A challenging set of puzzles, that mainly require pupils to use their knowledge of the properties and area rule of a parallelogram, but also involve finding areas of triangles. Includes a few ideas adapted from other sources, one of which is Don Steward’s superb Median blog, the other I’m afraid I can’t remember. Please review if you like it, or even if you don’t!

Basically colouring by numbers, but with questions on Pythagoras' theorem. Actually created by one of my pupils!

A powerpoint including examples, worksheets and solutions on 3D sketching of prisms and other solids, nets of 3D solids, drawing on isometric paper and plans/elevations. Worksheets at bottom of presentation for printing.

A complete lesson for first teaching about corresponding, alternate and supplementary angles. Activities included: Starter: Pupils measure and label angles and hopefully make observations and conjectures about the rules to come. Main: Slides to introduce definitions, followed by a quiz on identifying corresponding, alternate and supplementary angles, that could be used as a multiple choice mini-whiteboard activity or printed as a card sort. Another diagnostic question with a twist, to check pupils have grasped the definitions. Examples followed by a standard set of basic questions, where pupils find the size of angles. Examples/discussion questions on spotting less obvious corresponding, alternate and supplementary angles (eg supplementary angles in a trapezium). A slightly tougher set of questions on this theme, followed by a nice angle chase puzzle and a set of extension questions. Plenary: Prompt for pupils to see how alternate angles can be used to prove that the angles in a triangle sum to 180 degrees. Printable answers and worksheets included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on finding percentages of an amount using non-calculator methods, by relating them to the key percentages of 10%, 25% and 1%. See the cover image to get an idea of the intention of the lesson. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to recap on finding 50%, 25%, 75%, 10%, 5%, 20% and 1% of an amount. Main: Some slides to introduce the idea of using the key percentages to find other percentages. A worksheet to consolidate these ideas, followed by three flowcharts in the style of the cover image, where pupils are given a starting number and work out all the percentages. The starting numbers get progressively more difficult. I use this as a non-calculator task, but it could be used with calculators too. An extension task where pupils work out some percentages not included in the flowcharts, by combining percentages. Plenary: A great discussion question, looking at four possible ways to calculate 75% of a number. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions is a good topic, so what better than a joke to reward pupils' efforts? Pupils answer questions and use the code to reveal a funny gag.

Worksheet where answers to questions are used to obtain a 3-digit code (which I set as the combination to a lockable money box containing a prize). Questions on a mixture of all the GCSE-standard percentage skills.

A fun 'investigation&' using ratio and problem solving skills. Slightly dark theme of thieves sharing the profits of different robberies. Made by another TES user &';taylorda01' (thanks for the resource!) but I wanted to add answers to it.

A short investigation based on a lovely puzzle I saw a while ago. Requires only knowledge of square numbers to investigate and enjoy, but pupils will need to be able to expand double brackets to understand a proof of the puzzle. Could be used with any age!

A complete lesson designed to be used to consolidate pupils’ ability to add and subtract a negative number. Activities included: Starter: Some straight forward questions to test if they can remember the basic methods and help identify misconceptions. Main: A set of differentiated questions to give pupils a bit more practice. A game adapted from the nrich website. A closer look at the design of the game, with pupils making a sample space diagram. Plenary: Some final questions to prompt discussion and reflection on how to remember the rules used. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you use this!

Worksheet where answers to questions are used to obtain a 3-digit code (which I set as the combination to a lockable money box containing a prize).

A powerpoint with worksheets on the profit parabola model. A nice rich task to use with high-ability GCSE students, to deepen their understanding of quadratic functions/maximum points and also to see a real-life application of maths.

Maze consists of squares containing questions with answers, some of which are wrong. Pupils are only allowed to pass through squares containing correct answers. Extension - pupils design their own maze. I like to discuss how to make the maze harder by including classic misconceptions like divide by 5 to get 5%

Classic quiz with questions on area, including parallelograms, triangles, trapezia and composite shapes made with rectangles. Answers on each slide by clicking on orange squares plus on last slide. Hope no-one minds my use of an image of Bob Holness - he will always be the face of Blockbusters to me!

Worksheet where answers to questions are used to obtain a 3-digit code (which I set as the combination to a lockable money box containing a prize). Pupils race to finish first and crack the safe.

Maze consists of squares containing identities, some of which are false. Pupils can only pass through squares containing true identities. Identities require ability to expand & factorise quadratic expressions and simplify algebraic fractions, so really only good for a GCSE top set. Extension - pupils find identities of incorrect squares and then design their own maze (there's a good discussion to be had about how to make a good maze - including common misconceptions to fool people).

Based on a few Nrich ideas, pupils use algebra to investigate a number of puzzling results.

A set of powerpoints covering all topics in FP1. Examples labelled WB correspond to the separately attached 'Workbook&' (I give this as a single booklet so pupils have a clear model answer to each topic). References to Exercises are from the Pearson Edexcel FP1 textbook.

A set of powerpoints covering all topics in FP2. Examples labelled WB correspond to the separately attached 'Workbook&' (I give this as a single booklet so pupils have a clear model answer to each topic). References to Exercises are from the Pearson Edexcel FP2 textbook.

Based on an Nrich activity, pupils investigate how many different triangles can be drawn (with some restrictions). Leads to a very nice visual result and discussions about how pupils know they have found all possible answers.