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Problem solving activities

The Ministry is migrating nzmaths content to Tāhurangi.           
Relevant and up-to-date teaching resources are being moved to Tāhūrangi (tahurangi.education.govt.nz). 
When all identified resources have been successfully moved, this website will close. We expect this to be in June 2024. 
e-ako maths, e-ako Pāngarau, and e-ako PLD 360 will continue to be available. 

For more information visit https://tahurangi.education.govt.nz/updates-to-nzmaths

Problems for students to solve, accompanied by a suggested teaching sequence, extensions to the problem, and the problem’s solution.

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Grabbing CDs

Level Three
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Systematically count outcomes.
  • Compare the likelihood of events.
  • Devise and use problem solving strategies to explore situations mathematically (systematic list, draw a picture, use equipment).
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Dressing in the dark

Level Three
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Work systematically to identify all the possible outcomes.
  • Describe events using everyday language.
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Tony's spelling troubles

Level Two
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Describe in their own words the situation represented in a bar chart and tally chart.
  • Use a bar chart and frequency table to make sensible predictions.
  • Interpret information and results in context.
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Three coins on a table

Level Two
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Distinguish between more and less likely events.
  • List the possible outcomes.
  • Devise and use problem solving strategies to explore situations mathematically (be systematic, draw a diagram).
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Ice-creams

Level Two
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Find all the possible outcomes of a simple event using a problem solving strategy (draw, act with objects, list).
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Christmas tree

Level One
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Sort objects into categories and display the results.
  • Count the objects in a category.
  • Devise and use problem solving strategies to explore situations mathematically (use equipment).
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The garden

Level One
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Sort objects into categories and display the results.
  • Count the objects in a category.
  • Devise and use problem solving strategies to explore situations mathematically (draw, use equipment).
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Who plays what?

Level One
Statistics
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a statistics focus.
  • Use words to describe the likelihood of events.
  • Use logical reasoning to solve a problem.
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Dan's badge

Level Five
Geometry and Measurement
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a measurement focus.
  • Apply formulae for the area of squares and circles to solve problems.
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Peter's second string

Level Five
Geometry and Measurement
Problem solving activities
This problem solving activity has a measurement focus.
  • Determine the maximum area of a rectangle with a given perimeter.
  • Determine the range of areas of a rectangle with a given perimeter.
  • Pose questions for mathematical exploration.
  • Prove or refute mathematical conjectures.