A short, snappy starter which refreshes pupil’s mental arithmetic skills and provides a healthy mix of challenge and competition. This starter is suitable for all maths classes in secondary school and those in KS2. The task is this: Using digits from 1-9, make an addition with two 3 digit numbers to make another 3 digit number. Each digit from 1-9 can only be used once (carrying is allowed). . This could be done as a competition to encourage group work where pupils (in teams) are set a certain amount of time and must come up with as many different additions as they can. This starter is also useful for generating discussions as the pupils may notice certain patterns in the answers (i.e. the digits of the final answer always add up to 18) and the commutative law of addition (3 + 5 = 5 + 3).

A selection of 8 starters on probability related to real life which are suitable for KS3 and GCSE students. The starters encourage students to think laterally, being similar to brainteasers. Topics covered include: experimental probability, listing outcomes, sample space diagrams, relative frequency, tree diagrams, probability scales and permutations/combinations. Each starter begins with a problem or statement which the children must decide is true or false through investigation, giving reasons why this is the case. This exercise would be perfect for encouraging discussions as students may present a wide variety of explanations.

This is a great revision source for KS3 and KS4 pupils on triangular numbers. The resource includes a definition and explanation, patterns which can be found in the sequence, how to find the nth term of the sequence and worked examples of exam questions involving triangular numbers. Depending on the ability of the class, you may wish to differentiate; the opening part of the resource is suitable for less able learners whilst the later part of the resource should stretch more able students. Other topics linked with this resource include finding the nth term of quadratic sequences, generating sequences and properties of numbers.

This resource handily introduces compound interest to more able KS3 groups and GCSE in the form of adding interest to a bank account. Other topics covered include percentages and decimal multipliers. This resource is an investigation (with teacher notes and accompanying worksheets) which gets students to investigate whether how often interest is added to a bank account effects the total amount of interest. The problem is so: I invest £1,000 in a savings account at an interest rate of 3.1% p.a. for one year. What interval at which the interest is paid will get me the most money? The students can then be guided to calculating the total amount of interest when it is added, daily montly etc. before being guided to an overall formula to solve the problem.

This investigation (includes teacher notes and worksheets) is suited to very able KS4 groups and those in KS5 studying Maths. It covers the topics of convergence, subject of a formula and even can be expanded to iteration for more advanced learners. Pupils are given a starting value of a sequence, which they multiply by 3, add 10 to then and finally divide by 4 to generate the next term in the sequence. They then multiply this value by 3, add ten to it and divide by 4 to get the next term and so forth, generating the sequence in an iterative manner until the sequence converges. The goal of this investigation is to find a relationship between the initial starting value of the sequence and that which it converges to. This can be explained in a satisfying algebraic way using subject of the formula although pupils may offer other alternative explanations.

A handy resource with 3 separate diagrams of circles showing each part clearly labelled as well as diagrams of basic 2-D shapes and their area formulae. Although mainly suitable for students at KS3 Maths, this resource would also specifically those pupils in KS4 studying Foundation. It is especially useful for those pupils who struggle to retain information and acts as a handy prompt to remember key formulae.

A useful revision aid on all the 2-D shapes whom students will encounter in the KS3/GCSE Mathematics curriculum, with notes on their properties and different types of shapes. Also includes a section on polygons for higher ability learners.

This is a short maths test aimed at pupils in KS3. It could be used as a baseline assessment to determine their level at the start of a year as it covers the majority of the basic skills- working out the area and perimeter of a shape, ordering decimals, simplifying fractions and so forth needed to succeed at Mathematics.

This resource is aimed as an extension activity for higher ability learners as it asks questions in a worded form on Circumference and Area. Useful as an extension, plenary or to consolidate learning of pupils.

A simple resource demonstrating how to calculate the area and circumference of a circle with worked examples clearly illustrating the methods behind answering the question. At the beginning of the resource, children are reminded of the precise definitions of Circumference, Diameter and Radius. Students can use this resource to help them with working out the area and circumference of a circle and and also for revision too. Primarily this resource should be aimed at those pupils in KS3 Maths, though older pupils may benefit from this as a refresher of some basic skills.

A Powerpoint on writing equations and formulae for KS3 and GCSE Foundation Maths Students. The Powerpoint contains enough material for a whole lesson. As well as showing pupils how to write expressions and formulae, this Powerpoint also covers how to substitute numbers into formulae, with real-life worked examples provided. Plenty of questions are included for pupils to attempt with an extension of solving equations to test more able pupils.

A Powerpoint which can be used as a whole lesson to teach pupils about sample space diagrams. Although intended for KS3 pupils, the content of the resource is also applicable for GCSE foundation students. The powerpoint is very interactive and allows students to get involved at every opportunity, with a strong link to literacy as students are prompted to learn the definition of key words.

An excellent and extensive Powerpoint which teaches students how to draw and interpret Pie Charts given a set of data. The Powerpoint also teaches the importance of pie charts in a real life context and encourages discussions. There are solid links with ratio, fractions and proportion. The Powerpoint also includes plenty of questions for students to attempt, including extension activities for more able students.

This is a very useful resource with starters on KS3 fraction topics: finding fraction of an amount, converting between fractions, decimals and percentages, equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions and HCF/LCM. These are useful to introduce a topic or to act as ‘settlers’ to get pupils on task when they enter the classroom.

A handy set of starters to do with topics involved in KS3 Geometry: angles, volume of 3-D shapes, constructing angles, transformations, properties of shapes and angle laws. These are excellent to start a lesson off, as ‘settlers’ to get students on task and also to test prior knowledge of a topic.