Age 11-16

Exactly what is a Rich task? The term has become well known, but perhaps we can argue that any task can be a ‘rich task’; it’s all about what we do with that task in our classrooms. See this article by Jennifer Piggot on Nrich, Rich Tasks and Contexts. From the Standards Unit, we can also look at Malcolm Swan’s Improving Learning in Mathematics – Malcolm Swan where we find features of rich tasks on page 9. For more ideas and resources see Problem Solving in Mathematics. Nrich has extensive resources; this collection on Enriching the Secondary Curriculum includes Charlie Gilderdale’s and Alison Kiddle’s article What Are Rich Tasks? Jennifer Piggot has written an article on Integrating Rich Tasks, this includes a complete series of professional development resources designed to support teachers to integrate rich tasks into classroom practice. Their curriculum mapping documents provide a helpful way for teachers to find resources. Also note the Nrich Packages, these include a set of tasks on working systematically and the Nrich poster collection (scroll down to the bottom of the poster collection page to download the collection as a PowerPoint presentation).

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The Standards Unit – an outstanding resource – so many excellent activities here for the secondary classroom. Start by reading Improving Learning in Mathematics – Malcolm Swan. The Standards Unit page provides links to all the resources, also some IWB resources.

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Factors & Multiples Game – from Craig Barton’s collection

A wonderful collection from Craig Barton including all resources and suggested questions. Also on Craig Barton’s site – try Something In Common, a set of tasks for Year 7 to Year 13.

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squeaktime.com – Danny Brown

On his site squeaktime.com, Danny Brown has some Problem Sets, mostly for KS3 (UK age 11-14). Squeaktime.com in Danny’s own words is a “website for maths teachers about solving maths problems.  It’s mainly about doing problems, but also about thinking about doing them.”

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Don Steward’s Median blog, so many wonderful problems….

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The Nuffield AMP Investigations are designed to teach and assess key mathematical processes. Each task has detailed teacher notes.

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New Bowland shorter assessment tasks include worksheets, notes and an optional presentation in three different formats, Word, pdf or PowerPoint.

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Jon Stratford’s Rich Maths Tasks site has extensive resources, note the Key Processes under Pedagogy includes cards to download in pupil speak.

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AQA Problem Solving Questions

From AQA comes an outstanding resource, GCSE Mathematics: 90 maths problem  solving questions. Em  @EJmaths has a brilliant PowerPoint with all the questions and answers – see it here.

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From OCR see Investigations for GCSE Mathematics, their A03 Guide and an excellent problem solving pack with tasks designed to encourage students to explore different mathematical approaches to a new problem. Also from OCR, OCR’s Skill Guides include this OCR Problem Solving Guide, an excellent discussion on problem Solving.

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From NZmaths (New Zealand Maths)- see these Problem Solving Resources. Detailed Teachers’ notes are provided as well as resources.

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The National Strategies archive includes several problems to develop mathematical processes and applications. Teachers’ notes and all resources are provided.

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I wrote here on a great starter: ‘Here’s the diagram…what’s the question?‘ this idea can lead to excellent discussion.

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For more ideas and resources see Problem Solving in Mathematics.