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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Witch's Hat

Age 11 to 16
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources
Start with cylindrical hats.
How could you make a cylinder? Try cutting and unfolding a cylindrical container to see how it's made.

Now explore conical hats.
Roll up a piece of paper and cut it to make a cone, then unroll it. What do you notice?

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Plaiting and Braiding

This article for students gives some instructions about how to make some different braids.

Celtic Knotwork Patterns

This article for pupils gives an introduction to Celtic knotwork patterns and a feel for how you can draw them.

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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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