A complete lesson with the 9-1 GCSE Maths specification in mind. Activities included: Starter: Some recap questions on solving two-step linear equations (needed later in the lesson). Main: An introduction to Fibonacci sequences, followed by a quick activity where pupils extend Fibonacci sequences. A challenging, rich task, inspired by one of TES user scottyknowles18’s excellent sequences rich tasks. Pupils try to come up with Fibonacci sequences that fit different criteria (eg that the 4th term is 10). Great for encouraging creativity and discussion. A related follow up activity where pupils try to find missing numbers in given Fibonacci sequences, initially by trial and error, but then following some explanation, by forming and solving linear equations. Extension - a slightly harder version of the follow up activity. Plenary: A look at an alternative algebraic method for finding missing numbers. Some slides could be printed as worksheets, although it’s not strictly necessary. Answers to most tasks included, but not the open-ended rich task. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A treasure hunt/follow me activity on circle theorems.

My take on Daniel Burke's excellent idea of odd-one-out set to a song featuring Cookie Monster. The box at the bottom of the puzzles should show the video but Powerpoint and the TES website don't like this link, so I&'ve given the website address to download the video, which you can then insert into the powerpoint. Menus are clickable (clicking on the top heading will take you back to the previous menu). Correct answer flashes after 50 seconds (this coincides with the video)

Inspired by something similar I saw on Don Steward's Median blog, a set of non-calculator questions that reward pupils for applying the basic index laws before trying to work out the answer.

Pupils are given two fractions as the start of a sequence, and try to extend it. Could be made easier or introduced using integers rather than fractions, maybe with some decimals and negatives in between. Works as either a ‘low floor high ceiling’ task, or as a way of revising different sequence types and also decimals, negatives and fractions. Particularly for the quadratic sequence, there’s scope to spend time looking at the algebra needed to find solutions. Please let me know if you can think of any other ways to extend the task!

Classic quiz with questions on linear equations, including unknowns on both sides, brackets and simple algebraic fractions. Answers on each slide by clicking on orange squares. Hope no-one minds my use of an image of Bob Holness - he will always be the face of Blockbusters to me!

Pupils work out answers to questions on a mixture of SOHCAHTOA, sine rule, consine rule and Pythagoras’s theorem to reveal a fairly rubbish joke (although I quite like it).

Two activities finding missing angles, one using rules for parallel lines and the other using circle theorems. The intention is that pupils are presented with step-by-step solutions in the form of a cartoon strip, and have to identify the rule used to do each step of the solution.

A complete lesson on subtracting a negative number. Activities included: Starter: Some recap questions on adding a negative number (I always teach this first). Main: A slide showing a number pattern to demonstrate the logic of subtracting a negative. Example question pairs with number lines, for pupils to practice and give a chance to provide instant feedback. A set of differentiated questions. A more challenging task for pupils to discuss in pairs, where they try to find examples or counterexamples for different scenarios. Plenary: A deceptively simple puzzle to consolidate the key point of the lesson. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A very simple but motivating game where pupils race to complete a grid of times tables. Separate instructions attached. Also a spreadsheet which reveals answers and can be used to keep track of pupil progress (I maintain records of pupils' personal bests on there). A good task for settling a class that requires minimal preparation.

A simple but adaptable interactive picture quiz in powerpoint to dress up asking questions - ideal for starters or plenaries. Think Catchphrase but with 2 different images for 2 teams and pictures of anything you fancy. You provide the questions. See separate instructions.

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 with examples and activities on calculating gradients of lines and drawing lines with a required gradient. Printable worksheets and answers included. Could also be used before teaching the gradient and intercept method for plotting a straight line given its equation. 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 on how to use a protractor properly. Includes lots of large, clear, animated examples that make this fiddly topic a lot easier to teach. Designed to come after pupils have been introduced to acute, obtuse and reflex angles and they can already estimate angles. Activities included: Starter: A nice set of problems where pupils have to judge whether given angles on a grid are acute, 90 degrees or obtuse. The angles are all very close or equal to 90 degrees, so pupils have to come up with a way (using the gridlines) to decide. Main: An extended set of examples, intended to be used as mini whiteboard questions, where an angle is shown and then a large protractor is animated, leaving pupils to read off the scale and write down the angle. The range of examples includes measuring all angle types using either the outer or inner scale. It also includes examples of subtle ‘problem’ questions like the answer being between two dashes on the protractor’s scale or the lines of the angle being too short to accurately read off the protractor’s scale. These are all animated to a high standard and should help pupils avoid developing any misconceptions about how to use a protractor. Three short worksheets of questions for pupils to consolidate. The first is simple angle measuring, with accurate answers provided. The second and third offer more practice but also offer a deeper purpose - see the cover image. Instructions for a game for pupils to play in pairs, basically drawing random lines to make an angle, both estimating the angle, then measuring to see who was closer. Plenary: A spot the mistake animated question to address misconceptions. As always, printable worksheets and answers included. Please do review if you buy, the feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on solving two step equations using inverse operations. Does include some decimals, as I wanted to give a more complete example set and make it hard for pupils to just use trial and error to find solutions. As such, I would let pupils use calculators. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to check that pupils can evaluate two step expressions like 2x+3, given a value of x Main: A prompt to discuss the differences between two equations (a one step and a two step with the same solution), to get pupils thinking about how they could approach the latter. Examples and a set of questions on using inverse operations to reverse a two step flowchart and solve its corresponding equation. These have been deigned to further reinforce the importance of BIDMAS when interpreting an algebraic expression, so the emphasis is on quality not quantity of questions. A more challenging task of pupils trying to make an equation with a certain solution. Designed to be extendable to pupils looking for generalistions. Plenary: A prompt to discuss a few less obvious one-step equations (eg x+8+3=20) Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A challenging activity on the theme of triangle area, suitable for year 11 revision. The initial questions require a knowledge of basic triangle area, Pythagoras’ theorem, SOHCAHTOA, the sine rule and 1/2absinC so a good, challenging revision task. The questions have been designed with a ‘minimally diferent’ element, to draw pupils attention to how subtle changes can have significant implications for selecting methods. There are some follow-up questions, that could be used to shift the focus of the activity. I’d love to hear anyone’s suggestions of further questions.

A complete lesson on the scenario of using the sine rule to find an obtuse angle in a triangle. Given the connection this has with triangle congruence and the graph of sine, these ideas are also explored in the lesson. Designed to come after pupils have spent time doing basic sine rule questions and have also encountered the graph of sine beyond 90 degrees. Activities included: Starter: A goal-free question to get pupils thinking, that should help recap the sine rule and set the scene for the rest of the lesson. Main: A prompt for pupils to construct a triangle given SSA, then a closer look at both possible answers. Depending on the class, this could be a good chance to talk about SSA being an insufficient condition for congruence. A related question on finding an unknown angle using the sine rule. Pupils know there are two answers (having seen the construction), but can they work out both answers? This leads into a closer look at the symmetry property of the sine graph, and some quick questions on this theme for pupils to try. Then back to the previous question, to find the second answer. This is followed by four similar questions for pupils to practice (finding an obtuse angle using the sine rule) Two extension questions. Plenary: A slide to summarise the lesson as simply as possible. Answers and printable worksheets included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on compound interest calculations. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to refresh pupils on making percentage increases. Main: Examples and quick questions on interest. Examples and a worksheet on compound interest by adding on the interest each year. Examples and a worksheet on compound interest using the direct multiplier method. A challenging set of extension questions. Plenary: A prompt for pupils to think about the graph of compounded savings with time. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the theorem that the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference. For me, this is definitely the first theorem to teach as it can be derived using ideas pupils have already covered. and then used to derive some of the other theorems. Please see my other resources for lessons on the other theorems. Activities included: Starter: A few basic questions to check pupils can find missing angles in triangles. Main: A short discovery activity where pupils split the classic diagram for this theorem into isosceles triangles (see cover image). If you think this could overload pupils, it could be skipped, although I think if they can’t cope with this activity, they’re not ready for circle theorems! A link to the mathspad free tool for this topic. I hope mathspad don’t mind me putting this link - I will remove it if they do. A large set of mini-whiteboard questions for pupils to try. These have been designed with a variation element as well as non-examples, to really make sure pupils think about the features of the diagrams. A worksheet for pupils to consolidate independently, with two possible extension tasks: (1) pupils creating their own examples and non-examples, (2) pupils attempting a proof of the theorem. Plenary: A final set of six diagrams, where pupils have to decide if the theorem applies. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!