A powerpoint with explanations and worksheets covering rounding to decimal places and significant figures, estimation, upper & lower bounds and error intervals.

The last of five complete lessons on linear sequences. Looks at patterns of squares or lines that each form a linear sequence. Adapted from a resource by another TES user called flibit (who has made some excellent resources). Printable worksheets included.

Non-calculator sums with standard form is a boring topic, so what better than a rubbish joke to go with it? Pupils answer questions and use the code to reveal a feeble gag.

A complete lesson on inverse operations. Includes questions with decimals, with the intention that pupils are using calculators. Activities included: Starter: Four simple questions where pupils fill a bank in a sum, to facilitate a discussion about possible ways of doing this. Slides to formalise the idea of an inverse operation, followed by a set of questions to check pupils can correctly correctly identify the inverse of a given operation and a worksheet of straight-forward fill the blank questions (albeit with decimals, to force pupils to use inverse operations). I have thrown in a few things that could stimulate further discussion here - see cover image. Main: The core of the lesson centres around an adaptation of an excellent puzzle I saw on the Brilliant.org website. I have created a series of similar puzzles and adapted them for a classroom setting. Essentially, it is a diagram showing boxes for an input and an output, but with multiple routes to get from one to the other, each with a different combination of operations. Pupils are tasked with exploring a set of related questions: the largest and smallest outputs for a given input. the possible inputs for a given output. the possible inputs for a given output, if the input was an integer. The second and third questions use inverse operations, and the third in particular gives pupils something a lot more interesting to think about. The second question could be skipped to make the third even more challenging. I’ve also thrown in a blank template for pupils to create their own puzzles. Plenary: Your standard ‘I think of a number’ inverse operation puzzle, for old time’s sake. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please do review if you buy, as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on solving two step equations of the form ax+b=c, ax-b=c, a(x+b)=c and a(x-b)=c using the balancing method. Designed to come after pupils have solved using a flowchart/inverse operations. Activities included: Starter: A few substitution questions to check pupils can correctly evaluate two-step expressions, followed by a prompt to consider some related equations. Main: A slide to remind pupils of the order of operations for the four variations listed above. Four example-problem pairs of solving equations, to model the methods and allow pupils to try. A set of questions for pupils to consolidate, and a suggestion for an extension task. The questions repeatedly use the same numbers and operations, to reinforce the fact that order matters and that pupils must pay close attention. A more interesting, challenging extension task in the style of the Open Middle website. Plenary: A set of four ‘spot the misconception’ questions, to prompt a final discussion/check for understanding. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on connected ratios, with the 9-1 GCSE in mind. The lesson is focused on problems where, for example, the ratios a:b and b:c are given, and pupils have to find the ratio a:b:c in its simplest form. Assumes pupils have already learned how to generate equivalent ratios and share in a ratio- see my other resources for lessons on these topics. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to recap equivalent ratios. Main: A brief look at ratios in baking, to give context to the topic. Examples and quick questions for pupils to try. Questions are in the style shown in the cover image. A set of questions for pupils to consolidate. A challenging extension task where pupils combine the techniques learned with sharing in a ratio to solve more complex word problems in context. Plenary: A final puzzle in a different context (area), that could be solved using connected ratios and should stimulate some discussion. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first teaching how to find a fraction of an amount. Activities included: Starter: A matching activity, where pupils pair up shapes with the same fraction shaded. Main: Some highly visual examples of finding a fraction of an amount, using bar modelling. Some examples and quick questions for pupils to try (these don’t use bar modelling, but I guess weaker pupils could draw diagrams to help). A set of questions with a progression in difficulty, from integer answers to decimal answers to some sneaky questions where the pupils need to spot that the fraction can be simplified. An extension task where pupils arrange digits (with some thought) in order to make statements true. Plenary: A nice visual odd-one-out puzzle to finish, that may well expose a few misconceptions too. Optional, printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first teaching how to divide fractions by fractions. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions on multiplying fractions (I assume everyone would teach this before doing division). Main: Some highly visual examples of dividing by a fraction, using a form of bar modelling (more to help pupils feel comfortable with the idea of dividing a fraction by a fraction, than as a method for working them out). Examples and quick questions for pupils to try, using the standard method of flipping the fraction and multiplying. A set of straightforward questions. A challenging extension where pupils must test different combinations and try to find one that gives required answers. Plenary: An example and explanation (I wouldn’t call it a proof though) of why the standard method works. Optional worksheets (ie everything could be projected, but there are copies in case you want to print) and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on patterns of growing shapes that lead to quadratic sequences. See the cover image to get an idea of what I mean by this. Activities included: Starter: A matching activity relating to representation of linear sequences, to set the scene for considering similar representations of quadratic sequences, but also to pay close attention to the common sequences given by the nth term rules 2n and 2n-1 (ie even and odd numbers), as these feature heavily in the lesson. Main: A prompt to give pupils a sense of the intended outcomes of the lesson (see cover image). An extended set of examples of shape sequences with increasingly tricky nth term rules. The intention is that pupils would derive an nth term rule for the number of squares in each shape using the geometry of each shape rather than counting squares and finding an nth term rule from a list of numbers. A worksheet with a set of six different shape sequences, for pupils to consider/discuss. The nth term rules have been given, so the task is to justify these rules by considering the geometry of each shape sequence. Each rule can be justified in a number of ways, so this should lead to some good discussion of methods. Plenary: Ideally, pupils would share their differing methods, but I’ve shown a few methods to one of the sequences to stimulate discussion. Printable worksheets (2) included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on area of rectilinear shapes, with a strong problem solving and creative element. Activities included: Starter: See cover slide - a prompt to think about properties of shapes, in part to lead to a definition of rectilinear polygons. Main: A question for pupils to discuss, considering which of two methods gives the correct answer for the area of an L-shape. A worksheet showing another L-shape, 6 times with 6 different sums. Pupils try to figure out the method used from the sum. A second worksheet that is really hard to describe but involves pupils thinking critically about how the area of increasingly intricate rectilinear shapes can have the same area. This sets pupils up to go on to create their own interesting shapes with the same area, by generalising about the necessary conditions for this to happen, and ways to achieve this (without counting all the squares!) A third worksheet with more conventional area questions, that could be used as a low-stakes test or a homework. Most questions have the potential to be done in more than one way, so could also be used to get pupils discussing and comparing methods. Plenary: A final question of sorts, where pupils have to identify the information sufficient to work out the area of a given rectilinear shape. Printable worksheets and answers included. I’ve also included suggestions for key questions and follow up questions in the comments boxes at the bottom of each slide. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the theorem that a perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through the centre of a circle. Assumes pupils can already use the theorems that: The angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference The angle in a semicircle is 90 degrees Angles in the same same segment are equal .Opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180 degrees A tangent is perpendicular to a radius Angles in alternate segments are equal Tangents from a point are equal so that more varied questions can be asked. Please see my other resources for lessons on these theorems. Activities included: Starter: An animation reminding pupils about perpendicular bisectors, with the intention being that they would then practice this a few times with ruler and compass. Main: Instructions for pupils to investigate the theorem, by drawing a circle, chord and then bisecting the chord. Slides to clarify the ‘two-directional’ nature of the theorem. Examples of missing angle or length problems using the theorem (plus another theorem, usually) A similar set of eight questions for pupils to consolidate. An extension prompt for pupils to use the theorem to locate the exact centre of a given circle. Plenary: An animation of the proof without words, the intention being that pupils try to describe the steps. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy, as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the theme of star polygons. An excellent way to enrich the topic of polygons, with opportunities for pupils to explore patterns, use notation systems, and make predictions & generalisations. No knowledge of interior or exterior angles needed. The investigation is quite structured and I have included answers, so you can see exactly what outcomes you can hope for, and pre-empt any misconceptions. Pupils investigate what happens when you connect every pth dot on a circle with n equally spaced dots on their circumference. For p>1 this generates star polygons, defined by the notation {n,p}. For example, {5,2} would mean connect every 2nd dot on a circle with 5 equally spaced dots, leading to a pentagram (see cover image). Pupils are initially given worksheets with pre-drawn circles to explore the cases {n,2} and {n,3}, for n between 3 and 10. After a chance to feedback on this, pupils are then prompted to make a prediction and test it. After this, there is a set of deeper questions, for pupils to try to answer. If pupils successfully answer those questions, they could make some nice display work! To finish the lesson, I’ve included a few examples of star polygons in popular culture and a link to an excellent short video about star polygons, that references all the ideas pupils have considered in the investigation. I’ve included key questions and other suggestions in the notes boxes. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the equation of a circle with centre the origin. The intention is to get pupils familiar with not only the format of the equation of a circle, and a derivation of the equation, but also problems involving coordinates on a circle. Activities included: Starter: A related question where pupils try to identify which of three given points are closer to the origin, before considering what must be true if points are a given distance from the origin. Main: The starter leads directly into a clear definition of the equation of a circle, followed by a set of quick diagnostic whole-class questions to check for understanding. Example-question pairs of increasingly difficult problems involving coordinates on circles, followed by a set of three worksheets. The last one is more of a mini-investigation, with opportunities for pupils to conjecture and generalise. Plenary: Three final puzzles to check for understanding. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete revision lesson for pupils to practice SOHCAHTOA, both finding sides and angles. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to test whether pupils can find sides and angles, and give a chance to clear up any misconceptions. Main: A treasure hunt of SOHCAHTOA questions. Straight forward questions, but should still generate enthusiasm. Could also be used as a a more scaffolded task, with pupils sorting the questions into sin, cos or tan questions before starting. Activity has been condensed to two pages, so less printing than your average treasure hunt! Bonus: Another set of straight-forward questions, that could be given for homework or at a later date to provide extra practice. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for introducing the trapezium area rule. Activities included: Starter: Non-calculator BIDMAS questions relating to the calculations needed to area of a trapezium. A good chance to discuss misconceptions about multiplying by a half. Main: Reminder of shape properties of a trapezium Example-question pairs, giving pupils a quick opportunity to try and receive feedback. A worksheet of straight forward questions with a progression in difficulty, although I have also built in a few things for more able students to think about. (eg what happens if all the measurement double?) A challenging extension task where pupils work in reverse, finding measurements given areas. Plenary: Nice visual proof of rule by relating to the rule for the area of a parallelogram. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on finding the area of a sector. Activities included: Starter: Collect-a-joke starter on areas of circles to check pupils can use the rule. Main: Example-question pairs, giving pupils a quick opportunity to try and receive feedback. A straight-forward worksheet with a progression in difficulty. A challenging, more open-ended extension task where pupils try to find a sector with a given area. Plenary: A brief look at Florence Nightingale’s use of sectors in her coxcomb diagrams, to give a real-life aspect. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first teaching how to compare fractions using common denominators. Intended as a precursor to both ordering fractions and adding or subtracting fractions, as it requires the same skills. Activities included: Starter: Some quick questions to test if pupils can find the lowest common multiple of two numbers. Main: A prompt to generate discussion about different methods of comparing the size of two fractions. Example question pairs on comparing using equivalent fractions, to quickly assess if pupils understand the method. A set of straightforward questions with a progression in difficulty. A challenging extension where pupils find fractions halfway between two given fractions. Plenary: A question in context to reinforce the key skill and also give some purpose to the skill taught in the lesson. Optional worksheets (ie no printing is really required, but the option is there if you want) and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on prime factors. Intended as a challenging task to come after pupils are familiar with the process of expressing a number as a product of prime factors (see my other resources for a lesson on this). Activities included: Starter: Questions to test pupils can list all factors of a number using factor pairs. Main: Pupils find all factors of a number using a different method - by starting with the prime factor form of a number and considering how these can be combined into factor pairs. Links well to the skill of testing combinations that is in the new GCSE specification. Possible extension of pupils investigating what determines how many factors a number has. Plenary: A look at why numbers that are products of three different primes must have 8 factors. No worksheets required and answers included throughout. Please review it if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson for first teaching pupils how to express a number as a product of its prime factors using a factor tree. Activities included: Starter: Three puzzles relating to prime numbers, intended to increase pupils’ familiarity with them. Main: Examples and questions (with a progression of difficulty and some intrigue). Plenary A ‘spot the mistake’ question. No worksheets required and answers included throughout. Please review it 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!