Low Barrier, High Ceiling
Rich Maths Tasks
Engaging mathematical investigations that challenge and inspire students of all abilities. Success in 30 seconds, thinking for 30 minutes.
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Tasks
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Extensions
What makes a task “rich”?
🚀 Quick Entry
Students should find success and make progress within the first 30 seconds. Everyone can access the starting point.
🧠 Deep Thinking
Enough mathematical depth to keep students engaged for 30 minutes or even 3 lessons. The ceiling is as high as you want it to be.
❓ Powerful Questions
The strength lies in the probing questions. Different students can pursue different lines of inquiry based on their readiness.
🤝 Collaboration
Perfect for meaningful group work. Students can be creative and work together in positive ways.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are you saying we should be doing this every lesson?
No. Definitely not. I am acutely aware of the need for students to gain practice in key mathematical skills. But I do strongly believe that regular lessons like this are just as important for a student’s mathematical development and to increase their enjoyment in the subject. They should not be seen as one-offs. Both students and teachers should value them as highly as any type of lesson.
What do I do if a child doesn’t engage with a particular question?
The simple answer is that I give them another one! I have to make a judgment call as to whether the student has genuinely tried and not just given up too easily. But if, for whatever reason, a probing question or line of inquiry hasn’t resonated with a student, then I will set them off on something else. The beauty of having lots of questions up your sleeve is that you are far more likely to find ones that engage your students.
Would you do this type of lesson for an observation?
Yes, I definitely would. 100%. Sure, such lessons are a little bit on the risky side as you don’t know what is going to happen. But they are also incredibly flexible. Imagine you had meticulously planned a lesson with a 40 slide PowerPoint and 5 beautifully prepared, differentiated worksheets. And then you find that the students don’t understand even the basics. Or, they understand far more than you anticipated. You might be in a bit of trouble. But with a lesson rammed full of probing questions, you can just try them out on another line of inquiry.