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Maths Puzzle Day

Here is advice from expert Steve Humble on running a maths puzzle day in your school

Maths Puzzle Day

 

There are a number of formats you can use for a Maths puzzle day, such as:

 

  • Student teams move around a room (classroom/Hall) tackling the puzzles. For each puzzle challenge they are given a set amount of time. Each team gets a score depending on how many puzzles their team solves.
  • Teams are given puzzle challenges. Once the team has solved the puzzle correctly they are given the next.
  • A set of puzzle challenges is given out at the beginning of the week to all students in the school.
  • Quick-fire short puzzles can be given out daily.

 

Create your own Puzzle Day by using the resources below:

 

Puzzle.com is a fantastic website full of great puzzles. All puzzles come with clear solutions.

www.puzzles.com/

 

Venture into the world of Puzzleland created by Sam Loyd

There is an enchanted place where every sign is a puzzle, every question a riddle….

http://www.samloyd.com/puzzleland/

Find out more about one of the great puzzlers of all time www.samuelloyd.com/

Another puzzler is Henry Dudeney and you can find links to his puzzles at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dudeney

Martin Gardner

Martin Gardner  was an American popular mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics. read more from wikipedia and some puzzles by Martin can be found here: http://www.puzzles.com/puzzleplayground/Authors/MartinGardner.htm

On and around the 21st October each year there is a worldwide celebration of Martin Gardner and his legacy. See website - http://www.g4g-com.org/

Nrich website has a range of good puzzles and mathematical challenges for students of all ages  http//nrich.maths.org/public/search.php?search=puzzles

 

Primary Mathematics Challenge papers from 2008 to 2012 with answers are free to download. These questions make a good source of puzzle challenge questions for team games.

www.m-a.org.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=251

 

The FunMaths Roadshow is a collection of 350 mathematical activities suitable for use with school pupils between the ages of 5 and 20. It is an excellent instant resource when creating at Maths Puzzle Day. Costs 40 Euros including P&P

www.maths.liv.ac.uk/lms/funmaths/

 

Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching has over 100 competitions puzzle challenges with answers ready to be cut out and used

www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/resources/puzzles/default.htm