ks2 problem solving activities

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Play these fun Maths Games for 7-11 year olds

Choose a category:, problem solving games.

Bead Numbers - Place Value

Bead Numbers is a place value investigation involving a tens and ones abacus. The game provides a good context for encouraging learners to think systematically.

Thinking of a Number

Guess the number by revealing the clues on the clouds one by one. Children will need knowledge of rounding, odd and even and tens and ones.

Tables Teaser

Can you work out which number goes in each row and column heading to make the interactive tables grid work? It is quite a challenge!

Mystic Numbers

Solve the number puzzles and collect the treasures.

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Problem Solving

 A selection of resources containing a wide range of open-ended tasks, practical tasks, investigations and real life problems, to support investigative work and problem solving in primary mathematics.

Problem Solving in Primary Maths - the Session

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Teachers TV

In this programme shows a group of four upper Key Stage Two children working on a challenging problem; looking at the interior and exterior angles of polygons and how they relate to the number of sides. The problem requires the children to listen to each other and to work together co-operatively. The two boys and two girls are closely observed as they consider how to tackle the problem, make mistakes, get stuck and arrive at the "eureka" moment. They organise the data they collect and are then able to spot patterns and relate them to the original problem to find a formula to work out the exterior angle of any polygon. At the end of the session the children report back to Mark, explaining how they arrived at the solution, an important part of the problem solving process.

In a  second video  two maths experts discuss some of the challenges of teaching problem solving. This includes how and at what stage to introduce problem solving strategies and the appropriate moment to intervene when children find tasks difficult. They also discuss how problem solving in the curriculum also helps to develop life skills.

Cards for Cubes: Problem Solving Activities for Young Children

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Claire Publications

This book provides a series of problem solving activities involving cubes. The tasks start simply and progress to more complicated activities so could be used for different ages within Key Stages One and Two depending on ability. The first task is a challenge to create a camel with 50 cubes that doesn't fall over. Different characters are introduced throughout the book and challenges set to create various animals, monsters and structures using different numbers of cubes. Problems are set to incorporate different areas of mathematical problem solving they are: using maths, number, algebra and measure.

Problem solving with EYFS, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two children

Quality Assured Category: Computing Publisher: Department for Education

These three resources, from the National Strategies, focus on solving problems.

  Logic problems and puzzles  identifies the strategies children may use and the learning approaches teachers can plan to teach problem solving. There are two lessons for each age group.

Finding all possibilities focuses on one particular strategy, finding all possibilities. Other resources that would enhance the problem solving process are listed, these include practical apparatus, the use of ICT and in particular Interactive Teaching Programs .

Finding rules and describing patterns focuses on problems that fall into the category 'patterns and relationships'. There are seven activities across the year groups. Each activity includes objectives, learning outcomes, resources, vocabulary and prior knowledge required. Each lesson is structured with a main teaching activity, drawing together and a plenary, including probing questions.

Primary mathematics classroom resources

Quality Assured Collection Category: Mathematics Publisher: Association of Teachers of Mathematics

This selection of 5 resources is a mixture of problem-solving tasks, open-ended tasks, games and puzzles designed to develop students' understanding and application of mathematics.

Thinking for Ourselves: These activities, from the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) publication 'Thinking for Ourselves’, provide a variety of contexts in which students are encouraged to think for themselves. Activity 1: In the bag – More or less requires students to record how many more or less cubes in total...

8 Days a Week: The resource consists of eight questions, one for each day of the week and one extra. The questions explore odd numbers, sequences, prime numbers, fractions, multiplication and division.

Number Picnic: The problems make ideal starter activities

Matchstick Problems: Contains two activities concentrating upon the process of counting and spotting patterns. Uses id eas about the properties of number and the use of knowledge and reasoning to work out the rules.

Colours: Use logic, thinking skills and organisational skills to decide which information is useful and which is irrelevant in order to find the solution.

GAIM Activities: Practical Problems

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Nelson Thornes

Designed for secondary learners, but could also be used to enrich the learning of upper primary children, looking for a challenge. These are open-ended tasks encourage children to apply and develop mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding and to integrate these in order to make decisions and draw conclusions.

Examples include:

*Every Second Counts - Using transport timetables, maps and knowledge of speeds to plan a route leading as far away from school as possible in one hour.

*Beach Guest House - Booking guests into appropriate rooms in a hotel.

*Cemetery Maths - Collecting relevant data from a visit to a local graveyard or a cemetery for testing a hypothesis.

*Design a Table - Involving diagrams, measurements, scale.

Go Further with Investigations

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Collins Educational

A collection of 40 investigations designed for use with the whole class or smaller groups. It is aimed at upper KS2 but some activities may be adapted for use with more able children in lower KS2. It covers different curriculum areas of mathematics.

Starting Investigations

The forty student investigations in this book are non-sequential and focus mainly on the mathematical topics of addition, subtraction, number, shape and colour patterns, and money.

The apparatus required for each investigation is given on the student sheets and generally include items such as dice, counters, number cards and rods. The sheets are written using as few words as possible in order to enable students to begin working with the minimum of reading.

NRICH Primary Activities

Explore the NRICH primary tasks which aim to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. Lots of whole class open ended investigations and problem solving tasks. These tasks really get children thinking!

Mathematical reasoning: activities for developing thinking skills

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: SMILE

Problem Solving 2

Reasoning about numbers, with challenges and simplifications.

Quality Assured Category: Mathematics Publisher: Department for Education

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KS2 Maths Investigations Based On Real Life In Primary School

Sophie Bessemer

It’s been a long week and it is time to hand out your latest ‘exciting’ KS2 maths investigations, carefully crafted problem solving investigations focused specifically on the work you’ve been doing this week.

But then you hear the the immortal words from your Year 6: ” What Does This Have To Do With The Real World?”

Any good teacher knows, of course, exactly how relevant maths is in the real world and how, without maths, modern society as we know it would never have existed.

The problem is, not all 11 year olds know it too – and you’re going to have a hard time convincing some of them.

In defence of 11 year olds, the curriculum – maths in particular – can sometimes feel all too distant from what’s ‘real’.

So the question then becomes, how do we show young learners how Maths intersects and dominates our day to day life?

How do we give our KS2 pupils maths investigations that inspire them, change their perceptions and help them to move beyond a fixed mindset to see maths problem solving as entirely relevant to what may come next in life?

If you’re just interested in maths investigations for Year 5 and Year 6 we’ve created jump to the end of the blog where they’re all listed by term.

KS2 Maths Investigations: Problem solving in context

Benefits of maths investigations at ks2, 5 top tips for creating your own ks2 maths investigations, year 5 and year 6 maths investigations.

We believe that one of the answers is putting your maths problem solving activities into a context that your pupils can relate to.

We call this Topical Maths, and we’ve used this idea as the source for several of our most popular Year 5 and Year 6 maths problem solving resources, all offering the kind of KS2 maths investigations we know your pupils will love!

KS2 Topical Maths Problems

25 real world maths investigations to practise reasoning and problem solving based on primary school calendar events

There are lots of benefits of course, but the most important as far as we’re concerned are these:

• Pupils are required to talk and reason about their maths
• The maths problem solving investigations cement higher order reasoning skills and problem solving
• Starting early with Year 5 maths investigations you can support familiarity with the sorts of questions that come up in Year 6 SATs.

To encourage you to give these KS2 maths investigations a go, we’ll first look at the benefits and principles of introducing them for your reasoning and problem solving at Year 5 and Year 6, we’ll then give you some ideas for how you can create these problem solving activities for the rest of KS2 yourself.

We guarantee you’ll see your pupils’ reasoning and problems solving skills improve!

1. KS2 Maths Investigations Involve Pupils Talking and Reasoning

Getting pupils to verbalise their numerical reasoning has a knock-on effect on pupils’ overall reasoning skills, which is why the core element of our  KS2 maths intervention  is mathematical reasoning; asking pupils to explain not just what they’re doing, but why they’re doing it.

As a teacher of a large class, it can be difficult to provide the teacher time necessary for each pupil to verbalise to you their reasoning.

The inherently collaborative nature of year 5 and year 6 maths investigations gives pupils the opportunities to to reason out loud and work on their maths problem solving skills.

2. KS2 Maths Investigations Cement Higher Order Reasoning Skills

Our experience teaching thousands of primary school pupils maths every week has shown us that at KS2, even by Year 5 or Year 6, pupils often have good procedural understanding, but struggle with higher order problem solving questions.

The problem solving element to these topical maths investigations naturally improves reasoning skills in Year 5 and Year 6 pupils, as they are more likely on reaching an answer to have to think about not just how but why that answer is correct.

By setting topical maths investigations at KS2 as group-work or a whole class activity, you can ensure that all pupils get to experience this deep level of reasoning.

Many of our topical maths investigations are open ended, but if you’re teaching a fully mixed ability class, we’ve also created some  low threshold high ceiling open ended maths investigations  specifically for mixed ability classes.

3. KS2 Maths Investigations Give Early Exposure To SATs Style, Reasoning Questions

Most, if not all, schools will provide their pupils with exposure to reasoning via SATs-style questions, but this often comes hand in hand with exams and assessment.

Yet, it is equally important to get pupils reasoning and problem solving in a low stakes classroom setting or as a group.

Creating a learning environment where the types of problem solving questions found in SATs just become part of  your lessons will help pupils feel comfortable with exam terminology, and ensures they are more at ease with being asked the same kind of question (say, multiplying and dividing fractions) in lots of different ways.

These maths problem solving investigations and downloadable resources enable you to include these type of SATs style questions in a way which is fun and confidence boosting.

More problem solving and reasoning articles

• Ultimate Guide to Maths Problem Solving Techniques
• Maths Investigations: How To Develop Mathematical Reasoning
• 35 Year 6 Maths Reasoning Questions .

You don’t need to create your own problem solving investigations – the links at the end of this article should provide you with everything you need. However if you do want to have a go these were our principles and, judging by the number of visits. to the date related articles and downloads of these resources we get every year, they’re still very popular.

1. Date-based themes for maths problem solving activities

Nothing solidifies maths in the real world quite like the real world. Nearly, if not everyday of the year holds some significance to someone.

February? Pancake day, Valentines Day, and Fairtrade Fortnight.

March? Red Nose Day, World Book Day, and Holi.

Why not spice your lesson up and throw in some Pancake Day Maths for ratios, or Bonfire Night Maths for measurements. Capitalise on special celebrations throughout the world to excite and enthuse young learners.

For example these  Christmas activities always prove popular with KS1 and KS2  or at a different time of year you could try these summer  holiday maths investigations  or any of these  maths activities .

2. Trends and pop-culture KS2 maths investigations

Peers and pop culture hold huge sway over most pupils, and the reason for this is that as growing persons we want to fit in and find friends.

Nothing achieves this more effectively than mutual interest. As a teacher, utilise it – whether this is measuring the speed of explosions in the latest Transformer film, or totalling the high notes in Disney’s Moana – you’ll have pupils hooked in no time.

For the exceptionally savvy teacher, you might want to capitalise on the latest fads and trends within your school. How about measuring amounts via the infamous bottle trick, or examining angles through the lens of the dab?

3. Simple stuff engages pupils with maths problem solving and reasoning

Sometimes when teachers link maths back to real world issues, politics, and the universe at large, it can still feel a little dissonant for the younger pupils.

Don’t be afraid to stick with the simple stuff and the smaller aspects of the world.

Everybody needs to know how much change they’ll have left over after a bus ride home, everyone wants to know exactly how many chocolate bars they can gorge themselves on with two pounds, and everyone wants to know how many times they can go on the log-flume with five tickets.

Keeping it simple can be one of the most effective ways to engage pupils by showing them the mathematics they will employ in every-day life.

4. Cool factor for primary teachers – even in maths

Generally – note this is a generalisation – as a secondary teacher, one can spend eternity being uncool. Luckily primary school teachers get an easier rap, and KS2 pupils are willing to be ‘wowed’. All students can be ‘wowed’ under the right circumstances, but with younger, more malleable minds it can be somewhat easier.

Astronauts, magicians, superheroes, cute animals, cartoons, all carry the power of enthusiasm. They can be your secret weapon for making percentages fun – you’re not halving a number, you’re a magician halving a 167cm person in a special box, etc.

5. Make your maths investigations REALLY relevant

Relevance can be highly underrated when it comes to linking seemingly abstract topics to the real world.

One trick is to instead of distributing your problem solving activity sheets with strangers’ names and unrelatable allegories in the questions, why not make those names and allegories about your class.

Instead of a stranger gathering four apples and eating three, make your pupil.

Instead of apples, why not their favourite snack?

Letting students pick names in questions gives them greater agency in their learning and can be highly engaging.

Better still, putting their names/hobbies/likes/dislikes will not only show them that you know them, and that you care, but it will establish clear links between the work they are doing and the world proper.

Here’s our complete list of topical maths investigations for year 5 and year 6.

Autumn Term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Autumn maths activities
• Halloween maths activities
• Bonfire Night maths activities
• Christmas maths activities

Spring Term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Heart Month Months activities
• Shrove Tuesday Maths activities
• Pancake Day Maths activities
• World Book Day Maths activities
• International Women’s Day Maths activities
• British Science Week Maths activities
• Holi Maths activities
• Easter/Lent Maths activities

Summer term maths investigations year 6 and year 5

• Share-a-Story Month activities
• FA Cup Maths activities
• Walk to School Week activities
• Ramadan Maths activities
• Child Safety Week activities

And if that’s not enough we’ve even got maths activities for Year 5 and Year 6 for events you’re likely to celebrate in primary school but don’t come round every year… 

• Red Nose Day Maths activities
• World Cup Maths activities
• Election Maths
• Jubilee Maths activities

We update these blog posts every year so keep an eye on your calendar, and let us know how you get on @thirdspacetweet.

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Play of the Wild

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Outdoor Maths Activities KS2 – Teaching Maths Outside

 I have put together some fun outdoor maths activities for KS2 to support teaching maths outside. Teaching maths outside is a wonderful way to explore different mathematical ideas and practice learning away from the classroom. It also exposes children to the use of maths in real, hands-on situations, and as well as to problem solve. Children need many opportunities to practice their learning in a range of different situations, in order to make connections and to build on their previous experiences. Building stronger connections helps children to develop a more secure understanding and to build confidence ( Haylock & Cockburn, 2017 ).

I have grouped the activities based on different areas of learning. These activities are primarily aimed at children in KS2 children but can be adapted slightly depending on the children’s ages and experiences. You may also want to see my posts, Outdoor Maths Activities KS1 and Outdoor Maths Activities EYFS .

Number & Place Value

• Ones, tens, thousands & decimal places – Children can represent numbers to thousands (and even decimals) using hula hoops and beanbags. They can also use chalk to draw ones, tens, hundreds, thousands places, or sticks to create a number frame for this purpose. Similarly, rocks or other objects can be used to represent values in number frames. What number does this represent? What would you need to do to make 1 more? 10 more? What about 100 more?

• Ones and tenths with sticks – When children are learning about decimals, they can also use number frames to represent values. A bundle of 10 sticks might represent 1 (whole), and 1 stick might represent .1 (tenth). That way, they can see how a whole is broken up into ten parts (1/10) to make .1. *It’s helpful for children to show that .1 is the same as 1/10. How much is shaded? Can you show me in fractions? How would you write this as a decimal?

• Nim – Nim is a mathematical strategy game where two players take turns removing objects from a pile. Each player must take at least one item per turn. The goal is to either take or avoid taking the last object from the pile. Children can play nim with a pile of sticks or rocks. How many did you pick up? Can you figure out a strategy to win?  
• Nature skip counting – Children can practice and show visual counting by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s, etc. by using natural objects. They may want to use a tens frame for support. E.g., nuts in pairs (2’s), 3 leaf clover (3’s), 4 leaf clover, flower with 5 petals, etc. They can count the blades on the leaves to help them do this. For example, maple and horse chestnut leaves have 5 blades each so these can be used to count in 5’s. Buttercup and clover leaves have 3 blades so children can use them to count in 3’s. It may be helpful to point out that skip counting is the same as repeated addition or multiplication. How many sets of 2 do you have? How much is that altogether? Can you make a number sentence (equation) to represent this?

• Nature Arrays – Children can make arrays to calculate multiplication problems using pinecones, nuts, rocks, etc. Can you make an array to solve a multiplication problem? Can you make an array and then write a multiplication problem to go with it?
• Nature Algebra – 4 leaves = 16, what does each leaf represent? Children can do outdoor chalk problems & code ‘cracking’. What could you do to solve this problem? What type of arithmetic will you need to solve this?

• Stick Fractions – Children can represent fractions by breaking apart sticks into pieces (half, thirds, quarters, etc.). Children can then see how the different the values of fractions look like relative to one another. Which is larger- 1/3 or 1/2? Can you show me? How many quarters make a half.

• Nature fraction board – Children can create a ‘fraction board’ by drawing a shape (such as a square, rectangle, circle or triangle) that can be divided up in equal pieces (they could do halves, thirds, quarters, etc.). They might also use an old frying pan or baking tray filled with dirt or sand that is divided up by drawing lines or using sticks. Children can represent fractions by shading it in, by scraping it, covering it with objects etc. They can then use numbers to represent the corresponding fraction (and decimals) they have made. How much is shaded? Can you write this as a fraction? How would you write this as a decimal?

• Decimals and fractions with tens frame – Children can use a tens frame to represent fractions and decimals. For example, using rocks, one rock could represent .1 or 1/10 so that 10 rocks = 1 whole. How many squares are covered? Can you write this in a fraction? Can you write this as a decimal?

**See my post, Outdoor Problem Solving Activities for KS2 for problems solving activities that involve arithmetic.

Measurement – Teaching Maths Outside

Volume & capacity.

• Potions – Children can use cylinders, measuring cups and other devices to measure ingredients for making ‘potions’. They might also use weighing scales for ingredients such as nuts, pebbles, etc. Potion making is an opportunity to measure weight and volume/capacity. Can you follow the recipe? Can you create your own recipe? What if you add 15 more ml of water- how much will that be in total?
• Displacement – Children can use measuring cylinders, beakers, or cups to explore how to measure the amount of displacement that results when objects are placed into them. They can find the difference between the original volume and the volume that results when the object is placed in the water. What is the volume of the object? How do you know? Can you write an equation to go with this (hint- use subtraction problem when finding the difference)? Do heavier objects always displace more water than lighter ones? How do you know?

• Rain gauge –  Children can measure rainfall using a rain gauge. What is the best unit of measurement? Meters, centimetres, or millimetres? Why? Can you keep track, and compare and chart rainfall on different days including using a bar chart? Can you figure out the total rainfall over a week, fortnight or month?
• Exploring syringes with water play – Can you measure the capacity of the syringes? What instrument might you need to help you? Children can explore the relationship between the size/capacity of the syringe and the distance the water can squirt. How can this be measured?  

Length & distance

• Make a meter – Children can estimate 1 meter length by using natural objects (e.g. pinecones, sticks or rocks). They can then use a measuring stick or line to check their work.

• Investigate length and weight – Is it true that the larger the pinecone is, the more that it weighs? Children can use scales to see if larger pinecones always weigh more than smaller ones. *They need to decide how to define large vs small (e.g. is it length, width or circumference)? Children could do a similar investigation with rocks or sticks.
• Plant growth – Children can track the growth of plants. Which plant is growing the fastest? How do you know? Can you find the rate of growth? Can you show your data on a chart?
• Finding the height of a tree – Challenge children to measure or calculate the size of a tree. There are several methods including the shadow & calculation method, triangle method or clinometer method. See if they can try several ways and compare their results.  
• Measuring jumps – Children can practice measuring how far they can jump to the nearest centimeter or even millimeter. They can figure out who jumps the farthest and by how much. They could find the difference between their jumps to see how much they improve. Who jumped the farthest? Who improved the most? How do you know?

• Angle hunt – Children could also make a ‘right angle’ out of sticks or a piece of square plastic (preferably transparent). Then they can use their angle to identify objects that have right angles, and also identify objects that have angles greater than 90 degrees (obtuse) or less than 90 degrees (acute). Do right angles exist in nature? How do you know?

• Measuring angles outdoors – Children might use a protractor to measure angles outdoors – e.g. angles of branches, the offshoots of plants, or manmade things such as parts of buildings. What’s the smallest angle you can find? The largest?  See the forest triangle activity below.
• Stick angles – Children can compare angles with, their own angles made with sticks (demonstrating acute, right, or obtuse angles). Can you make a right angle? Acute? Obtuse? Can you measure it to find the angle?

• Observing the moon & sun – These are some questions for observation, exploration and investigation: The time when the sun sets and rises– Does this change? How do you know? Where on the horizon do you first/last see the sun or the moon? Does this change from day to day? How do you know? Phases of the moon — How does it change? Do you notice any patterns? Children might make a sundial as part of their exploration.
• Stone stacking   – Children can make stone towers and even more intricate balancing formations such as arches. This activity is also an excellent way for older children to explore balance and centre of gravity.

• Investigating Circles – Children can measure circles (such as flower pots, or tree stumps) or other circular objects found outside. They can measure the circumference, radius and diameter, and then investigate the relationship between diameter and circumference.
• Large Sidewalk Chalk Shapes – Children can create a large shape (e.g. a square) with masking tape on the pavement. Next they can use masking tape to make other shapes within the larger shape. Finally, for fun they can colour colour in the shapes using sidewalk chalk to make a large picture.  How many / what types of shapes have you made? Can you only make triangles? Why or why not? Can you prove it? What do you notice about your picture? 

• Forrest Triangles – Children can use ropes between trees in the forest to create triangles. They can measure and calculate perimeters and even explore the relationships between different triangles that they create. Can you change the shape of the triangle? How can you make a larger or smaller triangle? Can you make one with an obtuse or acute angle?
• Egyptian Triangles – Ancient Egyptians made triangles with right-angles using ropes that were knotted into 12 equal lengths. With a 12 knotted rope, what triangles can you make? *With a knot in each corner, what other regular (equal sided and angled) shapes you can make?  
• Draw a circle – Challenge children to figure out how to draw an accurate circle outside (eg with chalk on pavement). What would you need to use to make it look terrific (ex. string)? Can you find a different way?
• Venn diagrams with hoops or circles drawn with chalk – Children can explore different variables. You may want to see my post doing this with leaves.

• See above – Plant growth & rain gauge . Children can create data charts using their measurements of plants or rainfall.

I hope that these outdoor maths activities for KS2 have been helpful and that you get to enjoy teaching some maths lessons outside! Good luck!

References – Outdoor Maths Activities KS2 – Teaching Maths Outside

Haylock & Cockburn (2017). Understanding Mathematics for Young Children (5 th ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Arithmetic , Data, Patterns & Sorting , Gardening , Geometry , Maths , Measurement , Natural , Number & Place Value , Rocks , School Age , Sticks

Learning Outdoors , learning outside , outdoor learning

5 thoughts on “ Outdoor Maths Activities KS2 – Teaching Maths Outside ” Leave a comment ›

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So many wonderful ideas! I am planning to do more outdoor maths activities with my 3-6 y.o. group. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you! Let me know how it goes! I’ve always loved doing outdoor lessons. 🙂 I hope you’re doing well!!

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Group Size:  10 – 30 Key Stages:  KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Communication, Observations,  Information Sharing Equipment: Chairs Download Activity PDF https://youtu.be/wSra18Xrvtw Use the link below to subscribe to our You Tube Channel: Subscribe Now Dig Dig Dig is the perfect activity for groups that are getting to

Group Juggle

Group Size: Up to 30 but the larger the number thelonger the ball takes to get to each student. Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Communication, Concentration Equipment: A selection of balls or beanbags. Download Activity PDF Use the link below to subscribe to our You

Newspaper Fashion Show

Group Size: Multiple groups of 4 – 5 Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Imagination, Planning, Strategy, Communication Equipment: Newspaper, String, Tape Download Activity PDF Newspaper Fashion Show will have your teams in tears of laughter. The participants will need to be arranged in groups of 4

Catch The Ball

Group Size: Multiple groups of 4 – 5 Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Co-operation, Competition Equipment: Different balls (Table tennis, Golf, Perforated), Drinking straws, Tape Download Activity PDF Catch The Ball is a fantastic exercise to get your groups thinking. With so many ways to

Move The Balloons

Group Size: 30 students plus (Space dependant) Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Coordination, Speed Equipment: Balloons – 1 per participant Move The Balloons is a fun fast paced game that will guarantee to have your students out of breath! The participants will need to be

Nosey Parker

Nosey Parker Group Size: Up to 13 players Key Stages: KS1 KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Concentration, Listening,  Communication Equipment: Pack of Playing cards Download Activity PDF This game is for up to 13 players as each player will need 4 cards from a pack of 52. If

Blindfolded Robots

Blindfolded Robots Group Size: 2 plus Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Communication, Trust Equipment:  Bean Bags, Screwed up pieces of paper Download Activity PDF Blindfolded Robots is a great team building challenge to help gain trust between two or more participants. The instructor / teacher

Caterpillar Tracks

Caterpillar Tracks   Group Size: 5 –unlimited space dependant Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Attention, Playing your role, Communication Equipment:  No Equipment Download Activity PDF Caterpillar Tracks is a fast paced fun team building activity for all ages. There are two ways to play: The

The White Brick Road

The White Brick Road Group Size: 5 – 30 space dependant Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Planning, Memory, Cooperation,  Trust Equipment:  A4 pieces of paper Download Activity PDF The White Brick Road is a great team building game that can be played in a few

Just A Minute

Just A Minute Group Size: Any Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Decision making, Communication, Planning. Equipment: A means of timing one minute accurately. Download Activity PDF Just A Minute is a very simple game that can be played in a few different ways. The first is

Burst The Balloons

Burst The Balloons Group Size: Any, although large groups may get a little hectic. Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Organisation, Trust, Communication Equipment: Balloons (cheap balloons work best) and sellotape Download Activity PDF For Burst The Balloons each Person will need to sellotape a balloon to

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror Group Size: Work in group of 2 Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Cooperation, Focus, Attention to detail Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF Mirror Mirror is a very simple but very effective cooperation game. The students will need to work in groups of two.

The Silent Countdown

The Silent Countdown Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: KS1 KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Concentration, Listening,  Communication Equipment: Blindfolds (possible without)  Download Activity PDF The Silent Countdown is the perfect activity if you want your group to think carefully about what is going on within a team. The

The Sitting Circle

The Sitting Circle Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: Upper KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Trust, Communication Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF The Sitting Circle will require participants to be willing to get close to their team mates. The instructor / teacher will need to organise the team

Bridge Build

Group Size: 5 – 30 Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Planning, Communication, Generating Ideas Equipment: Newspaper, Cellotape Download Activity PDF Bridge Build is a great team building activity for generating ideas and putting them into practice. The students will need to be put of groups of approx 4-5.

The Steeple Chase

The Steeple Chase Group Size: 10 – 100 (space dependant) Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Group participation, Following a lead, Public speaking – if commentating Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF The Steeple Chase is certainly not a quiet circle game. The first thing that you

The Elephant Race

The Elephant Race Group Size: 10 – 100 (space dependant) Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Taking Part, Personal contact Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF The Elephant Race is a game that will have the participating teams laughing all the way to the finish line. The instructor

Fizz Buzz Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Concentration, Support Equipment: No equipment needed Download Activity PDF Fizz Buzz is a fast paced counting game…..with a twist. The group will need to sit in a circle. Decide where to start the game and that

How Are You Doing?, Just Fine Thanks!

Group Size: 10 – 16 Key Stages: KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Trust, Communication Equipment: Blindfolds Download Activity PDF To begin with the group will need to stand in a circle. The instructor / teacher will then to need to tell everyone to turn to the person on their right. They

Group Size: 10 – 30   Key Stages: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5   Team Building Skills : Following instructions, Group participation   Equipment: No equipment Download Activity PDF Grand Prix is an active and often noisy circle game. The idea is that the participants are pretending to be a racing

Sleeping Lions

Sleeping Lions Group Size: 5 – 30 Key Stages –  KS1, KS2, KS3 Team Building Skills : Common Goal, Trust Equipment: No equipment Download Activity PDF If you have not discovered Sleeping Lions then you will be amazed. It is a brilliant activity to have up your sleeve. Some might say a life

Group Size: 10 – 30 Key Stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Getting to know each other,  communication Equipment: Paper and pens Download Activity PDF This is a great guessing game and a fantastic getting to know you game. Every participant will need to be given a small piece of

The River Group Size: Unlimited, although space dependant Key Stages:  KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Following instructions, Individual thinking Equipment: Chalk, tape or rope Download Activity PDF This activity is great for big groups. You will need to mark two parallel lines on the floor. This may be done using

The Teddy Chase

Size: 10 – 30 Key stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Co-operation, Team Spirit, public speaking if commentating Equipment: Two teddy bears, blindfolds if you are running a variation. Download Activity PDF This is a great team challenge for all ages. With the participants sat in a

Flap The Fish – Fast Paced Team Building Activity

Group Size – Unlimited – although space dependant Key stages –  KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills : Common aim, competitive Equipment – Newspapers, magazine, thick plastic bag. Download Activity PDF Split your students into the same sized groups of between 3 – 6 This fun fast paced fishy

Wizards, Knights and Maidens.

Group Size – 20 Key stages –  KS2, KS3, KS4  Team Building Skills : Working together, Following instructions  Equipment – No Equipment Required Download Activity PDF Students work in groups of 2. If the facilitator shout ‘Wizards’ the pair must assume the following position as fast as possible – both

Blindfold Pass – Free Blindfolded Team Building Activity

Group Size: 10 – 100 Key stages: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5  Team Building Skills : Co-operation, Trust Equipment: Bell or other noisy item Download Activity PDF For this blindfolded team building activity the group stand in a large circle. One member of the group stands in the middle of the circle. They need to wear

Battle of the Pen – Free Indoor Team Building Game

Group Size: 6+ Key stages:  KS2, KS3 , KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Communication,  Equipment: Pen, Coin and table and chairs  Download Activity PDF This is an indoor team building game played around a table. Ideally even sized teams sit in lines facing each other across a table. Sitting in chairs is

Fruit Salad – Free Team Building Game

For this team building activity everyone is required to stand in a circle. The bigger the group the better – Tricky at the time of print! Go around the circle and give all team members a name – Kiwi, lime, pineapple, banana. These names can be whatever you fancy, although

The Sky Is The Limit aka Newspaper Towers – Free Team Building Exercise

Group Size: Multiple Groups of 4 – 6 Key Stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 Team Building Skills: Creativity; Verbal Communication; Decision Making Equipment: Newspapers; Cellotape Download Activity PDF The Sky is the Limit –  AKA: Newspapers Towers,  This activity is a great team building exercise where the equipment of old newspapers and

Free Team Problem Solving Activity – Back To Back aka Sketch It

Back to Back – Sketch it. Students will work in pairs and sit back to back. They will take it in turns to be the describer and the sketcher. The describer will describe a shape without saying the name whilst the sketcher will try to draw the described shape as

Free Team Building Activity – Alphabet Hunt

A great fun yet inexpensive team building activity. All that is required is some scissors a newspaper a piece of A4 paper and a glue stick or cellotape per team. We suggest that this activity is run in teams of 2-6. However larger teams will work. The aim of the

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Team Building & Problem Solving

Subject: Physical education

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

8 July 2013

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