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  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Cubes Cut Into Four Pieces

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Primary curriculum
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Eight children sat round the big table at the end of the classroom. They each had a cube made from modelling clay.

"Cut your cube into four pieces which are all exactly the same shape and size," said their teacher, "and try to make your pieces different from everyone else's!"

When the children had cut the cubes up they put some of the pieces on the table in two rows with their names by them.

"Someone didn't cut theirs into four!" said Belinda pointedly.

Who was that and how many pieces were there?

"Two of us have made the same shapes!" shouted Charlie.

Who were they?

Here are six cubes showing the way the children cut them.

Whose are they?


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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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