Course contents document · International · generated 2026-09-01

Math Kangaroo: Écolier (Grades 3-4)

291 core topics + 3 prerequisite topics taught as needed · approximately 91 hours of instruction including spaced review

How the course runs

An adaptive diagnostic (up to 40 questions) places the student on the course's knowledge graph - topics already known are credited, and instruction begins exactly at the learning frontier. Every topic is taught with a worked-example lesson and auto-graded practice; a topic is mastered at 75%+ and then maintained through spaced reviews on an expanding schedule. Mixed checks follow every 6 lessons; each unit ends with a 12-item quiz, and course-wide assessments appear at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% mastery. Prerequisite gaps below the course are detected and taught rather than skipped, so completion certifies the whole tower, not just the top.

Core curriculum

Math Kangaroo: Pre-Écolier & Écolier · 9 topics

Counting Pictures & Objects [E] Careful counting beats fast counting.
Hops on the Number Line [E] Equal jumps are hidden multiplication.
What Comes Next? [E] Find the rule, then trust it.
Missing-Number Puzzles [E] Undo the operation to find the hidden number.
Fair Sharing [E] Division with (and without) leftovers.
Days & Calendars [E] Weeks repeat in sevens.
Sides & Corners [E] Shapes hide multiplication; cuts make one more piece.
Coins & Small Money [E] Count money in groups; go greedy for fewest coins.
Little Logic Puzzles [E] Chain the clues in order.

Math Kangaroo: Écolier Depth (Grades 3-4) · 30 topics

Multiplication Facts [M] Know your tables up to 12 × 12.
Division with Remainders [M] Division undoes multiplication; leftovers are the remainder.
Adding Several Numbers [M] Line up the ones and tens, then add column by column.
Growing Number Patterns [M] Add the same step each time.
Multiplying Patterns [M] Multiply by the same number each step.
Missing-Factor Puzzles [M] Divide to undo a multiplication.
Making Change [M] Change is what you paid minus what it cost.
Elapsed Time [M] Count the minutes from start to finish.
Clock Angles [M] Each hour mark is 30° around the clock.
Perimeter of a Rectangle [M] Perimeter adds up all the way around.
Area of a Rectangle [M] Area counts the square tiles that fit inside.
Counting Multiples [M] Multiples of k are k, 2k, 3k, …
Digit Sums [M] Add up all the digits.
Place Value to Thousands [M] Each place is worth ten times the one to its right.
Rounding [M] Look at the next digit to decide up or down.
Fractions of a Group [M] Split into equal parts, then take some of them.
Magic Squares [M] Every line adds to the same magic number.
Trees Along a Path (Fence Posts) [M] One more tree than the number of gaps.
Matchstick Squares [M] Sharing sides saves matchsticks.
Counting Handshakes [M] Every pair shakes hands once.
Averages [M] The average shares the total out evenly.
Ways to Make Change [M] Try each count of one coin.
Age Word Problems [M] Everyone ages by the same amount.
Dates on a Calendar [M] Add the days to the starting date.
Logic by Elimination [M] Cross out what can't be, and one answer is left.
Squares in a Grid [M] Multiply rows by columns.
Total Cost [M] Multiply the price by the number bought.
How Many Full Days? [M] Division tells how many full groups fit.
Filling the Gap [M] Find the step from the terms you can see.
Adding a Run of Numbers [M] Pair the ends to add a run quickly.

Math Kangaroo: Écolier - Deep (Grades 3-4) · 113 topics

Multiplying by 10 and 100 [M] Each ×10 shifts every digit one place left.
Multiplying Multiples of Ten [M] Multiply the tens, then attach the zero.
Two-Digit × One-Digit [M] Split by place value and add the partial products.
Doubling and Halving [M] Doubling adds a number to itself; halving splits it in two.
Multiplying Three Numbers [M] Multiply two of them first, then the third.
Equal-Groups Word Problems [M] Equal groups mean multiply.
Rows and Columns (Division) [M] Divide the total by how many fit in a row.
Counting Factors [M] Factors come in pairs that multiply to the number.
Remainders: Rounding Up [M] Sometimes a leftover group still needs a whole extra.
Product of the Digits [M] Multiply the digits instead of adding them.
Square Numbers [M] A square number is a number times itself.
Comparing Products [M] Work out each product, then compare.
Adding Large Numbers [M] Add column by column, carrying where needed.
Subtracting Large Numbers [M] Subtract column by column, borrowing where needed.
Missing Addend [M] Subtract to undo an addition.
Expanded Form [M] Add the value of each place back together.
Value of a Digit [M] A digit's value is the digit times its place.
Comparing Four-Digit Numbers [M] Compare place by place, starting at the left.
Ordering Numbers [M] Sort from smallest to largest to find the middle.
Rounding to the Nearest Thousand [M] Look at the hundreds digit to round.
Estimating Sums [M] Round first, then add the tidy numbers.
Counting Odd Numbers [M] Odd numbers alternate with even ones.
Numbers In Between [M] Subtract, then take one away for the open ends.
Ten, Hundred, Thousand More or Less [M] Change only the matching place.
Equivalent Fractions [M] Multiply top and bottom by the same number.
Comparing Fractions [M] Compare using a common size or benchmarks.
Fractions on a Number Line [M] Each equal step is one over the number of parts.
Adding Fractions (Same Bottom) [M] Same-size pieces: add the counts on top.
Fraction Left Over [M] The whole is all the pieces; subtract what is gone.
Pieces That Make a Whole [M] It takes d pieces of size 1/d to make one whole.
Making Wholes from Parts [M] Group the parts into full sets.
Comparing to One Half [M] Compare the top to half the bottom.
Total Value of Coins [M] Multiply each coin by its worth, then add.
Adding Money [M] Add the amounts like any numbers.
Change After Two Purchases [M] Add the costs first, then subtract from what you paid.
Hours to Minutes [M] One hour is 60 minutes.
Minutes to Whole Hours [M] Divide by 60 to count full hours.
Minutes to the Next Hour [M] Count up to 60.
Adding Time Lengths [M] Add the minutes together.
Days of the Week [M] The week repeats every 7 days.
Days Between Dates [M] Subtract the earlier date from the later one.
Days in a Month [M] Most months have 30 or 31 days.
Minutes to Seconds [M] One minute is 60 seconds.
Meters to Centimeters [M] One meter is 100 centimeters.
Centimeters to Millimeters [M] One centimeter is 10 millimeters.
Kilograms to Grams [M] One kilogram is 1000 grams.
Liters to Milliliters [M] One liter is 1000 milliliters.
Adding Lengths [M] Change to one unit first, then add.
Comparing Measurements [M] Convert to a common unit, then compare.
Side of a Square from Perimeter [M] A square's four sides are equal.
Missing Side from Area [M] Divide the area by the known side.
Area by Counting Squares [M] Add up the squares in every row.
Perimeter of a Triangle [M] Add the three sides - for equal sides, multiply.
Covering a Floor with Tiles [M] Count tiles along each side, then multiply.
Perimeter of an Irregular Shape [M] Perimeter is the sum of all the sides.
Naming Polygons by Sides [M] A polygon's name tells its number of sides.
Counting Right Angles [M] A right angle is a square corner of 90°.
Turns and Degrees [M] A quarter turn is 90 degrees.
Lines of Symmetry [M] A line of symmetry folds a shape onto itself.
Faces of Solids [M] A face is a flat surface of a solid.
Edges of Solids [M] An edge is where two faces meet.
Vertices of Solids [M] A vertex is a corner where edges meet.
Naming a Solid [M] Match the description to the right solid.
Diagonals of a Polygon [M] Each corner joins to all but its two neighbours.
Counting Stacked Cubes [M] Multiply length, width, and height.
Angles in a Triangle [M] The three angles of a triangle add to 180°.
Opposite Faces of a Die [M] Opposite faces of a die sum to 7.
Folding and Punching Holes [M] Each fold doubles the layers.
Turning Around a Clock [M] A quarter turn moves 3 numbers clockwise.
Completing a Symmetric Figure [M] A mirror line makes both halves match.
Shortest Path on a Grid [M] Add the across and up distances.
Shrinking Patterns [M] Subtract the same step each time.
Finding the Rule [M] Subtract two neighbours to find the step.
Repeating Patterns [M] Use the remainder to find the position in the cycle.
Number Machines [M] Apply each step in order to the input.
Working a Machine Backwards [M] Undo each step in reverse order.
Add-the-Last-Two Patterns [M] Every term is the sum of the two before it.
Up-and-Down Patterns [M] Two rules take turns.
True or False? [M] Check each statement on its own.
Odd One Out [M] Find the rule the others share.
Overlapping Groups [M] Add the groups, then subtract the overlap once.
Ordering from Clues [M] Chain the comparisons together.
Balancing a Scale [M] Share the balance equally.
Balancing an Equation [M] Both sides must total the same.
Missing Digit for Divisibility [M] A number divides by 3 when its digit sum does.
Divisibility Tests [M] Quick rules tell you what divides evenly.
Number Riddles [M] Use each clue to narrow the choices.
Consecutive Number Sums [M] The middle of three-in-a-row is the average.
Making the Greatest Number [M] Put the biggest digit in the highest place.
Sum and Difference [M] Add the sum and difference, then halve.
Arranging in a Row [M] Choose each spot in turn.
Counting Combinations [M] Multiply the choices for each part.
Counting Grid Paths [M] Every route mixes the same east and north moves.
Ways to Roll a Sum [M] List the pairs that reach the target.
How Many Numbers [M] Pick the tens digit, then the ones digit.
Codes with Repeats Allowed [M] Each position has the full set of choices.
Two-Step Word Problems [M] Do the multiplication, then the subtraction.
Times as Many [M] 'Times as many' means multiply.
Part and Whole [M] The parts add up to the whole.
Working Backwards [M] Undo the steps from the end.
Unit Price Problems [M] Find the price of one, then scale up.
Saving Over Time [M] Add the starting amount to the weekly savings.
Distance from Speed and Time [M] Distance is speed times time.
Reading a Table [M] Add the numbers in the table.
Reading a Pictograph [M] Each symbol stands for several items.
Reading a Bar Chart [M] Compare bar heights by subtracting.
Reading Tally Marks [M] Each bundle is five.
The Mode [M] The mode is the value that appears most.
The Range [M] The range is the biggest minus the smallest.
The Median [M] The median is the middle value in order.
How Likely? [M] Events can be certain, possible, or impossible.
Simple Probability [M] Probability is favourable outcomes over all outcomes.
Counting Favourable Outcomes [M] Count the sections that match the condition.

Math Kangaroo (Grades 1-4) - Counting, Patterns and Picture Logic · 46 topics

Counting Every Row of a Picture [H] Count each row of a picture and add the row counts to get the total.
How Many More in the Picture [H] Comparing two rows of a picture means subtracting the smaller count from the larger.
Counting the Shared Ones Only Once [H] A child who does both activities is in both lists, so the shared count is subtracted once.
Counting the Ones Left Out [H] The children in no group are the whole class minus the children counted in some group.
Counting Hidden Animals by Their Legs [H] Sharing the visible legs into fours counts the cows hidden behind the fence.
Counting the Dots You Cannot See [H] Hidden rows hold as many dots as a visible row, so multiply the row length by the hidden rows.
When One Picture Stands for Several [H] In a scaled picture graph each icon stands for several objects, so multiply the icons by the key.
How Long Is the Line? [H] Adding a place from the front to a place from the back counts the animal itself twice.
Counting the Places Between Two Children [H] The children between two places are found by subtracting both places and the two children themselves.
Counting Equal Groups in a Picture [H] Counting a picture in equal groups gives the number of full groups and the leftover.
Counting Triangles in a Cut Triangle [H] Every pair of lines from the top corner bounds one triangle, so count the pairs of lines.
Counting Rectangles in a Strip [H] A rectangle in a strip is fixed by choosing where it starts and where it ends.
Counting All the Sides in a Picture [H] The sides of a group of shapes are the number of each shape times its own number of sides.
Sorting the Shapes by Their Corners [H] Selecting shapes by a corner rule means adding only the counts of the shapes that obey it.
What Color Comes Next [H] Continuing a repeating color pattern means starting the cycle again after its last color.
Finding a Far-Away Bead [H] A bead's color depends only on its position within one cycle of the pattern.
How Many of One Color [H] Counting one color means counting whole cycles and then checking the part cycle left over.
How Long Is the Repeat? [H] The period of a pattern is the shortest block of beads that is repeated over and over.
Filling a Gap in a Pattern [H] A gap in a repeating pattern is filled by the color that its position holds in the cycle.
What Shape Comes Next [H] A shape pattern continues either by repeating its cycle or by following its rule for corners.
Two Patterns at Once [H] When color and shape repeat over different lengths, each one is worked out separately.
Patterns Whose Jumps Grow [H] In a growing pattern the gaps themselves follow a rule, so the next gap is bigger than the last.
Growing Dot Pictures [H] In a growing dot picture the figure number counts the rows, so the dots are the rows times the row length.
Staircases Built from Tiles [H] Each step of a tile staircase adds a column one tile taller than the last, so the totals add up the counting numbers.
Patterns That Multiply [H] A multiplying pattern is continued by applying the same rule to the last number, not by adding the last gap.
Working a Pattern Backwards [H] Running a pattern backwards undoes its rule once for every step back to the start.
Which Place in the Pattern [H] The place of a number in a steady pattern is found by sharing its distance from the start into steps.
Kangaroo Hops Along the Line [H] Equal hops land only on numbers whose distance from the start is a whole number of hops.
The Shape That Does Not Belong [H] A shape is the odd one out when it alone fails the corner rule the other four obey.
The Row That Does Not Belong [H] A row is the odd one out when its count alone fails the sharing rule the other rows obey.
The Number That Does Not Belong [H] A number is the odd one out when it alone is missing from the times table the others belong to.
Saying Why It Is the Odd One Out [H] A reason for the odd one out must hold for that item and fail for every other item.
Which Sentence Fits the Picture [H] A sentence fits a picture only when the counts read off the picture make it true.
Which List of Numbers Matches [H] Matching a list to a picture means reading each row in the stated order and using the key.
Which Sentence Does Not Fit [H] Finding the wrong sentence means testing every sentence against the picture until one fails.
Guessing the Shape from Its Clues [H] Each clue rules some shapes out, and the shape that survives every clue is the answer.
Who Has the Most and Who the Fewest [H] The most and the fewest are found by comparing every row of the picture, not only the neighbouring ones.
Second Tallest and Second Shortest [H] Naming the second tallest or the middle bar requires putting all the bars in order first.
Putting Three Rows in Order [H] Ordering rows of a picture means comparing their counts and listing them from the largest.
Twice as Many, Three Times as Many [H] Finding a row that is a given multiple of another means multiplying first and then searching for that value.
The Row in the Middle [H] The middle row of five is the third one after the rows are sorted by their counts.
Working Out Who Has What [H] In an assignment puzzle a fruit ruled out for every other child must belong to the child left.
Guessing the Number from Its Clues [H] Each numeric clue narrows the possible numbers, and only one number survives every clue.
Finding the Box from Two Clues [H] A clue about a picture keeps only the rows that obey it, and two clues together may leave just one.
Who Stands Where in the Line [H] Position clues fix a line when each clue is drawn onto the same row of places.
Finding the Animal from a Table [H] Reading a feature table means keeping only the rows that agree with every clue at once.

Math Kangaroo (Grades 1-4) - Number Puzzles and Arithmetic · 47 topics

The Hidden Part of a Total [H] Find a hidden part by taking the parts you can see away from the total.
How Many Went Away [H] Compare a before count with an after count to find how many left.
The Number We Started With [H] Undo each change in reverse order to find the starting number.
The Same Box Used Twice [H] When one number is hidden twice, share the total equally between the boxes.
How Long Was the Hop? [H] Find the size of a jump from the place it starts and the place it lands.
The Box in a Subtraction [H] Solve a subtraction sentence in which either the start or the amount taken is hidden.
Signs Hidden by Ink [H] Test each pair of signs in a number sentence to see which pair makes it true.
Which Sentence Fits the Story? [H] Choose the number sentence that matches what a short story does.
Which One Has the Same Answer? [H] Work out each number sentence and pick the one whose value matches.
The Smudged Digit [H] Recover one hidden digit of a two-digit number from an addition or subtraction.
Cards That Make the Total [H] Search a small set of number cards for the pair or trio that reaches a target.
Turning a Number Around [H] Swap the digits of a two-digit number and work with the number that results.
Counting One Digit [H] Count how often a digit is written, or how many numbers contain it.
The Smallest Number from Cards [H] Build the smallest number from digit cards, remembering that a number cannot start with zero.
Sharing a Picture Fairly [H] Share a pictured collection into equal parts, sometimes after setting a few aside.
How Many More Fill the Box [H] Find how many more items are needed to complete a box or a set of boxes.
The Same Dots in New Rows [H] Rearrange a fixed number of objects into different equal rows.
Making the Piles Equal [H] Move objects from a larger pile to a smaller one so the piles match.
Counting Legs [H] Total the legs of animals by adding equal groups, and work back from a leg total.
Adding the Same Number Again and Again [H] Match a repeated addition to the multiplication that means the same thing.
Doubling Day After Day [H] Follow a number that doubles at every step, forwards or backwards.
Tiles Around the Edge [H] Count the tiles on the border of a rectangle without counting a corner twice.
Each Picture Stands for Several [H] Use a picture key to turn a row of symbols into a total by repeated addition.
Which Coins Pay Exactly? [H] Add up each offered set of coins and pick the set worth exactly the price.
What Can You Buy? [H] Total a handful of coins and compare that total with the prices on offer.
Swapping Coins for Smaller Ones [H] Exchange several coins for smaller coins of the same total value.
How Many of Each Coin [H] Find how many coins of each kind fit both a coin count and a total value.
How Many Can You Buy? [H] Find how many items a sum of money buys when some money may be left over.
Taking Blocks Off to Balance [H] Remove blocks from the heavier pan until the two pans hold the same amount.
Cubes and Balls on a Scale [H] Replace each cube by the balls it balances to weigh a group of cubes.
The Hidden Weight [H] Find an unknown weight from a scale that balances known weights against it.
Ordering Weights from Scales [H] Chain several two-pan weighings into one order from heaviest to lightest.
From Melons to Plums [H] Follow a chain of two balances to swap one kind of object for another.
The Middle of the Cross [H] Use the fact that the center card of a cross is counted in both lines.
Totals at the Edge [H] Recover missing cells of a small grid from the row totals and column totals.
Every Line the Same Total [H] Find the common line total from a complete line, then fill a gap in another line.
Building a Number Pyramid [H] Fill a number pyramid upwards, where each brick is the sum of the two below it.
Working Back Down a Pyramid [H] Recover a missing brick lower in a pyramid from the bricks above it.
Follow the Arrows [H] Apply a list of operations to a starting number strictly in the given order.
Back Along the Arrows [H] Undo a list of operations from the last one to the first to recover the start.
The Hidden Arrow [H] Identify the missing operation in a chain from the starting and finishing numbers.
Does the Order Matter? [H] Compare the results of the same two operations carried out in opposite orders.
Which Start Reaches the Target? [H] Test candidate starting numbers through a chain of operations to see which reaches the target.
Fill the Bags, Then Share [H] Total several equal groups first, then share that total between children.
More Than, Then Add Up [H] Work out a compared amount first, then combine the amounts.
On and Off the Bus [H] Track a running total through several arrivals and departures.
Half, Then a Few More [H] Take half of an amount and then a further amount, or undo both steps.

Math Kangaroo (Grades 1-4) - Shapes, Space and Measuring · 46 topics

Naming a Flat Shape [H] A flat shape is named by how many straight sides and corners it has.
Corners Altogether [H] The corners of a group of shapes are counted by multiplying each shape's corners by how many there are.
Sorting Shapes by a Rule [H] Sorting means testing every shape against the rule and keeping only the ones that pass.
Which Shape Has the Most Sides [H] Comparing groups of shapes means multiplying each shape's sides by how many there are and comparing the totals.
Naming a Solid from Clues [H] A solid is named from its flat faces, its corners and whether it rolls.
Solids That Roll [H] A solid rolls when it has a curved surface, so spheres, cylinders and cones roll and flat-faced solids do not.
The Shape of a Flat Face [H] Pressing a flat face of a solid in paint prints the flat shape of that face.
Everyday Things as Solids [H] Everyday objects match solids: a ball is a sphere, a tin a cylinder, a dice a cube and a box a cuboid.
Faces of Two Solids Together [H] The faces of two solids are added one solid at a time, and a prism has two end faces plus one face for each side of its end shape.
Edges of a Prism [H] A prism whose ends have n sides has 3n edges and 2n corners.
Corners of a Pyramid [H] A pyramid on a base with n sides has n+1 corners, n+1 faces and 2n edges.
Naming a Solid from Its Faces and Corners [H] Two counts out of faces, edges and corners pin down which solid it is.
Which Solid the Net Makes [H] A net folds into the solid whose faces are exactly the pieces of the net.
Finishing a Net [H] A cube net needs 6 squares and a box with no lid needs 5, so the squares still missing are that number minus the squares already cut.
Opposite Faces After Folding [H] In a cube net drawn as a row of four with one square above and one below, faces two apart in the row are opposite, and the square above is opposite the square below.
Matching Faces of a Box [H] A box has three pairs of matching faces, and a face is a square only when the two edge lengths meeting at it are equal.
Cutting a Sheet of Paper [H] Straight cuts all one way give one more piece than cuts, and cuts both ways multiply the pieces of the two directions.
Cutting Off a Corner [H] A straight cut across a corner removes one corner and makes two new ones, so the big piece gains one corner.
How Many Cuts [H] Cutting one strip into n pieces takes n-1 cuts, one fewer than the number of pieces.
Letters in a Mirror [H] A letter looks unchanged in a side mirror when its left half matches its right half.
The Mirrored Square [H] A left-to-right flip sends the square in column c of a row of n to column n+1-c, and leaves its row alone.
A Clock in the Mirror [H] A clock face and its mirror image show times that add to 12 hours.
Arrows in the Mirror [H] A side mirror swaps left and right but leaves up and down alone.
Turning an Arrow [H] Each quarter turn clockwise moves a pointer one step round up, right, down, left.
Turns That Change Nothing [H] A regular shape with n sides looks the same n times in a full turn, once every 360/n degrees.
Turning a Card Upside Down [H] Turning a card a half turn reverses the order of the digits and swaps 6 with 9, while 0, 1 and 8 stay as they are.
Covering with Dominoes [H] A domino covers two squares, so the number of dominoes is half the number of squares.
Triangles Making Squares [H] Two half-square triangles make one square, so squares need twice as many triangles.
The Missing Piece [H] A piece fills a hole only when both of its side lengths match the hole, not merely its number of squares.
The Fewest Pieces [H] Covering a strip with the fewest pieces means using as many long pieces as possible while still filling it exactly.
Left, Right and Between [H] A place in a row is found by counting from the stated end, and the middle of two places is halfway along the count between them.
Moving on a Grid [H] A hop to the right adds to the across number and a hop up adds to the up number, so moves are added one direction at a time.
Touching Squares [H] A square inside a grid has four side neighbours, an edge square three and a corner square two.
Which Way on the Map [H] On a map north is straight up, south straight down, east to the right and west to the left.
Who Is Tallest [H] Comparison clues link the children into one line from tallest to shortest.
Measuring with Paper Clips [H] Measuring in units means counting how many copies of the unit fit along the object, and swapping to a bigger unit multiplies the count.
How Much Taller [H] The difference in height is the taller measurement minus the shorter one, read straight off the chart.
Long Steps and Short Steps [H] Measuring the same distance with a longer unit needs fewer of them, so the fewest steps means the longest step.
Reading the Clock Face [H] The short hand gives the hour it has passed and the long hand gives the minutes, five for every number it points past.
The Clock Later On [H] Adding a length of time to a clock time means adding the hours and the minutes separately and carrying 60 minutes as one hour.
A Clock That Is Wrong [H] A clock that runs fast shows a time later than the real one, so the real time is found by subtracting, and a slow clock is corrected by adding.
Counting the Strikes [H] A striking clock gives one strike for each hour number, so the strikes over several hours are the sum of those numbers.
Counting the Shaded Squares [H] The white squares of a grid are the total squares minus the shaded ones.
Squares and Half Squares [H] Two half squares make one whole square, so the area is the whole squares plus half the number of halves.
Which Shape Covers More [H] The squares a rectangle covers are the across count multiplied by the up count.
Same Squares, Longer Border [H] Shapes with the same number of squares can have different borders, and the long thin shape has the longer border.

Prerequisite material - taught automatically when the diagnostic finds gaps

Arithmetic Foundations · 3 topics
Adding & Subtracting Whole Numbers Multi-digit addition and subtraction.
Multiplication Multiplying whole numbers.
Division Dividing whole numbers.

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