At present there are three packages in this series - Maths Circus Act 3, Act 4 and Act 5. Maths Circus Act 4 and Act 5 are completely new versions of the successful Maths Circus Acts 1 and 2. Although the new programs are based on Maths Circus Acts 1 and 2 they offer much more than the earlier versions. The puzzles in each of these two acts have an excellent pedigree, they are similar to those in Maths Circus Acts 1 and 2 but they have been extended with many new challenges added. Some puzzles are totally new, whilst others have new twists to them.

The Acts are not intended to be sequential in any way. They are not designed for increasing age ranges, nor do they become progressively more difficult.

Having said that, the Acts do vary somewhat in their range and difficulty. Their similarities and differences are summarised below.

Note that all the Circus puzzles encourage original thought. They work particularly well at the extremes - with pupils who are lacking in confidence and who do not like maths or who believe that they are no good at it, and at the other extreme for able pupils who need extension activities. Because the puzzles require thought rather than specific knowledge, it is not possible to specify exact age ranges - indeed we have found that many eight-year-olds cope much better with the hardest levels than many adults! The software has been profitably used by students from three to eighty-five years old.

Similarities

The five acts each contain twelve puzzles, each of which has several levels of difficulty.

While each of the acts are broadly aimed at primary students, the varying levels of difficulty make them suitable for a very wide age range.

In each act, students can either “just practise” (in which case their achievements are not recorded), or can “start a new circus” (in which case their achievements are recorded, and the student can resume their circus at a later session).

Each act has teacher options, including the ability to inspect students' progress, to enable or disable each level of each puzzle, and to set various other preferences (including disabling music and sound effects).

Each act includes various special needs facilities.

Differences

Act 3 - Each of the twelve puzzles has TEN levels.
The first five levels of each puzzle are called the BASIC levels, and are suited to lower and middle primary. The higher five levels are called the ADVANCED levels, and are more suited to middle and upper primary and even secondary use. The highest of the advanced levels are challenging even for adults. This extra range of levels makes Act 3 suitable for use throughout the entire primary range, and into secondary.

Act 4 - Each of the twelve puzzles has TEN levels.
The first five levels of each puzzle are called the BASIC levels, and are suited to lower and middle primary. The higher five levels are called the ADVANCED levels, and are more suited to middle and upper primary and even secondary use. The highest of the advanced levels are challenging even for adults. This extra range of levels makes Act 4 suitable for use throughout the entire primary range, and into secondary.

Act 5 - Each of the twelve puzzles has TEN levels.
The first five levels of each puzzle are called the BASIC levels, and are suited to lower and middle primary. The higher five levels are called the ADVANCED levels, and are more suited to middle and upper primary and even secondary use. The highest of the advanced levels are challenging even for adults. This extra range of levels makes Act 5 suitable for use throughout the entire primary range, and into secondary.

Maths Circus Puzzle Comparison Chart

Some of the topics listed below are normally associated with older children. However the Circus puzzles introduce topics in a way that is suitable even for young children.

Act 3

Puzzle	Topic
Fork lift	Problem solving: planning and spatial awareness in two dimensions
Elevator	Basic numeracy: addition, positive and negative numbers, simple programming
Pyramids	Spatial manipulation and planning
Water	Basic numeracy: addition
Lions	Two dimensional logical route planning
Clowns	Basic numeracy: counting and number, simultaneous equations
Trampoline	Simple physics: concepts involved include gravity, projectiles, speed
Juggling	Basic numeracy: number statements involving numbers 1 to 9, +, x, =
Dolphin	Spatial awareness and planning two and three dimensions
Shapes	Attributes - colour and shape - and simple programming
River	Angle, direction, speed, time, simple vectors
Ropes	Basic numeracy: addition, subtraction & multiplication

Act 4

Puzzle	Topic
Seals	Problem solving with shapes and movement (like a simplified Rubik's cube)
Trapeze	Simple physics: pendulums, timing
Magician	Logic, sequencing and problem solving
Guards	Timing, observation and planning
Cannon	Simple physics: trajectories, angles, speed
Cage	Basic numeracy: addition and simple equations
Unicycles	Basic numeracy: positive and negative numbers, number lines
Drinks	Basic numeracy: addition and multiplication, simple simultaneous equations
Elephant	Basic numeracy: addition
Seat Bolts	Spatial awareness, coordinates and distance in two and three dimensions
Clowns	Problem solving and logic in a novel setting!
Lions	Sorting and size

Act 5

Puzzle	Topic
Sorting	Sorting by shape and colour, and introducing AND, OR, NOT
Mats	Problem solving involving colour and shapes
Towers	Basic numeracy: addition
Feeding	Problem solving with simple machines: programming and control
Acrobats	A variation on the "Tower of Hanoi" problem
Packing Up	Geometry and spatial awareness in two dimensions
Seats	Basic numeracy: multiplication tables and factors
Lights	Switching puzzles involving the logic operators AND, OR, XOR
Basketball	Simple physics: concepts involved include gravity, projectiles, energy and the mechanism of bouncing
Shopping	Basic arithmetic, concentrating on the type of calculation encountered in shopping
Taxi	Problem solving involving planning and reasoning
Folding	Problem solving involving folding and geometry