A powerpoint with a series of lessons on GCSE vectors, with examples, activities and finally exam questions. Includes a few resources adapted from TES user payphone and another from jensilvermath.com.

A powerpoint including examples, worksheets and solutions on plotting coordinates in all 4 quadrants and problem solving involving coordinates. Worksheets at bottom of presentation for printing.

A selection of puzzles, many from the Junior or Intermediate Maths Challenges. Includes animated solutions. Good for promoting discussion and stimulating interest as starters, plenaries or extension. Powerpoint has clickable contents page to choose and move between puzzles.

A complete lesson on finding an angle in a right-angled triangle using trig ratios. Designed to come after pupils have been introduced to the ratios sin, cos and tan, and have investigated how the ratios vary. Please see my other resources for complete lessons on these topics. Activities included: Starter: Provided with the graph of y=sinx, pupils estimate sinx for different values of x and vice-versa. Main: Slides to introduce use of scientific calculators to find accurate values for angles or ratios. Examples of the basic method of finding an angle given two sides. Includes graphs to reinforce what is happening. Quick questions for pupils to try and provided feedback. A worksheet of questions with a progression in difficulty. Starts with standard questions, then moves on to more challenging ones (eg finding the smallest angle in a non-right-angled, isosceles triangle). Plenary: A final question to check pupils’ understanding, but also with a combinations/logic element. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first teaching how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators. Does include some examples and questions involving simplifying at the end, but doesn’t include adding or subtracting mixed numbers. Activities included: Starter: Some quick questions to test if pupils can find equivalent fractions and identify the lowest common multiple of two numbers. Main: Some examples with diagrams to help pupils understand the need for common denominators when adding. A recap/help sheet of equivalent fractions for pupils to reference while they try some simple additions and subtractions. At this stage, they aren’t expected to find LCMs ‘properly’, just to find them on the help sheet. Some example question pairs on adding or subtracting by first identifying the lowest common denominator, starting with the scenario that the LCM is the product of the denominators, then the scenario that the LCM is one of the denominators, and finally the scenario that the LCM is something else (eg denominators of 4 and 6). A set of straightforward questions with a progression in difficulty. The hardest ones require students to simplify the answer. A challenging extension where pupils must find four digits to fit a given fraction sum. Plenary: A final example designed to challenge the misconception of adding numerators and denominators, and give a chance to reinforce the key method. Worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on defining, recognising and extending linear sequences. Activities included: Starter: Pupils discuss whether six sets of numbers are sequences, and if so, what the rules are. Main: Slides to define linear sequences, followed by mini whiteboard questions and a worksheet of extending linear sequences. A fun puzzle a bit like a word search (but where you try to find linear sequences). Plenary: Another nice puzzle where pupils try to form as many linear sequences as they can from a set of numbers. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the concept of an equation of a line. Intended as a precursor to the usual skills of plotting using a table of values or using gradient and intercept. Examples, printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for introducing quadratic sequences. Rather than go straight into using or finding nth term rules, the focus is on looking at differences between terms to identify and extend given sequences. Activities included: Starter: A related number puzzle Main: Slides/examples to define quadratic sequences A set of sequences, some quadratic, for pupils to determine whether they are quadratic or not. A more challenging, open-ended task, where, given the first, second and fourth terms of a quadratic sequence, pupils form and solve an equation to find the third term. Having solved once for given numbers, pupils can create their own examples. Plenary: A comparison between linear and quadratic sequences. No printing required, please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on finding a term given its a position and vice-versa. Activities included: Starter: Recap questions on using an nth term rule to generate the first few terms in a linear sequence. Main: Short, simple task of using an nth term rule to find a term given its position. Harder task where pupils find the position of a given term, by solving a linear equation. Plenary: A question to get pupils thinking about how they could prove if a number was a term in a sequence. No worksheets required, and answers are included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the interior angle sum of a triangle. Activities included: Starter: Some simple recap questions on angles on a line, as this rule will used to ‘show’ why the interior angle sum for a triangle is 180. Main: A nice animation showing a smiley moving around the perimeter of a triangle, turning through the interior angles until it gets back to where it started. It completes a half turn and so demonstrates the rule. This is followed up by instructions for the more common method of pupils drawing a triangle, marking the corners, cutting them out and arranging them to form a straight line. This is also animated nicely. A few basic questions for pupils to try, a quick reminder of the meaning of scalene, isosceles and equilateral (I would do a lesson on triangle types before doing interior angle sum), then pupils do more basic calculations (two angles are directly given), but also have to identify what type of triangles they get. An extended set of examples and non-examples with trickier isosceles triangle questions, followed by two sets of questions. The first are standard questions with one angle and side facts given, the second where pupils discuss whether triangles are possible, based on the information given. A possible extension task is also described, that has a lot of scope for further exploration. Plenary A link to an online geogebra file (no software needed, just click on the hyperlink). This shows a triangle whose points can be moved dynamically, whilst showing the exact size of each angle and a nice graphic of the angles forming a straight line. I’ve listed some probing questions that could be used at this point, depending on the class. I’ve included key questions and ideas in the notes box. Optional, printable worksheets and answers included. Please do review if you buy as any feedback is helpful and appreciated!

A complete lesson or two on finding equations of tangents to circles with centre the origin. Aimed at the new GCSE specification, although it could also be used with an A-level group. Activities included: Starter: Two recap questions on necessary prerequisites, the first on equations of circles, the second on equations of perpendicular lines. If pupils really struggled with this I would stop and address these issues, rather than persist with the rest of the lesson. Main: A set of questions on finding the gradient of OP, given some point P on a circle, followed by a related worksheet for pupils to practice. A follow-up ‘reverse’ task where pupils find points P such that the gradient of OP takes certain values. The intention is that pupils can do this task by logic and geometric reasoning, rather than by forming and solving formal equations, although the task could be further extended to look at this. The focus then shifts to gradients of tangents, and finally equations of tangents, with examples and a related set of questions for pupils to practice. An extension task where pupils find the equation of the circle given the tangent. Plenary: A spot the mistake question. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on identifying the y-intercept of a linear function. Intended as a precursor to using gradient and y-intercept to plot a linear function, but after pupils have plotted graphs with a table of values (ie they have seen equations of lines already). A good way of getting pupils to consider gradient without formally being ‘taught’ it. Activities included: Starter: A puzzle about whether two boats (represented on a grid) will collide. Main: Examples and three worksheets on the theme of identifying y-intercept. The first could just be projected and discussed - pupils simply have to read the number off the y-axis. The second is trickier, with two points marked on a grid, and pupils extend this (by counting squares up and across) until they reach the y-axis. The third is a lot more challenging, with the coordinates of 2 points given on a line, but no grid this time (see cover image). Could be extended by giving coordinates of two points, but one either side of the y-axis (although I’m going to do a whole lesson on this as a context for similarity, when I have time!) Plenary: A look at how knowing the equation of a line makes finding the y-intercept very easy. Examples, printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on interior angles of polygons. Activities included: Starter: A slide showing examples and non-examples of interior angles, for pupils to think about a definition, followed by a set of images where pupils must identify any interior angles (sounds easy and dull, but isn’t!) Main: A recap of visual proofs of why the interior angles of a triangle sum to 180 degrees and those of a quadrilateral sum to 360 degrees, leading to the obvious question of “what next?” Prompts for the usual “investigation” into the sum of interior angles for polygons, by splitting into triangles. A set of questions designed to be done with mini whiteboards, starting with basic sums of interior angles, interior angles of regular polygons and finally a few variations (see cover image). A four-part worksheet (one page if printed two-a-side and two-sided) with a similar progression in difficulty. Plenary: A slide summarising the rules encountered, together with some key questions to check for any misconceptions. Printable worksheets and answers included. I’ve also included suggested questions and extensions in the notes boxes at the bottom of each slide. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson (or maybe two) for introducing the area rule of a circle. Activities included: Starter: A mini-investigation where pupils estimate the area of circles on a grid. Main: Quickfire questions to use with mini whiteboards. A worksheet of standard questions with a progression in difficulty. A set of three challenging problems in context, possibly to work on in pairs. Plenary: Link to a short video that ‘proves’ the area rule very nicely. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on solving equations of the form sinx = a, asinx = b and asinx+b=0 (or with cos or tan) in the range 0 to 360 degrees. Designed to come after pupils have spent time looking at the functions of sine, cosine and tangent, so that they are familiar with the symmetry properties of these functions. See my other resources for lessons on these precursors. I made this to use with my further maths gcse group, but could be used with A-level classes too. Activities included: Starter: A set of four questions, effectively equations but presented as visual graph problems, to remind pupils of the symmetry properties of sine and cosine and the fact that tangent repeats every 180 degrees. Main: An example to transition from a visual problem to a formal, worded problem, and a reminder of the symmetry properties of sine and cosine. Five examples of solving trigonometric equations of increasing difficulty, including graphical representations to help pupils understand. A set of similar questions for pupils to do independently. I’ve made this into a worksheet where the graphs are included, to scaffold the work. Includes an extension task where pupils create equations with a required number of solutions. Plenary: A “spot the mistake” that addresses a few common misconceptions. Printable worksheets and answers provided. Please review f you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for introducing the area rule of a parallelogram. Activities included: Starter: A couple of area mazes to remind them of the rule for rectangles. Main: A prompt for pupils to discuss or think about what a parallelogram is, followed by 2 questions, where pupils are shown a set of shapes and have to identify which ones are parallelograms. Animated examples showing the classic dissection and rearrangement of a parallelogram into a rectangle, leading naturally to a derivation of the area rule. Animated examples of using a ruler and set square to measure the base and perpendicular height, before calculating area. A worksheet where pupils must do the same. This is worth doing now, to make pupils think carefully about perpendicular height, rather than just multiplying given dimensions together. Examples and a worksheet where pupils must select the relevant information from not-to-scale diagrams. Extension task of pupils using knowledge of factors to solve an area puzzle. Plenary: Spot the mistake discussion question. Nice animation to show why the rule works. Link to an online geogebra file (no software required) with a lovely alternative dissection of a parallelogram Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson, or range of activities to use, on the theme of Pythagorean triples. A great lesson for adding some interest, depth and challenge to the topic of Pythagoras’ theorem. Activities included: Starter: A set of straight forward questions on finding the third side given two sides in a right-angled triangle, to remind pupils of Pythagoras’ theorem. Main: Slides explaining that Pythagoras’ theorem can be used to test whether a triangle has a right angle. A sorting activity where pupils test whether given triangles contain a right angle. Quick explanation of Pythagorean triples, followed by a structured worksheet for pupils to try using Diophantus’ method to generate Pythagorean triples, and, as an extension, prove why the method works. Two pairs of challenging puzzles about Pythagorean triples. Plenary: A final question, not too difficult, to bring together the theme of the lesson (see cover image). Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first introducing Pythagoras’ theorem. Activities included: Starter: A set of equations to solve, similar to what pupils will need to solve when doing Pythagoras questions. Includes a few sneaky ones that should cause some discussion. Main: Examples and quick question to make sure pupils can identify the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. Optional ‘discovery’ activity of pupils measuring sides of triangles and making calculations to demonstrate Pythagoras’ theorem. Questions to get pupils thinking about when Pythagoras’ theorem applies and when it doesn’t. Examples and quick questions for pupils to try on the standard, basic questions of finding either the hypotenuse or a shorter side. A worksheet with a mild progression in difficulty, from integer sides and answers to decimals. An extension task of a ‘pile up’ activity (based on an idea by William Emeny, but I did make this one myself). Plenary: Some multiple choice questions to consolidate the basic method, but also give a taster of other geometry problems Pythagoras’ theorem can be used for (e.g. finding the length of the diagonal of a rectangle). Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first introducing how to find angles in a right-angled triangle using a trig ratio, but as a pupil-led investigation. Intended to come after pupils have practiced identifying hypotenuse/opposite/adjacent and calculating sin/cos/tan. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to check pupils can correctly calculate sin, cos and tan from a triangle’s dimensions. Main: A structured investigation where pupils: Investigate sin, cos and tan for triangles of different size but the same angles (i.e. similar triangles), by measuring dimensions of triangles and calculating ratios Investigate what happens as the angle varies by measuring dimensions of triangles, calculating ratios, and plotting separate graphs of sin, cos and tan. Using their graphs to estimate angles for conventional SOHCAHTOA questions (i.e. finding an angle given two sides) Plenary: A prompt to get pupils to discuss/reflect on their understanding of the use of trig ratios. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first introducing the ratios sin, cos and tan. Ideal as a a precursor to teaching pupils SOHCAHTOA. Activities included: Starter: Some basic similarity questions (I would always teach similarity before trig ratios). Main: Examples and questions on using similarity to find missing sides, given a trig ratio (see cover image for an example of what I mean, and to understand the intention of doing this first). Examples, quick questions and worksheets on identifying hypotenuse/opposite/adjacent and then sin/cos/tan for right-angled triangles. A challenging always, sometimes, never activity involving trig ratios. Plenary: A discussion about the last task, and a chance for pupils to share ideas. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!