Maths extension/entertainment for 9/10 year old DD - going beyond "sums"

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Can anyone suggest some good books/websites/DVDs for DD who is very able at maths. I'd like her to get some sense of the wider possibilities of maths beyond sums, partly for its own sake as one of the crowning glories of human culture (can you tell I'm a mathematician by training? ) and partly because she'll be taking some entrance exams in six months time which will include some extension questions going well beyond level 5 SATs/KS2.

Any ideas please?

Murderous Maths books by Kjartan Poskitt. Or the Number Devil. Murderous Maths are like Horrible Histories for maths. My DS3 has been amazing his teachers with his knowledge of imaginary numbers, triangle numbers, Fibonacci series, etc.

The Number Devil

Perhaps not what you are looking for, but I'm thinking of getting these as I think DD would get her head around concepts more if they were presented as objects rather than numbers:

www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?id=06702&code=c

Murderous Maths box set

What age are the books appropriate for, Ellen? DD is year six and average at maths.

My children use the Mathletics websites at school. You can compete against another child online somewhere else in the world. If she is very able maybe just sign her up for an older year group?

Hello,

have a look at these:

1. nrich.maths.org/public/

2. "Challenge your pupils" book: I bought it for my children and I think it's very good to make them think. You find it here:
   www.m-a.org.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=911

Also, for fun and inspiration, search for "doodling in math class" on youtube. The girl in "doodling in math class" is AMAZING.

Let me know what you think, if you try any of the above.

I love Maths.

The Murderous Maths books are very accessible for 8 to 9 years up, I'd say. Similar to Horrible Histories, but you have to like maths! The Number Devil isn't quite as humorous but great for a child who is fascinated by numbers. My DS3 read it at 7, but he's a bit weird about maths.

Johnny Ball, Think of a Number and Mathemagicians are good, too. Can you tell we're a bit maths obsessed in our house? DS1 won the maths prize this year in his large comp. My ex has a 1st in Maths. I've only got a degree in Physics, I'm the odd one out in my family...

Thanks all. I've hit Amazon with a thud and picked up the Murderous Maths set (can't go wrong at that price) and Number Devil.

Critical Thinking stuff also looks really interesting.

I'm just about to show DD Doodling in Math Class - sooo pretty.

Agree with albachiara, 'Challenge your pupils' is good. You can download old primary maths challenge papers for free here.

Also, chapter 1 of The Complete Book of Fun Maths has some word problems that don't really require formal maths beyond primary but they really make you think. Most of this chapter is available via 'look inside' on amazon and so you might not need to buy the book!

Not many for primary in this one, but for anyone who enjoys a good puzzle try Amusements in Mathematics by H E Dudeney. Lots of classics involving crossing rivers, moving match sticks, breaking and making chains. Bit dated and you'll need to know your farthing from your florin. No, I don't get out much. It's free btw.