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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Playing with Numbers

Playing with Numbers

All these activities have something to do with multiplying and dividing. Can you spot the connections?
What can you find out by playing around with multiplying and dividing? 

Highest and Lowest 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Put operations signs between the numbers 3 4 5 6 to make the highest possible number and lowest possible number.

Zios and Zepts 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

On the planet Vuv there are two sorts of creatures. The Zios have 3 legs and the Zepts have 7 legs. The great planetary explorer Nico counted 52 legs. How many Zios and how many Zepts were there?

This Pied Piper of Hamelin 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Investigate the different numbers of people and rats there could have been if you know how many legs there are altogether!

Four Goodness Sake 
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star

Use 4 four times with simple operations so that you get the answer 12. Can you make 15, 16 and 17 too?

Related

  • More Playing with Numbers Upper Primary

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Digging Into Geometry

Dig deeply into geometrical ideas by having a go at the tasks in this Primary student feature.

Playing with Dice

We're starting the school year with some of our favourite dice activities.

Related Ks2 Pupil Playing with Numbers

Further investigations with multiplication and division.

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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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