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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Beads and Bags

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
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This challenge involves three beads and lots of bags.
There are as many bags as you need.

Find a way to put the beads into some of the bags.
Find another different way to put the beads into some of the bags.
How many different ways can you make?
Have you tried putting a bag into another bag?

Can you record your ways?
How do you know you've got them all?

Can you give your recording to a friend to see if they can re-make your way?

Can you record your ways without pictures?
Can you record using numbers?

Does your partner always make the way you expect?
Can you refine your recording so that your partner always gets it right?
 

Photograph acknowledgement:

"Wooden beads" by Danielle Keller is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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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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