For a very special countdown to the Christmas holidays, we have something exciting for you - a special mystery tale. And we'll need your help to solve it! Finn Finity and the Great Christmas Maths Mystery is an interactive story that you can read together, either in class or at home as a family.
How does it work?
There are 15 chapters in total, plus a prologue and an epilogue, spread over three weeks. On our website countdown page, we will be releasing one chapter per day on weekdays, from Monday 1 until Friday 19 December.
The story is a mystery, that our Maths Week Scotland mascot Finn Finity is trying to solve. Each chapter includes one or more puzzles to solve, encouraging a range of different maths skills (a small number of chapters include an additional puzzle, or a puzzle in two parts). Once solved, the puzzles will provide clues to eliminate suspects from a list. By the end of the story, there should only be one suspect left and you will have helped Finn to work out what happened and who did it!
What age is it aimed at?
The puzzles are aimed at Second Level, so P5 to P7. However, younger or older children may enjoy the story and the puzzles too. If you are taking part as a family with a mixed age group, then you can do the puzzles together.
I am a teacher - can you send me the chapters earlier so I can plan ahead?
We know that teachers like to plan ahead, so for teachers three weekly packs with all the chapters for that week, which you are all available to download in advance. You can find the teachers packs at the bottom of this page!
What do I do next?
Families, home learners and individuals - head over to our Countdown page, download and read through the instructions, and get started by reading the Prologue. Further chapters, including any relevant puzzle downloads, will be released Mondays to Fridays from 1 December onwards on the Countdown page.
Teachers - scroll down to the end of this page and download your teachers packs. There is one pack per week, with all three packs available now!
Any other questions?
If you have any other questions, please feel to email us at mathsweekscot@nms.ac.uk
Christmas Mystery Teachers Packs
Teachers Pack Week 1 (Chapters 1 - 5)
Instructions: Download the files below. Read the Teachers Notes - General Info first. Then read Teachers Notes - Week 1 to familiarise yourself with what to expect for the week. Each day, read a chapter of the story and show the relevant slides as indicated, and complete the puzzle for that day (the Newspaper Puzzle is part of Chapter 4). The final two downloads, List of Suspects and Museum Map are needed on all days.
Instructions: Download the files below. Read Teachers Notes - Week 2 to familiarise yourself with what to expect for the week. Each day, read a chapter of the story and show the relevant slides as indicated, and complete the puzzle for that day (the Morse Code Chart is part of Chapter 9). You will also need the two downloads List of Suspects and Museum Map from Week 1.
Instructions: Download the files below. Read Teachers Notes - Week 3 to familiarise yourself with what to expect for the week. Each day, read a chapter of the story and show the relevant slides as indicated, and complete the puzzle for that day (the Who is Lying? puzzle is part of Chapter 15). You will also need the two downloads List of Suspects and Museum Map from Week 1. Please note: The final day of the mystery includes an additional puzzle plus an epilogue, so please consider this in your planning.
It is almost time for the RSPB Big Schools’ Bird Watch – the largest citizen science project for schools across the UK. Running from 6th January- 13th February 2026. Sign your school up now, and then get counting in the new year!
We've pulled together all our seasonal resources from the last three years, and thrown in a few new ones too, so that you can create your own Christmas Holiday Countdown depending on age, ability and preferences. With games, puzzles, art and craft activities to choose from, as well as our interactive puzzle mystery story.
