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For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Knight's Swap

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

Why do this problem?

This problem requires children to make use of visualisation and to develop their own methods of recording.

Key questions

Do you know how a knight moves in chess?
What could you try first?
How will you record the moves?

Possible extension

Suggest to learners that you can now put the two stars on the board anywhere except the middle square. Can they find a way to put them on so that it is impossible to switch the pieces? Can they give a really clear explanation?

Possible support

Pupils might like to draw a square and use some counters to help them see the moves.


You may also like

Construct-o-straws

Make a cube out of straws and have a go at this practical challenge.

Matchsticks

Reasoning about the number of matches needed to build squares that share their sides.

Little Boxes

How many different cuboids can you make when you use four CDs or DVDs? How about using five, then six?

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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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