Endless Maths Starters

This macro-enabled Excel spreadsheet contains four Mathematics starter tasks suitable for UK Key Stage 3 and GCSE sets or equivalent.

Odd One Out

The purpose of this starter is to enable learners to explain the properties of numbers and develop their use of correct mathematical terminology. Three integers are generated between maximum and minimum values selected by the teacher. Learners are invited to select one of the three numbers and give a reason why it is the odd one out. For example, if the numbers were 6, 36 and 49:

• 6 is the odd one out because it is the only Perfect Number.
• 6 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is not a Square Number.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is not a multiple of 2.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that does not have 2 as a factor.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is not a multiple of 3.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that does not have 3 as a factor.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is not a multiple of 6.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that does not have 6 as a factor.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is a multiple of 7.
• 49 is the odd one out because it is the only one that has 7 as a factor.

The ‘Another!’ button generates a fresh set of numbers.

Ordering

The purpose of this starter is to arrange six numbers into ascending order. To increase or decrease difficulty, the teacher selects the number range to use (a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 100), the number of decimal places to use (0 to 3), or whether to have a mixture of 0, 1, 2 and 3 decimal place values.

Once the learners have filled in the answers, the 'Mark Them! button reveals which responses are correct and incorrect. Changing an answer removes the marking until the button is clicked again.

The ‘Another!’ button generates a fresh set of numbers.

Decimal Places

The purpose of this starter is to round six three decimal place real numbers to one and two decimal places. To increase the level of difficulty the teacher selects the number range to use (a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 100).

Once the learners have filled in the answers, the 'Mark Them! button reveals which responses are correct and incorrect. Changing an answer removes the marking until the button is clicked again.

The ‘Another!’ button generates a fresh set of numbers.

Sig Figs

The purpose of this starter is to round six numbers to one, two and three significant figures, The teacher selects the number range to use: either four- and five-digit integers or 5 decimal place real numbers.

Once the learners have filled in the answers, the 'Mark Them! button reveals which responses are correct and incorrect. Changing an answer removes the marking until the button is clicked again.

The ‘Another!’ button generates a fresh set of numbers.