Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Starting the Year with Rich Tasks

During the summer, we published a collection of challenges, which we hope your students enjoyed. Below we have selected some of the tasks that we think are particularly suitable for the start of term, when you are getting to know your learners. They offer the chance to do some exploratory collaborative work at a range of levels.

The tasks feature in our Primary curriculum mapping document, which contains links to a variety of problems for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into their everyday teaching.

Robot Monsters

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Use these head, body and leg pieces to make Robot Monsters which are different heights.

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?

Seeing Squares

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Players take it in turns to choose a dot on the grid. The winner is the first to have four dots that can be joined to form a square.

Coded Hundred Square

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

This 100 square jigsaw is written in code. It starts with 1 and ends with 100. Can you build it up?

Mystery Matrix

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Can you fill in this table square? The numbers 2 -12 were used to generate it with just one number used twice.

Primary Summer Challenges 2023

Age 5 to 11

A challenge a day throughout the summer break.

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

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.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo