I felt as though this puzzle must be a mistake. Or that I was missing something, some sort of advanced mathematics outside my reach..
I began to craft a message for here, how we were having trouble understanding how 3x = 5x and 4x = x
Then realised... the puzzle is not broken and the maths is very within reach.
A nice reminder of how verbalising why we are stuck can sometimes reveal surprising simplicity, and help us get unstuck 
Puzzle #145 at: https://solveme.edc.org/mobiles
I enjoyed Marissa Cashmore's 2023 #BigDayMathsPlay conference session which explores the use of maths manipulatives in Years F to 6 to teach maths concepts.
You can access a video-recording of this practical session here:
https://www.mathsplay.org/july2023manipulatives
Another great game! This one comes from James Russo and Toby Russo.
HOW WE SET UP TODAY: 
In groups of three One 120-chart per group 3 counters of one colour per player
HOW WE PLAYED: 
Each player chose and covered three Bingo numbers in with their coloured counters on the 120-chart. For today, we didn't limit students to number past 20.
Players took turns rolling the dice. On each roll, the group skip-counted by that number starting at zero.
Players stop counting when they encounter a counter i.e. a Bingo number. That counter is removed from the 120-chart and returned to its owner.
The winner is the first to claim back all three of their counters. The remaining two players can decide whether to draw second/last or whether to keep playing to place 2nd and 3rd/last.
WHAT WE NOTICED:
Certain numbers have better Bingo odds than other numbers.
We think we found a Bingo number that is divisible by all numbers on a 6-sided dice! Some of us are certain about this while others of us want to test it out...
There will be lots of variations on this game!
Day 7: Yesterday's maths opener (20 min) was spent exploring possibilities with countable objects including maths manipulatives.
Sometimes, it's a challenge to 'move out of the way and let them play'. But when we do, the results (student artefacts) are really worth it.
During each play session we (the teachers) look for maths that naturally emerges to see how these artefacts might help shape future lessons for this class.
So far we've noticed:
A data representation made of colours rods.... A growing number pattern... Symmetry Arrays
Anything else?! We'd love your help spotting the maths. Genuinely interested in what you see.
NB:This session was Day 7 in a research project where we are exploring ways to reuinte maths with play in school...
Hello! Alex
here :)
So yesterday was a VERY special day of maths play 
I programmed a micro:bit with a number pattern I created. And now am a 'bit' obsessed.
I also began exploring a fascinating maths problem. If I go MIA this week, I am probably still down that rabbit hole.
All in all, a really positive, playful and powerful math learning experience. And so lovely to learn with and from others in the room.
Big thank you to new friend and colleague Gary Stager, Ph.D. for opening my eyes to many more #MathsPlay possibilities...
...To play forward words from another friend that feel true here: Coding IS play.
To know more about how the growing Maths Play community plays forward what we learn, you can subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter here:
mathsplay.org/subscribe
Image 1: What's the same? And what's different?
Some meaningful maths play and #HappyEyeballs here at home this weekend as we repurpose some unworn earrings.
In case you missed it, the keynote presentation from Maths Play's first in-person conference is now available to view on-demand.
In this keynote, Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer demonstrates how imagination (jumping into a story) can build imagination in STEM learning (solving a maths problem to help the characters).
Enjoy this 4-part session and, if applicable, count it as an hour of professional development:
Part 1: Engagement in mathematics
Part 2: A Conceptual PlayWorld in Years Foundation and 1
Part 3: A Conceptual PlayWorld in Years 5 and 6
Part 4: Why imagination matters
Access keynote recording and all supporting resources here:
https://maths-play.mykajabi.com/july2023keynote
Breaking news 
A team Year 1/ 2 students build new homes for some very small but special community members.
What do you notice? What do you wonder?
Multiplication Fact Enlightment️
We were over the moon to discover the mathematical beauty of multiplication from a Mathologer video.
Learn how to create multiplicative designs like this and so much more: https://youtu.be/qhbuKbxJsk8
The 2024 theme for the International Day of Maths has been announced! And we are OVER THE MOON to see PLAY feature in this way.
