Number Logic MiniBooks

Here we have taken the Addition puzzles from Mental Monday's #19 and turned them into a series of mini booklets. This makes them ideal for children to work through at their own pace (perfect for the end of term), they could also be used as 'registration activities', or as a homework project.

The attached pdf file contains four differentiated addition problem booklets, the first two are suitable for early Key Stage 2 and the remaining ones for upper Key Stage 2.

The idea is that the children have to fill the circles with the numbers listed beneath each diagram to make a specific total along the connected lines. If children work together they can share their strategies and ideas. Just like Sudoku, no solutions are given since once the correct arrangement is found the problem is self-checking. Note: some problems have multiple solutions since the arrangements can be reflected.

The download includes full instructions, but here is a quick description of how to fold the miniBooklets:

Follow the instructions a few times and the whole process is very quick and simple. I don’t fold the books for the children, I simply give out the A4 paper and they cut and fold them themselves!

1. Print out the relevant A4 page from the pdf file. The bottom four maths problems appear to be printed upside down, this is as it should be.

Note the horizontal line in the middle of the page.

2. Fold in half lengthways (this is a mountain fold)

3. Unfold, and then fold in half vertically (another mountain fold). Next, cut along the printed line, from the creased edge to halfway across the ‘page’

4. Fold the top left-hand side over (a valley fold), repeat this underneath

5. Unfold, the paper should look like this, a zig-zag pattern of folds with a central cut.

6. Fold in half lengthwise again, as in step 2. The paper will open out like this.

7. Push the paper in on itself so that the central ‘box’ inverts and you are left with a cross of paper. Gently fold this in half to create the booklet.

8. Leaf through the booklet to find the front page, you can now adjust the edges a little if necessary and crease neatly.

That's it, the finished booklet.

Here's the set of four maths MiniBooks printed and folded:

Mathstick+ members - you will find a further pack of 8 Number Logic MiniBooklets on your dashboard under the Key Stage 2 tab. 

I'm confident your children will love working through these problems - post a comment to let me know how they get on, or if you have any thoughts on further adaptations. Also, of course, if you like this maths teaching resource, I’d really appreciate a +1, tweet or a Like. Cheers!