🧠 Open-Ended Math Challenges

Real-World Problem Solving Tasks (Low Floor, High Ceiling)

Now Includes Digital Slides!

Whether you call them open-ended math challenges, rich math tasks, or real-world problem-solving projects, one thing is certain — high-quality, engaging, standards-based tasks are hard to find.

If you're looking for meaningful math problems that:

✔ Apply multiple standards

✔ Encourage deep thinking

✔ Keep students engaged

✔ Require minimal prep

✔ Connect directly to your curriculum

—you’re in the right place!

📦 What’s Included

✔ 3 Rich Math Challenges

✔ Ready-to-print format

✔ Digital Slides version included

✔ Designed for multi-day exploration

Each task is low-floor (accessible entry point) and high-ceiling (room for advanced thinking), making it easy to differentiate naturally.

🎯 Perfect For When You…

• Need something for fast finishers
• Want a strong sub plan
• Are between units and want to focus on problem solving
• Have an observation and want to showcase high-level thinking
• Want to promote math talk and collaboration
• Need a math station or workshop activity
• Want to assign rigorous digital math tasks

🏫 Flexible Implementation

These challenges can be used as:

✔ Whole-class explorations

✔ Small group problem-solving tasks

✔ Independent enrichment

✔ Collaborative team challenges

Students can:

• Share ideas
• Use guess-and-check strategies
• Justify reasoning
• Present solutions
• Engage in meaningful math discussions

🌟 Why These Tasks Stand Out

✔ Promote perseverance and sense-making

✔ Encourage multiple solution pathways

✔ Focus on the process — not just the answer

✔ Integrate multiple standards naturally

✔ Foster mathematical discourse

There is no answer key — and that’s intentional! These tasks are open-ended, allowing for countless solution strategies and outcomes. The focus is on reasoning, collaboration, and mathematical thinking.

📊 Grade Level

Appropriate for Grades 3–5, depending on student readiness and level of support provided.

Also works well for middle school students working below grade level due to the relevant, real-life context.

These rigorous, meaningful math challenges will help you build a classroom culture where students:

✔ Make sense of problems

✔ Persevere through difficulty

✔ Collaborate effectively

✔ Think deeply about mathematics

Be sure to check out the additional sets and bundle options available!