Solve three problems involving flow rate and volume of a cuboid to work out the order in which they fill up. Check the units of measurement being used are all the same.

Use prime factors to find the square root of a number. This task is easily extended (decide if the square root of a number is an integer value, or not). The task develops a feeling for number and underpins an understanding of surds. Key words: integer, factor, prime factor, factorisation, square root, root, surd.

I am going to try these 10 a day questions, to see if the approach works in the classroom. The questions are typical, but not standard. I hope to use them to uncover a few misconceptions. I thought I'd share with you and see what the feedback/reviews were like.

8 Menseki Meiro, or Area Maze problems. Key words: Menseki Meiro, area maze, area, rectangle, area of a rectangle, length, multiply, divide, width, compound shapes, Japanese puzzle, puzzle, multi step problems, logical thinking.

The pack includes balance drawing problems (up to unknowns on both sides), then balance drawings with equations written using symbols. There is a structured worksheet and a puzzle to complete the activity. The balance drawings reinforce the concept of equality LHS = RHS. There are no negatives, fractions or decimals involved in this pack only integer solutions. Answers on each page are easily checked because they sum to a multiple of 10 (answers included). Key words: equivalence, mobile problems, balance problems, pan balance, relationship, algebra, solve, unknowns, unknowns on both sides, balance problem, unknown, joke, logical thinking, multi-step problems, algebraic reasoning, puzzle, decode, worksheet, math, maths, mathematics, (unlock, untangle, understand).

Four mobile balancing problems to support algebraic reasoning. The thinking used in these puzzles is the same as the logic used behind solving equations. Explore equivalence where the LHS = RHS (Answers included). Key words: equivalence, mobile problems, balance, pan balance, relationship, solve, balance problem, unknown, joke, logical thinking, multi-step problems, algebraic reasoning, puzzle, decode, worksheet, math, maths, mathematics, (unlock, untangle, understand).

Solve simple problems involving proportion, find the value of the shaded sector by working out the relationship between the fraction given and the sector required. Find the unit fraction them multiply up to find the value of the whole and use that. (not for the faint-hearted ) Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! For more resources like this search for: Proportion - A pack - work out the value of the shaded sector to decode the joke. Key words: Sir Cumference, circumference, proportion, equivalent quantity, fraction, fraction of an amount, reasoning, multiply, divide, share, sector, circle, whole, total, joke, decode, maths joke.

Use the nth term expressions to calculate the missing terms in each sequence. Key words: nth term, expression, sequence, sequences, ascending, worksheet.

A teacher-student resource inspired by teachers from Shanghai. A paper copy is given to the student, another copy projected on to the whiteboard. The resource is used to structure a mathematical discussion about nth term. How to form an nth term expression from a sequence and how to write a sequence given the nth term expression. Initially scaffolding is provided in the form of boxes to fill in. (answers provided). Key words: nth term, term, expression, sequence, sequences, ascending, interactive, Shanghai.

Complete each maze in the most efficient way possible. Add the values of all the squares visited together, match the answer to the appropriate letter to work out the answer to the riddle. I use these activities to check students know how to add fractions with common denominators, work with improper fractions and add simple mixed numbers. They also highlight if a student needs help adding directed numbers. Useful as a general reminder. Key words: add, addition, revision activity, homework, diagnostic activity for number, total, calculation maze, puzzle, joke, practice, math joke, maths jokes, mathematics, Why did the boy stare at the carton of juice?, Did you hear about the four guys who stole a calendar? unlock untangle understand.

Complete each maze in the most efficient way possible. Add the values of all the squares visited together, match the answer to the appropriate letter to work out the punchline to the joke. Ideal as a diagnostic tool to identify numeracy deficit. Key words: add, addition, revision activity, homework, diagnostic activity for number, total, fraction, mixed numbers, improper fractions, directed numbers, calculation maze, puzzle, joke, practice, math joke, maths jokes, mathematics, did you hear about the four blokes who stole a calendar, unlock untangle understand.

Manipulate expressions using the Laws of Indices. Decode each puzzle to work out the punchline to a joke. (with answers) Key words: index, indices, notation, expression, index laws, laws of indices, base, bases, power, powers, raising a power to a power, divide, multiply, puzzle, joke, decode, worksheet, practice, math, maths, mathematics, (unlock, untangle, understand).

Nice extension questions for rectangle area, with a different spin leaning towards the new style GCSE questions. The only maths you need to know is that the area of a rectangle is the length multiplied by the width. Using the measurements given and logical thinking, work out the missing values (answers provided). Now with new proportional reasoning questions. Key words: Menseki Meiro, area maze, area, rectangle, area of a rectangle, length, multiply, divide, width, compound shapes, Japanese puzzle, puzzle, multi step problems, logical thinking.

It’s called Menseki Meiro, or Area Maze. The only maths you need to know is that the area of a rectangle is the length multiplied by the width. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! Use the information and some logical thinking to work out the punchline to the joke (answer included). Key words: Menseki Meiro, area maze, area, rectangle, area of a rectangle, length, multiply, divide, width, compound area, Japanese puzzle, math problem, puzzle, logical thinking. Why did the rectangle go to the gym? untangle, unlock, understand.

Find a fraction of an amount using unitary fractions to calculate the punchline to a joke. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! Key words: denominator, unitary fraction, proportion, fraction, fraction of an amount, share, whole, hole, total, joke, maths joke, punchline, decode, if it takes six men one hour to dig three holes...

Solve simple problems involving proportion, find the value of the shaded sector by working out the relationship between the fraction given and the sector required. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! For more resources like this search for: Proportion - A pack - work out the value of the shaded sector to decode the joke. Key words: proportion, equivalent quantity, fraction, fraction of an amount, pie chart, multiply, divide, share, sector, circle, whole, total, joke, decode, maths joke.

Find the value of the shaded sector by using the relationship given. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! Key words: sector, fraction, fraction of an amount, pie chart, divide, share, circle, whole, total, joke, decode, maths joke.

A message, built up from fractions of mathematical words to create of four sentences. Each sentence explains the history of fractions as they are used today. The fraction given indicates how much of each word to use. Put the parts together to form a new word and decode information about the history of fractions. Each question supports literacy. Students have to merge groups of letters together to form recognisable words and sentences (answers included). Students can be surprised that fractions in their current form, originated in India (SSMC). Key words: fraction, fractions, fraction of an amount, history of fractions, ssmc, numerator, denominator, vocabulary, puzzle, decode, fraction words, fractions have not always been written as they are today.

Not as simple to do as it looks. Match ten mathematical homonyms to their meaning in mathematics and in everyday English.. An interesting activity to promote discussion and the importance of subject specific vocabulary (answers provided). Key words: math homonym, vocabulary, EFL, meanings, definitions, different contexts, literacy in mathematics, match (terms used: sign, root, product, term, mean, even, difference, face, negative, power ).

Identify equivalent fractions. Shade squares to reveal the answer to the joke, Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! Key words: Equivalent, fraction, match, shade, fractions, multiples, multiple, equivalent fraction, joke, decode, worksheet, joke, (unlock, untangle, understand).