Engage your Year 5-9 students with these creative, curriculum-linked challenge projects designed for independent learning. Each challenge takes approximately one hour to complete and includes clear success criteria, scaffolded instructions, and extension tasks. What’s Included: ✓ 8 ready-to-use challenge cards (one per page) ✓ Clear, accessible instructions in dyslexia-friendly font ✓ Success criteria for self-assessment ✓ Extension challenges for differentiation ✓ Relevant graphics to inspire creativity Challenge Topics: • Design a Board Game • Build a Mini Museum Exhibit • Invent a New Sport • Write and Illustrate a Short Story • Create a Survival Guide • Design Your Dream Classroom • Plan a Community Event • Build a Working Catapult Perfect for cover lessons, early finishers, project days, or independent learning time. Minimal prep required—just print and go! Ideal for: KS2, KS3, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, independent learning, creative thinking, problem-solving, STEM, literacy, design technology

Calculate area of 2D shapes including squares, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, rhombuses and trapeziums in this engaging Christmas maths problem-solving activity. **What is this resource? ** This festive maths workshop challenges pupils to calculate the area of a variety of 2D shapes to decide whether Santa’s elves have enough wrapping paper for their presents. Pupils calculate the area of 12 labelled shapes (a–l) and then add the total area to check whether it is less than 6,000 cm², encouraging accuracy, reasoning and problem-solving. **What does it include? ** Christmas-themed area calculation worksheet 12 clearly labelled shapes (a–l) **Shapes included: ** Squares Rectangles Triangles Parallelograms Rhombuses Trapeziums Final total-area challenge Answer sheet included Who is this resource for? Third Level (Scotland) KS3 (England) Equivalent middle school / lower secondary learners internationally **Curriculum links ** Measurement and Geometry Calculating the area of 2D shapes Applying formulas in context Numeracy and problem solving **How can it be used in the classroom? ** Independent practice Paired or small-group work Maths workshop or rotation activity Seasonal or end-of-term lesson Early finisher or revision task Assessment evidence for area calculations **Why teachers like this resource ** ✔ Seasonal but curriculum-focused ✔ Clear structure and progression ✔ Encourages mathematical thinking ✔ Minimal preparation required ✔ Answers included