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  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Reflecting on Methods, Improving Solutions

Reflecting on Methods, Improving Solutions

The tasks in this feature have been designed to encourage learners to be curious about different routes to a solution.
The tasks in this feature have been designed to encourage learners to be curious about different routes to a solution.  By sharing and discussing alternative approaches, children will begin to develop a 'toolkit' of methods so they can make more informed decisions about which approach to take on a future occasion. 

Giving learners the chance to reflect on their problem solving in this way will help them become more resilient problem solvers and to value the problem-solving journey, not just the answer.


Butterfly Flowers 
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Can you find two butterflies to go on each flower so that the numbers on each pair of butterflies adds to the number on their flower?

3 Blocks Towers 
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Take three differently coloured blocks - maybe red, yellow and blue. Make a tower using one of each colour. How many different towers can you make?

The Tall Tower 
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star

As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?

Gathering Gems 
Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Using compass points, can you describe up to ten paths on this map so that you bring as many gems back home as possible?

In the Money 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

One quarter of these coins are heads but when I turn over two coins, one third are heads. How many coins are there?

Two Primes Make One Square 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Can you make square numbers by adding two prime numbers together?

Different Deductions 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

There are lots of different methods to find out what the shapes are worth - how many can you find?

Fruity Totals 
Age 7 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star

In this interactivity each fruit has a hidden value. Can you deduce what each one is worth?

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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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