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

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

Logic problems and puzzles was designed to help students become proficient problem solvers in mathematics and identifies the strategies students might draw upon and use to solve them, and the learning approaches teachers can plan to use.

There are two lessons for each age group. Progression has been built in across the two lessons in each year group, and there is also progression across the years. Each lesson plan contains the objectives from the Framework, vocabulary, prior knowledge required and possible learning outcomes.

Finding all possibilities focuses on one particular strategy, finding all possibilities.

The booklet contains examples and lesson plans for each year group in which this strategy is required to solve the problem. Each plan contains the objectives linked to the Framework, the vocabulary used, any prior knowledge required and possible learning outcomes. Other resources that would enhance the problem solving process are listed, these include practical apparatus, the use of ICT and in particular the 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.