30 Days

of Maths
Activities
 30 Days of Maths Activities
30 Days of Maths Activity List Activity 30: Maths Photo Scavenger Hunt
Challenge yourself to do a maths activity every day for 30 days.
You Will Need:
• A camera

1. Lagrange’s Four-Square Theorem 16. Dodecahedron

Instructions:
2. Numberpillars 17. Data Collection
There are 15 maths-associated words listed below. They might be the name of a topic or an
object. Photograph an example of each word from the list, in the real world.
3. Measurement Scavenger Hunt 18. The Number 4
• Tessellation
4. Water, Water, Water! 19. It’s All in the Cards • Fibonacci Spiral

5. Tangram Challenge 20. Polygon Challenge • Fractions

• Scales
6. Dot and Line Challenge 21. Reaction Times • Pyramid

7. Handshake Challenge 22. Flags • Hexagon

• Parallel lines
8. How Many Days? 23. Square Challenge
• Perpendicular lines

9. How Many Squares? 24. Make 6 • Triangle

• Mirror image
10. Grand Design 25. Bearings
• Cube

11. The Fibonacci Golden Spiral 26. Flower of Life • Calculator

• A graph
12. The 4 Coins Invention 27. Spirolateral
• Numbers

13. Four Fours 28. A Day in London • An object which shows time

14. In the Garden 29. Mathematicians

15. Pythagoras’ Theorem in Real Life 30. Maths Photo Scavenger Hunt

1 30 Days of Maths Activities

30 of 31
 30 Days of Maths Activities

Mathematician Fact 1 Fact 2 Fact 3

30 Days of Maths Calendar
Use this calendar to record which activity you complete each day.
Pascal

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

Pythagoras

9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15. 16.

17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24.

25. 26. 27. 28.

29. 30.

29 30 Days of Maths Activities 2 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 1: Lagrange’s Four-Square Theorem Activity 29: Mathematicians
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • A pen or pencil
• A calculator • Internet

Instructions: Instructions:
Lagrange’s theorem states that every positive integer can be made by adding four square numbers <RXUWDVNLVWRȴQGRXWDERXWVL[IDPRXVPDWKHPDWLFLDQV<RXPLJKWZDQWWRWKLQNDERXW
together. For example, 7 is made by 22 + 12 + 12 + 12 (or 4 + 1 + 1 + 1). • What their full name was and how long they were alive for;
• When they were alive;
<RXUWDVNLVWRȴQGHLJKWGL΍HUHQWZD\VWRPDNH214 using Lagrange’s theorem. • What they are famous for/what they discovered.
1.
Mathematician Fact 1 Fact 2 Fact 3
2.
3. Archimedes

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Fibonacci

Lovelace

3 30 Days of Maths Activities 28 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 2: Numberpillars
Attraction 7LFNHW" Price Order
You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil

Instructions:
<RXUWDVNLVWRȴQGWKHQXPEHUZLWKWKHPRVWȆOLQNVȇ

Timetable: Rules:
• Start with any positive number less than 100.
• If the number is even, then halve it.
• If the number is odd, add 1 and then halve it.
• Carry on until you get to the number 1.

Example:
• Start with any positive number less than 100: 10
• If the number is even, then halve it: 10 ÷ 2 = 5
• If the number is odd, add 1 and then halve it: 5 + 1 = 6, then 6 ÷ 2 = 3
• The answer is odd, so you must add 1 and then halve it again: 3 + 1 = 4, then 4 ÷ 2 = 2
• If the number is even, then halve it: 2÷1=1

7KHQXPEHUKDVȴYHOLQNV

Price of attractions Price of journeys Total price

27 30 Days of Maths Activities 4 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 3: Measurement Scavenger Hunt Activity 28: A Day in London
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • A pen or pencil
• A ruler or tape measure • Internet

Instructions: Instructions:
This challenge can be completed inside or outside. Fill in the table by either writing down the You are planning a day trip to London and wish to visit three attractions. You need to plan your
name of or drawing an object which matches each criterion. day, including the journey times, how much the journeys will cost, and whether you need a ticket
to see the attraction, as well as how much these might be.

Find an object that is 1cm Find an object that is 5cm Find an object that is
in length. in length. 60mm in length. Section 1
1. Choose three attractions in London that you would like to see. Research whether you will
need a ticket and how much these cost.
Find an object that is 1 Find an object that holds Find an object that weighs 2. /RRN DW D /RQGRQ 8QGHUJURXQG PDS DQG ȴQG WKH QHDUHVW WXEH VWDWLRQ WR HDFK DWWUDFWLRQ
metre in length. 500ml. NJ Think about which zone each tube station is in to work out ticket cost. Decide on a sensible
order in which to visit each attraction.

Find an object that is 2 Find an object that is 25cm Find an object that weighs Section 2
inches in length. in length. 400g. <RXEHJLQDWDW\RXUȴUVWDWWUDFWLRQ:ULWHDWLPHWDEOHIRUWKHGD\FOHDUO\VKRZLQJKRZORQJ
you will spend at each attraction, as well as any journey and wait times.

Find an object that is 3 Find an object that is as Find an object that is You should consider:
feet in length. long as your arm. 15mm in length.
• 7KHWLPH\RXZLOOOHDYHWKHȴUVWDWWUDFWLRQ
• How long it will take you to get to the nearest tube station;
• How long the waiting times might be at the tube stations;
• How long the tube journeys might take;
• The wait time at your next attraction.

Section 3
Find the total price for the day, including the price of any tickets to see the attractions as well as
your journeys.

5 30 Days of Maths Activities 26 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 27: Spirolateral Activity 4: Water, Water, Water!
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pencil • A pen or pencil
• A protractor
• A ruler Instructions:
• An A4 piece of paper Solve the following problem:
<RXKDYHDQOLWUHEXFNHWȴOOHGZLWKZDWHU

Instructions: You also have an empty 3-litre tub and an empty 5-litre tub.
1. Draw a straight line, 1cm in length. At one end of the line, measure 36° and draw a straight There are no lines or measuring scales on the bucket or tubs, we simply know their capacities.
line 2cm in length.

How would you measure 4 litres?

2. At the end of that line, measure 36° in the same direction and draw a straight line 3cm in
length.

3. Turn through another 36° and draw another straight line. This time, it should be 5cm in length.
4. Turn through 36° and draw a straight line 2cm in length.
5. Turn through 36° and draw a straight line 3cm in length.
6. Continue to repeat the pattern until you end up at your starting point. For some spirolaterals,
\RXFDQȆVSLUDOȇRQIRUHYHU

25 30 Days of Maths Activities 6 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 5: Tangram Challenge Activity 26: Flower of Life
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• Scissors • A pencil
• Glue • A pair of compasses
• A ruler
Instructions: • An A4 piece of paper
• Cut out each shape.
• Colouring pencils
• Place the shapes into the square below. All shapes must be placed into the square with no
overlaps. No shape should overhang the square.
Instructions:
• Once you have the shapes in the correct place, stick them down.
1. Using your ruler, set your pair of compasses 2. On your A4 piece of paper, use the pair
to 3cm. of compasses to draw a circle. You could
draw this circle in the middle of the piece
of paper.

3cm

10cm
3. Without changing the width of your pair 4. Repeat with a third circle, positioned so
of compasses, draw a second circle. The the centre lies on one of the points of
second circle should be positioned so its LQWHUVHFWLRQRIWKHȴUVWWZRFLUFOHV
FHQWUHOLHVRQWKHFLUFXPIHUHQFHRIWKHȴUVW
circle.

10cm

5. Continue to draw circles, all with the same
radius, and all with their centres on a point
of intersection. You can draw as many
circles as you like.
This arrangement of overlapping circles, which
is called the Flower of Life, has appeared in art
for over 2500 years.
You can colour in the circles in a pattern of your
choosing.

7 30 Days of Maths Activities 24 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 25: Bearings Activity 6: Dot and Line Challenge
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pencil • A pen or pencil
• A ruler • A ruler
• An A4 piece of paper
• A compass or protractor Instructions:
8VLQJVWUDLJKWOLQHVMRLQXSWKHFHQWUHRIHDFKGRWZLWKRXWWDNLQJ\RXUSHQRUSHQFLOR΍WKHSLHFH
of paper. The straight lines may go beyond the dots but you cannot go over existing lines with
Instructions:
your pen or pencil.
Create a trail using bearings. This trail could be in your garden or at a local park. Alternatively,
you could create the trail on a piece of paper by drawing various objects. Write instructions, using
bearings, on how to get from each object to the next.

Example:
Starting location: Bench
1. Go 3 steps on a bearing of 090°.
2. Go 2 steps on a bearing 045°.

Continue on until you reach an end location.

23 30 Days of Maths Activities 8 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 7: Handshake Challenge Activity 23: Square Challenge
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • A pencil
• A ruler
Instructions: • 4 or 5 pieces of A4 paper
If there were 4 people in a group and everybody shook each other’s hand exactly once, how many • Scissors
handshakes would there be?

Instructions:
Find another 3 people in your household and test your prediction.
1. Draw nine squares with the following side lengths:
• Were you right?
1cm 4cm 7cm 8cm 9cm 10cm 14cm 15cm 18cm
• What would happen if there were fewer people?
2. Cut out the squares.
• How about more people?
3. Put them together to form a rectangle. There should be no overlaps and no overhangs.
4. What are the dimensions of your rectangle?
Extension:
&DQ\RXȴQGDUXOHZKLFKZRXOGKHOS\RXZRUNRXWKRZPDQ\KDQGVKDNHVWKHUHZRXOGEHLQD
group of 30 people?
Activity 24: Make 6
You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil

Instructions:
Fill in the gaps with the missing symbols.
You may use:
+, –, ×, ÷, (brackets), !, ^ and .

1 1 1 =6

2 2 2 =6

3 3 3 =6

4 4 4 =6

5 5 5 =6

6 6 6 =6

7 7 7 =6

8 8 8 =6

9 9 9 =6

9 30 Days of Maths Activities 22 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 22: Flags Activity 8: How Many Days?
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• Colouring pencils • A pen or pencil

Instructions: Instructions:
1. &KRRVHGL΍HUHQWFRORXUVIRU\RXUȵDJ Starting at 1st January 2020 (at 00:00 hours), what will the date be in 2020 days’ time?
2. &RORXULQDOOWKHSRVVLEOHFRPELQDWLRQVRIFRORXUV\RXUȵDJFDQKDYH
3. <RXPD\XVHDFRORXUPRUHWKDQRQFHRQWKHVDPHȵDJ)RUH[DPSOHEOXHEOXHEOXHRUEOXH Hint:
yellow, yellow. Assume each year is 365 days (unless a leap year). A leap year occurs once every four years and
4. There should be no half-sections, blank sections, pictures or symbols etc; each section of the means there are 366 days in the year. 2020 is a leap year.
ȵDJPXVWRQO\FRQVLVWRIRQHFRORXU

Activity 9: How Many Squares?

You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil

Instructions:
How many squares can you see?

21 30 Days of Maths Activities 10 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 10: Grand Design Activity 21: Reaction Times
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• An A4 piece of paper • A pen or pencil
• A pen or pencil • A 30cm ruler
• A ruler • Someone you live with to help you.

Instructions: Instructions:
Using the scale 1cm = 1m, your task is to design your perfect house! Remember to label your 1. Ask the person you live with to hold a ruler vertically, with their hand on the bottom end.
measurements in metres using the scale factor. 2. Hold your hand open below theirs. Be ready to catch the ruler. You should think about how
you can make sure that your hand is placed at the same height each time.

You should think about: 3. Your helper will drop the ruler without warning you. Catch the ruler as fast as you can after
it’s been dropped.
• What you will have in your house.
4. Record the number (in centimetres) at which you caught the ruler.
• The layout – what is going to go where.
5. Repeat the experiment 10 times, making sure the ruler is being dropped from the same height
• Windows. each time and that your hand is in the same position each time. You should also catch the
• Doors. ruler with the same hand throughout.

5HFRUG\RXUȴQGLQJVLQDWDEOHDQGDQVZHUWKHIROORZLQJTXHVWLRQV
1. What was the mean average level at which you caught the ruler?
2. Was there a pattern to your results?
3. Do reaction times improve with practice?

Extension:
• 5HSHDWWKHH[SHULPHQWXVLQJWKHRSSRVLWHKDQGȂKRZGRHVWKLVD΍HFWWKHUHVXOWV"
• 5HSHDWWKHH[SHULPHQWZLWKVRPHRQHRIDGL΍HUHQWDJHȂKRZGRHVWKLVD΍HFWWKHUHVXOWV"

11 30 Days of Maths Activities 20 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 20: Polygon Challenge Activity 11: The Fibonacci Golden Spiral
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • An A4 piece of paper ‘ ”

• A ruler • A pen or pencil

• A ruler
Instructions: • Colouring pencils
A polygon is a 2D shape formed with straight lines. Triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons and
hexagons are examples of polygons. ’ •
Instructions:
Place your paper so the longest side
*RRXWVLGHRIWKHSODFH\RXOLYH/RRNDWWKHEXLOGLQJΖGHQWLI\DQGODEHOWKHGL΍HUHQWSRO\JRQV\RX is horizontal.
see.
You are going to create squares
using The Fibonacci Sequence.
Extension: The length of a side of each shape “ –
Draw out one of the shapes you have observed and draw the lines of symmetry on the shape. should be equal to a number in the
sequence.

Identify any relationship you notice between the number of sides and the number of the lines of 1. Starting towards the bottom
symmetry on the shape. right-hand corner, draw two
1-unit squares on top of each
Ʌ
other. —
2. Attach a 2-by-2-unit square
to the left of the two 1-unit
squares.
3. Attach a 3-by-3-unit square
directly underneath all the
squares you have drawn so far.
4. Attach a 5-by-5-unit square to
the right of what you have so
far. Did you know?
5. Attach an 8-by-8-unit square
You get the next term in The Fibonacci Sequence by
above your design.
adding the two previous terms together.
6. Attach a 13-by-13-unit square
• )RUH[DPSOHWKHȴUVWWHUPLQ\RXUVHTXHQFHLV
to the left.
• Now add 1 so the second term in your sequence
7. Now you are ready to draw your will be 1.
spiral. For each square, join one
• Now for the third term, add together the previous
corner to the opposite corner in
2 terms so 0 + 1 = 1.
a smooth curve.
• For the fourth term, add together the previous 2
terms so 1 + 1 = 2.

The beginning of the Fibonacci Sequence:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 …

19 30 Days of Maths Activities 12 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 12: The 4 Coins Invention Activity 19: It’s all in the Cards
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • A pack of cards
• GL΍HUHQWFRORXUHGFRXQWHUV
Instructions:
You have been asked to create a new coin system. There will only be four coins in this system. You
must be able to create the values 1 to 10 using only one or two coins. Instructions:
1. Take a pack of cards and remove the Jacks, Queens, Kings and any Jokers.
Your task is to work out the possible values for each coin.
2. 6KXɞHWKHUHPDLQLQJFDUGV
3. Lay all the cards face up on the table in a snake-like shape.
Example:
If your four coins had values 1, 2, 3 and 4, you would be able to make the values 1 to 4 with a single
coin, 5 (4 + 1 or 3 + 2), 6 (3 + 3 or 4 + 2), 7 (2 + 3) and 8 (4 + 4) with two coins; however, it would be
impossible to make 9 or 10 with two coins, so this coin system fails.

Activity 13: Four Fours

You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil
• A calculator

Instructions:
Using exactly four 4s, form every integer from 0 to 20.
You may use:
+, –, ×, ÷ , (brackets), ! (for example, 4! Is equivalent to 4 × 3 × 2 × 1) and but you may not simply
place 4s next to each other, for example, you could not create 44 by placing two 4s next to each
other.
4. 3ODFHIRXUGL΍HUHQWFRORXUHGFRXQWHUVRQWKHȴUVWIRXUFDUGVLQWKHVQDNH
0= 7= 14 =
5. Move each counter forward the number shown on its card (Aces count as 1).
1= 8= 15 =
6. .HHSPRYLQJHDFKFRXQWHUXQWLOLWFDQȇWJRDQ\IXUWKHUZLWKRXWJRLQJR΍WKHHQGRIWKHVQDNH
2= 9= 16 =
3= 10 = 17 =
'LG\RXUFRXQWHUVDOOȴQLVKRQGL΍HUHQWFDUGV"
4= 11 = 18 =
5= 12 = 19 =
Challenge:
6= 13 = 20 =
)LQGDZD\WRDUUDQJHWKHFDUGVVRWKDWDOOIRXUFRXQWHUVȴQLVKRQGL΍HUHQWFDUGV

13 30 Days of Maths Activities 18 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 17: Data Collection Activity 14: In the Garden
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • A pen or pencil
• A ruler • A ruler
• An A4 piece of graph or squared paper

Instructions:
Instructions: Go outside into your garden, or on a local walk. Draw/sketch items which are the following shapes:
Your task is to collect data and then present it in a graph of your choice. For example, you could
observe the cars going past the place you live for 15 minutes and record the colour of each car, Sphere Cuboid
RU\RXPLJKWZDQWWRUHFRUGWKHFRORXURIȵRZHUSHWDOVLQDORFDOSDUN<RXFRXOGWKHQGUDZDEDU
chart to represent the data you have collected.

Activity 18: The Number 4

You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil
• Internet Triangle Square

Instructions:
In English, the word four is exactly four letters long. This is also the case in other languages, for
H[DPSOHWKH'XWFKZRUGIRUIRXULVȆYLHUȇ

Research more words for four which are also exactly four letters long.

Rectangle Pyramid

Circle Oval

17 30 Days of Maths Activities 14 of 31

 30 Days of Maths Activities 30 Days of Maths Activities
Activity 15: Pythagoras’ Theorem in Real Life Activity 16: Dodecahedron
You Will Need: You Will Need:
• A pen or pencil • Scissors
• A tape measure • Glue
• A calculator

Instructions:
Instructions: Cut out the net and score along
g each of the folds. Fold the net to
together to make a dodecahedron.
Pythagoras’ theorem states that the square on the hypotenuse (the longest side, opposite the
right-angle) of a right-angled triangle is equal to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.

We use the formula a2 + b2 = c2 to help us calculate missing lengths in a right-angled triangle.

1. Find a room or object to measure.
2. Measure its length and width.
3. Use Pythagoras’ theorem to calculate the length of its diagonal.

Fill in the table with some examples. You should give your answers correct to 1 decimal place.

Object Length Width Diagonal

Table 2 metres 1 metre a2 + b2 = c2

22 + 12 = 5
5 = 2.236...
2.2 metres

Extension:
Use your assembled dodecahedron
ron to identify the number of faces, edges and vertices.
Faces = Edges = Vertices =

15 30 Days of Maths Activities 16 of 31