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

Patterns and Sequences KS1

This collection is one of our Primary Curriculum collections - tasks that are grouped by topic.

Repeating Patterns

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?

Cube Bricks and Daisy Chains

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Daisy and Akram were making number patterns. Daisy was using beads that looked like flowers and Akram was using cube bricks. First they were counting in twos.

Poly Plug Pattern

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Create a pattern on the small grid. How could you extend your pattern on the larger grid?

Chairs and Tables

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Make a chair and table out of interlocking cubes, making sure that the chair fits under the table!

Next Domino

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

Which comes next in each pattern of dominoes?

A City of Towers

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

In this town, houses are built with one room for each person. There are some families of seven people living in the town. In how many different ways can they build their houses?

Domino Patterns

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star

What patterns can you make with a set of dominoes?

Three Ball Line Up

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Use the interactivity to help get a feel for this problem and to find out all the possible ways the balls could land.

Caterpillars

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

These caterpillars have 16 parts. What different shapes do they make if each part lies in the small squares of a 4 by 4 square?

Missing Middles

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

Can you work out the domino pieces which would go in the middle in each case to complete the pattern of these eight sets of three dominoes?

Break it Up!

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

In how many different ways can you break up a stick of seven interlocking cubes? Now try with a stick of eight cubes and a stick of six cubes. What do you notice?

Counting Stick Conjectures

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

How many rectangles can you see? Are they all the same size? Can you predict how many rectangles there will be in counting sticks of different lengths?

Triple Cubes

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

This challenge involves eight three-cube models made from interlocking cubes. Investigate different ways of putting the models together then compare your constructions.

Street Sequences

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Investigate what happens when you add house numbers along a street in different ways.

Circles, Circles

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star

Here are some arrangements of circles. How many circles would I need to make the next size up for each? Can you create your own arrangement and investigate the number of circles it needs?

Hundred Square

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

A hundred square has been printed on both sides of a piece of paper. What is on the back of 100? 58? 23? 19?

School Fair Necklaces

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow star

How many possible symmetrical necklaces can you find? How do you know you've found them all?

  • 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