Hamilton provide an extensive suite of problem-solving maths investigations for Year 1 to facilitate mathematical confidence, investigative inquiry and the development of maths meta skills in 'low floor – high ceiling' activities for all.
Explore all our in-depth problem solving investigations for Year 1.
Use problem-solving investigations within every unit to encourage children to develop and exercise their ability to reason mathematically and think creatively.
Approaching mathematics through a problem solving perspective puts the subject much more on a par with other subjects especially those in the primary school. The general philosophy of the teacher as a facilitator helping the child to learn and understand, is much more akin to the philosophy adopted in other areas of the curriculum than it is in. 'Math fact fluency leads to higher order mathematics. Through automaticity students free up their working memory and can devote it to problem solving and learning new concepts and skills.” (Geary, 1994) Why focus on fluency? Children's mathematical development: Research and practical applications.
Investigations provide challenges that offer opportunities for the development of the key mathematical skills while deepening conceptual understanding. They are designed to be accessible in different ways to all children. An added bonus is the substantial amount of extra calculation practice they often incorporate! The problems are designed to help children identify patterns, to explore lines of thinking and to reason and communicate about properties of numbers, shapes and measures.
Hamilton provide a mix of our own specially commissioned investigations, that include guidance for teachers together with a child-friendly sheet to guide your pupils through the investigation, as well as links to investigations on other highly regarded websites.
I am very grateful for Hamilton Trust resources, particularly the maths investigations.
Julia, teacher in Wiltshire
You can find Hamilton's investigations for Year 1:
- Individually, they are incorporated into every unit in our Year 1 flexible maths blocks.
- Collectively, they appear on our resources page where you can explore all our in-depth problem solving investigations for Year 1.
Do read our extensive range of advice for more information about the investigations and for tips on how to use them effectively.
Math Problem Solving Questions
Related Topics:More Lessons for Arithmetic
Math Worksheets
The following are some examples of problem solving strategies.
Explore it//Act it/Try it (EAT) method (Intermediate)
Explore It/Act It/Try It (EAT) Method (Intermediate)
In this lesson, we will look at some intermediate examples of the Explore it//Act it/Try it (EAT) method of problem solving strategy.
Example:
Allen has to ferry a cat, a chicken and a sack of grain across a river. His small boat is big enough to carry himself and only one of the three items at any one time. He must not leave the cat and the chicken alone or else the cat will attack the chicken. He also must not leave the chicken and the sack of grain alone or else the chicken will eat the grain. Find the least number of trips Allen needs to safely transport all the items to the other side of the river.
Solution:
Example:
Marcus bought two antique lamps for $50 each. Later he sold one for $60, but he changed his mind and bought it back for $70. Then he sold it again for $80. But since there was no one interested in the first lamp, he offered it for 10% less than its original cost, and finally managed to sell it. Did he make or lose money, and how much?
Solution:
All the ‘buy’ transactions: 2 × 50 + 70 = $170
All the ‘sell’ transactions: 60 + 80 + 45 = $185
Marcus made $15
Example:
Without moving 6 adjacent numbers on the face of a clock, rearrange the other six so that the sum of every pair of adjacent numbers is a prime number.
Solution:
Math Solving Apps
11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4 (not moved) followed by 9, 10, 7, 6, 5, 8
Example:
Julia bought a T-shirt that costs RM28 and paid for it exactly using 7 pieces of notes. What were the 7 pieces of notes that she used?
Solution:
10, 5, 5, 5, 1, 1, 1
Math Problems
10, 10, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1
Solving Math Word Problems Free
5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 2, 1
Example:
Four stamps are to be torn from the sheet shown below. The four stamps must be intact so that each stamp is joined to another stamp along at least one edge. Find the possible patterns for these four stamps.
Example:
Solving Math Equations
Yellow, white, green and red counters are arranged in a row. The red counter is to the left of the green counter and to the right of the yellow counter. The white counter is to the left of the green counter and not next to the yellow one. What are the colours of the counters in the row from left to right?
Solution:
Given: The red counter is to the left of the green counter and to the right of the yellow counter.
- Yellow counter is to the left of red counter
- Red counter is to the left of the green counter
Given: The white counter is to the left of the green counter and not next to the yellow one
Math Problem Solving
- White counter is to the left of the green counter
- White counter is not next to the yellow counter
- White counter is between red counter and green counter.
So the order is: Yellow, Red, White and Green.
Example:
The figure below is arranged using 16 matchsticks to form 5 squares. Rearrange exactly 2 of the matchsticks to form 4 squares of the same size, without leaving any stray matchsticks.
Help Solving Math Word Problems
Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.