Mathspiration

VMC Family Maths On this page you will find a hand-picked selection of puzzlers, warm-up games and homework ideas from MAV archives and beyond.

Primary Maths Puzzles and Investigations

A living collection of Prime Number magazine’s F-6 puzzlers and investigations to promote a problem-solving classroom culture.

Volume 39	2024	Term 1	Term 2
Volume 38	2023	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 37	2022	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 36	2021	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 35	2020	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 34	2019	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 33	2018	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 32	2017	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 31	2016	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 30	2015	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 29	2014	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 28	2013	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 27	2012	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 26	2011	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 25	2010	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 24	2009	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 23	2008	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4
Volume 22	2007	Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4

Top Drawer Warm-up Games

A collection of ‘go-to’ resources, these games are easy to set up and are guaranteed to fire the hearts and minds of your students. Paul Swan promotes the practice of revisiting the same game over a number of days in succession, as students tend to explore the maths at a deeper level once they have established familiarity with how it is played. Try one of these!

Release the Prisoners. This hugely popular game explores dice difference probabilities which can lead to rich discussions and investigations. Students find the concept of releasing prisoners highly entertaining and motivating.

31 . This rich Maths 300 card game builds fluency, number sense and algebraic thinking in upper primary.

Check the Clues. This Paul Swan resource which encourages collaborative problem solving from F-6 is destined for greatness. Additional resources for purchase are available to MAV members here: Check the Clues

Beat the teacher. Students do not need any motivation to try and beat the teacher. Success in this game comes down to an understanding of probability but luck also plays a part.

Number Paths. Michael Ymer's games are easy to play but difficult to master. ‘Number Paths’ invites students to immerse themselves in rich place value and chance concepts.

Paddocks. This highly visual middle-primary game builds conceptual understanding of times table products. A gem.

Thanks to Alison from Teaching Maths with Meaning for the terrific resource.

Dr Paul Swan’s 4 Interactive Board Games are a terrific Early Years resource to reinforce addition, subtraction and place value concepts. Paul Swan’s hugely popular card game Combo can be purchased through the MAV shop here:

The Thinkers are Winners resource created by the MAV for National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2017 contains the classic warm up games Nim and Catch 22.

Michael Ymer’s Hit the Target is a fun and competitive calculator game where students develop fluency, number sense and place value understanding.

Greedy Pig. A dice probability game from Maths 300 that will have students in Years 3-6 full of excitement. The game can be pursued as an excellent investigation over 3-4 lessons.

Celebrity Head is an enjoyable way for students to explore place value concepts and ‘see’ mathematical reasoning. Making mistakes is all part of the fun.

Addo. A Bingo style addition game for students in Years 2-6. Once the game is embedded, the Maths 300 engine allows students to create and evaluate their own games.

Maths Beyond the Classroom Walls

Maths around the Kitchen Table. A collection of tasks designed as a starting point to encourage maths around the kitchen table. A terrific resource to promote with your parent community.

Victorian Maths Challenge. A fun and engaging way for families to investigate real-life mathematics. Get parents and kids to try this at home, or use the resources to organise a family maths activity at school.