PHILOMATHIA
Opening your activities…
Hide a rule inside a list of numbers and see if the other player can crack it.
Low-ink PDFPhilomathia
7–11 years · 15 minutes
Hide a rule inside a list of numbers and see if the other player can crack it.
Paper; Pencil
The rule maker folds a sheet in half and writes a secret rule under the fold, such as add 3 or double it.
Write the first four numbers your rule makes, like 2, 5, 8, 11.
The detective says the next number and the rule they think made it.
Unfold the rule to check, then swap roles for the next round.
Paper and pencil only. Stop while both players still want another round.
https://playpen.philomathia.ai/activities/a/secret-rule-numbers · v1 · 1/2
Philomathia
Secret rule numbers · continued
Space to write or sketch.
Space to write or sketch.
What changes from one number to the next?
Keep your trickiest pattern to test someone else later.
Keep rules to adding or taking away 1, 2, 5 or 10.
Try a two-step rule, like double it and add 1.
https://playpen.philomathia.ai/activities/a/secret-rule-numbers · v1 · 2/2
An adult plays alongside, takes turns and asks the child to explain their thinking.
Paper · Pencil
The rule maker folds a sheet in half and writes a secret rule under the fold, such as add 3 or double it.
Try saying: What changes from one number to the next?
Finish: Keep your trickiest pattern to test someone else later.
Paper and pencil only. Stop while both players still want another round.
Make it simpler: Keep rules to adding or taking away 1, 2, 5 or 10.
Take it further: Try a two-step rule, like double it and add 1.
A chance to practise number patterns, rules and sequences, reasoning. This invitation is an editorial adaptation of the guidance below. It is not a test or a promise about development.
