June 14, 2011 · Filed under Kieran's Cats, Logic Problems · Tagged 2D shape, 3D shape, angles, arithmagons, converting units, decimals, kieran's cats, logic, measures, measuring cylinder, pirates, place value, robots, time, Tudors, vikings, weight
These three puzzles are one I return to often. I began year 4 solving these problems using equipment, e.g. shape cards, weighing scale pictures, digit cards etc. We then moved to using a finding all possibilities approach. Children solved the problems by writing ordered lists. Now most of my current class can use the method suggested in the Logic draft materials booklet. It is a terrific approach because it develops data handling skills, adding three numbers using a mental or written method, halving two or three digit numbers and finding the difference.
The puzzles are easily adapted to almost any curriculum area, I have added a few that I have produced for classes over the years.
Place value
Pirates
The next three links open documents that make the link between arithmagons and ‘Kieran’s Cat’ type clues. There are some interactive arithmagons on the Nrich website which you can access by clicking on the picture above or following this link.
Kandinsky
Wizard of Oz
Vikings
Tudors
Robot Wars
Sports day
These next few puzzles all require children to put objects in a row. The row contains either 3, 4 or 5 objects. When there are three objects, I have used ‘Kieran’s Cats’ type clues. When there are 4 in a row I have used either ‘Esmarelda’s coins’ clues. For 5 objects, I have gone to ‘Row of Coins’ for inspiration. All these puzzles can be found in the challenging more able children book.
Shapes
African animals
Angles
Measuring Cylinders
June 11, 2011 · Filed under Coordinate grid, Logic Problems, Measures activities, Shape activities, Tudors · Tagged 2D shape, 3D shape, angles, capacity, coordinates, logic, measuring cylinder, mixed units, shape activities, telling time
These next activities are very popular with my class. I began by using them as ‘information gap’ or ‘mystery’ activities, where children worked in pairs or small groups sharing clues and solving the problems together. I have moved over the year to children solving them individually as they have solved them so many times. Hope you like them. Again, like the nicknames problems, we have revisited these problems in lots of different contexts to fit in with the different cross curriculat themes. They lend themselves to shape, space and measure objectives. I have used all of these with my year 4 class this year.
Instructions.
- Children cut up the pictures to be sorted onto grid. My class have found it helpful to put their initials on the back of each picture.
- Read through all the clues.
- Where a clue tells you exactly where a picture is to be placed, place it there.
- Tick off the clues as you solve then.
- When puzzle is solved, make sure solution fits all the clues.
Shape
Telling the time
Units of measurement
Angles
Tudors
Primary Mathematics 