The ebook contains a collection of problem solving which our students sent each other during our project

Our students enjoyed the activities a lot

Pepa the Ferryman

Once upon a time there lived an old ferryman Pepa.

One day he should take the wolf, the goat and the cabbage across the river in his boat to the other side. But there was a problem. He can take only one of them in his small boat because there was no more space in there. He cannot leave the wolf and the goat alone on any coast because the wolf can eat the goat. He also cannot leave the goat and the cabbage on any of coasts alone because the cabbage could be eaten by the goat.

How can we take them to the opposite coast in his boat? Which is the best order how to do it?

How would you solve it on his position? Can you help him to decide? 

St Mary's Primary School

Christmas Maths Problem from Czechs

Three boys were given money from their teacher to buy some Christmas decorations for the classroom party. Petr had to buy some Christmas lights, Pavel was asked to buy some Christmas chains and tinsel and Ivan was sent to buy some Christmas balls.

The teacher gave them 270 Czech Crowns together.

Boys divided money into them, so Petr had three times more than Pavel and Ivan had 120 Crowns more than Pavel.

How much money had Petr, Pavel and Ivan for buying all Christmas decorations?

A farmer grows 54 types of crops each month. He grows:

· 16 plants of each crop in January.

· 40 in February

· 21 in March.

· 29 in April.

· 65 in May.

· 86 in June.

· 12 in July.

· 20 in August.

· 97 in September.

· 54 in October.

· 28 in November.

· 2 in December.

1. How many plants did he grow that year?

2. How much did he pay, bearing in mind each plant cost 1.50 euros?

3. How many plants will be grown in 15 years time if he keeps growing the same number of plants per year?

 4. How much money will he pay after those 15 years for all his plants?

A collection of butterflies Marco collects butterflies and contains them into 11 boxes.

Each box contains at least 1 buttefly.

Eight boxes contain at least 2 butterflies (each box)

Six boxes contain at least 4 butterflies (each box) and two boxes cointain exactly 5 butterflies (each box)

How many butterflies in all boxes? (at minimum number)

Pietralacroce Primary school Italy

St. Mary's school

When Father Christmas and his elves come home they greet each other by shaking hands and saying 'Merry Christmas!' If everyone shakes everyone else's hand, and there are 11 elves and Father Christmas, how many handshakes will there be altogether?

St Mary's primary school

Let's get into pairs and prepare two pieces of string for each child. At the end of each string you must make an eyelet (tihgt but you must be able to put your wrist throug it). Each of the pair has his hands put into two tight eyelets and he is chained up to his partner. (like a cross)

The aim is to be free again without cutting the string or put your hand back through the eyelet. Try to find the trick! 

Little help for you can be this proverb:

If the camel once gets his nose into the tent his whole body will soon enter.”

Complete the chart above using the operator - or + so that the operations in the columns and in rows have the same result. (=10)

Insert the numbers 1  6    4   9 in the empty balloons

in order to have on each side of triangle the same result (20)

Czech Republic

Play the adding game.

Place the four digit cards on the floor. You are going to start at one and count in ones. When you say a number, place one or both feet on the digits that add together to make your number. You can use one or both feet at a time. Your foot can stand on more than one digit at a time.

 How far can you count up to with your feet?

If your partner joined you, how much could you count up to now?

Some Sock Challenges

Here are a collection of my odd socks. Here are a few challenges which could be adapted according to children’s age.

What fraction of the socks have stripes/spots/ are plain?

How many more striped socks are there than spotty socks?

Can you find any pairs of socks?

Can you create a sock to make a matching pair with one of these socks.

 If my friends don’t mind wearing odd socks, how many friends could I put sock on?

Can you think of any other challenges?