This investigation gives a lot of opportunities for a wide range of abilities to exercise both their spatial/number awareness.

It might be neccesary for the pupils to be introduced to simpler more common magic squares.

If there is a problem in identifying the 2 x 2 little squares within the 4 x 4 square the first one in the bottom left hand corner could be selected.

Can you tell me about the way you are doing this?

What have you decided to do to the first set of numbers?

Questions 7, 8 & 9 act as a good set of extension activities, further ones could be suggested by the pupils. Then magic squares of a different size could be explored.

Some pupils will find it useful to have small square cards with the numbers on a a prepared grid to place them on.