Maths Explorer is a program designed for students in Year 3 and 4, aged 8 to 10 years old. It has been developed to build their skills, confidence, and knowledge in maths problem solving and to prepare them for the challenges of the Maths Olympiad in later years.
Teachers are provided with a wide range of activities and problems for their students to solve, making Maths Explorer suitable for both mainstream and high-achieving students. The program can also support novice problem solvers in higher years, introducing them to a range of problem solving strategies.
Four problem solving strategies are focused on each year. Below is an example of the resources provided to classes to prepare for and complete a Maths Explorer Paper.
Paper Preparation Finding All Possibilities
Lesson #1 Class Video & Activity Sheet
Before watching the video with your students, please print and have ready the Preparation Tasks.
Watch the Class Video: Finding all Possibilities with your students.
Have them complete Preparation Tasks 1 & 2 as they watch.
There is a third Preparation Task for them to then solve.
Class Video: FInding all Possibilities
Lesson #2 Task Cards and Challenges
Distribute the Task Cards to your students to solve with a partner.
Use teacher discretion to select which students will benefit from the Task Cards that include hints.
5 Challenges are included for your high achieving students.
Click to download Task Cards & Challenges
Lesson #3 Digital Activity
Before watching the video with your students, please print and have ready the Robot Workshop Activities and QR Code.
Watch the Class Video; Robot Workshop with your students to learn how to play.
Play Robot Workshop with your students. Have iPads, tablets or laptops ready for your students to use.
Provide them with Robot Workshop Activity Sheets.
Class Video: How to Play Robot Workshop
Lesson #4 Preparation Paper
Give your class the Preparation Paper to solve.
Students may complete the Preparation Paper with a partner, working collaboratively, or on their own.
The final 2 questions included are for Extension students.
Discuss the solutions together as a class.
Click to download the Preparation Paper
Contest Paper Finding All Possibilities
Lesson #5 Step 1 – Complete Contest Paper
Each Maths Explorer paper contains 5 questions.
The first three questions (A, B and C) are compulsory for ALL students.
Questions D and E are included for those students who would benefit from attempting additional problems.
Students may complete the Contest Paper with a partner, working collaboratively, or on their own.
Click to download Contest Paper
Two Challenger tasks are included with the paper. Please ONLY distribute the Maths Challenger task/s to appropriate students if they have completed the paper and have time remaining. The Challenger tasks DO NOT form part of the Contest and scores should not be recorded in the Members’ Portal.
Lesson #5 Step 2- Watch Strategies and Solutions Video
Watch the Strategies and Solutions Video together with your class once they have completed the paper.
Pause the video before animated solutions are shown to see if students in your class have ideas and strategies to share.
Pause and rewatch solutions if they are unfamiliar to your students.
Discuss them with your students and see if they approached problems in similar or different ways.
Class Video: Strategies and Solutions for Paper 1