this piece of paper is folded up using the crease pattern shown?

Matching Triangles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you sort these triangles into three different families and explain how you did it?

Triple Cubes

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.

Poly Plug Rectangles

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

The computer has made a rectangle and will tell you the number of spots it uses in total. Can you find out where the rectangle is?

Chain of Changes

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Arrange the shapes in a line so that you change either colour or shape in the next piece along. Can you find several ways to start with a blue triangle and end with a red circle?

Skeleton Shapes

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

How many balls of modelling clay and how many straws does it take to make these skeleton shapes?

Colouring Triangles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Explore ways of colouring this set of triangles. Can you make symmetrical patterns?

School Fair Necklaces

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

How many possible symmetrical necklaces can you find? How do you know you've found them all?

Cubes Cut Into Four Pieces

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star

Eight children each had a cube made from modelling clay. They cut them into four pieces which were all exactly the same shape and size. Whose pieces are the same? Can you decide who made each set?

Shadow Play

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star

Here are shadows of some 3D shapes. What shapes could have made them?

Complete the Square

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star

Complete the squares - but be warned some are trickier than they look!

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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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