Updated 23 June 2016 Although negative numbers have been in use in India since the middle ages, they were not fully adopted across Europe until the seventeenth century. Use this addition and subtraction puzzle using directed numbers to help students find out a little bit of the history of negative numbers. If you find this resource useful, there are more. Search for: decode the origins of the decimal point or decode the origins of our decimal number system. Key words: directed numbers, negative, positive, add, subtract, number line, count forwards, count backwards, zero, did you know, codes, decode, worksheet, history of mathematics, puzzle book.

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.

A task I use to reinforce understanding of place value and standard form. Lower ability students can also practice column additions and subtractions which makes it an ideal task for students who do not line up place values before calculating. Students decode a paragraph to find out about the origins of the decimal number system that is used today. The puzzle relies on a knowledge of powers of ten. Devices within the puzzle allow students to self monitor their work and correct errors (answers included). For more number resources search for Place Value - powers of 10, decode the origins of the decimal point or decode the adoption of negative numbers. Key words: Standard form, Units, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, powers of 10, place value, standard form, addition, subtraction, message, decode, origin, indian, arabic, numbers, worksheet, history of mathematics, math, maths, (unlock untangle understand).

Six puzzles to support cross curricular numeracy in: Humanities, English, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science. Use the puzzles in different subject areas to identify a numeracy deficit connected to place value or issues of transference from mathematics to other subjects. Puzzles can be used as starters. Devices within the puzzle allow students to self monitor their work and correct errors. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! Each puzzle also supports literacy. Students have to split the string of letters into recognisable words to answer the joke. If you find these resources useful there are more, search for: Place value - decimals (cross curricular numeracy_2 or _3). Keywords: cross curricular, numeracy resource, the decimal system, read decimal numbers, place value, units, tenths, hundredths, thousandths, decimal, elements, noble gas, helium, waves, hertz, renewable, gigabytes, numeracy, joke, jokes, rhetorical, dark ages, invasion, knight, joke, code, puzzle, international joke day, numeracy deficit, transferrance, diagnostic tool, worksheet. (undo, untangle, understand)