Recording Mathematics

This collection of activities offers an opportunity for you to focus on children's own creative representations and recordings. Read the article to find out why we have selected these particular tasks. Click the 'Submit a solution' link on any live problem to find out the closing date.

Primary Children's Mathematical Recording

Age 3 to 11

This article for teachers outlines different types of recording, depending on the purpose and audience.

What Was in the Box?

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

This big box adds something to any number that goes into it. If you know the numbers that come out, what addition might be going on in the box?

6 Beads

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

If you put three beads onto a tens/ones abacus you can make the numbers 3, 30, 12 or 21. What numbers can be made with six beads?

Eggs in Baskets

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

There are three baskets, a brown one, a red one and a pink one, holding a total of 10 eggs. How many eggs are in each basket?

The Amazing Splitting Plant

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

Can you work out how many flowers there will be on the Amazing Splitting Plant after it has been growing for six weeks?

Money Bags

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level

Ram divided 15 pennies among four small bags. He could then pay any sum of money from 1p to 15p without opening any bag. How many pennies did Ram put in each bag?

School Fair Necklaces

Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level

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

What's in the Box?

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

This big box multiplies anything that goes inside it by the same number. If you know the numbers that come out, what multiplication might be going on in the box?

Domino Square

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Use the 'double-3 down' dominoes to make a square so that each side has eight dots.

Dice in a Corner

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

How could you arrange at least two dice in a stack so that the total of the visible spots is 18?

Recording Mathematics