I use these as a break from the "past paper drudgery" in the run up to exams. The questions are taken from past papers (amended in some cases). The idea is to answer each question fully then scan the QR code linked to the correct answer to form a code. Each QR code (correct or incorrect to avoid "cheating") scans to a song or artist that contains a number or colour, so this generates the code.

These are all available for free individually but if you want them without searching then this is for you. The activities are designed to create discussion in class and make the students think. Each file has a minimum of 4 spiders to complete.

These are all available for free individually but if you want them without searching then this is for you. The activities are designed to create discussion in class and make the students think as well as getting them to set out a solution clearly and logically. Each file has numerous "explosions" to complete.

These are all available for free individually but if you want them without searching then this is for you. The activities are designed to create discussion in class and make the students think. Each file has a minimum of 4 spiders to complete.

The usual story - these cover various topics under the "Number" umbrella. Students answer the questions to reveal the punchline to a joke. Ideal for starters and plenaries in my opinion, but use them as you wish.

This takes students through factorising quadratics, solving them and onto completing the square, including solving quadratics that won't factorise nicely. Designed as starters/plenaries/assess the learning activities.

Two “Crack The Safe” activities, one on reading Venn diagrams and the other using set notation. These are designed to be used as a starter or a plenary and allow students to self-mark as possible answers are shown but more that they require to avoid guessing.

I was asked to help some students (Years 9 and 10) who massively lacked confidence with number, so I came up with this set of questions working through general calculations, calculations with brackets, powers, fractions, percentages and decimals. In each case the student must balance both sides of the equation; it is designed to encourage discussion and thinking rather than just running through a set of similar questions. I hope you find it useful.

Twenty three "defuse the bomb" worksheets and answers on various topics including vectors, inequalities (solving, number lines and regions), shapes, bearings, rearranging formulae, transforming functions, trigonometry in right-angled triangles, similarity and surface area. These are self-marking to the extent that if their answer doesn't appear in the list of possible answers then they need to check what they've done which allows students to just get on and grow in confidence.

Mick Carter, landlord of the Queen Vic in Eastenders, requires help with some fractions that he’s trying to shift. Can your class help him? This involves converting between mixed and improper fractions as well as calculating with them. Eastenders theme tune is optional…

Just one “Crack The Safe” activity on differentiation, involving differentiating, finding gradients and turning points. There are six questions with three possible answers for each. The wrond answers may generate discussion as to what has been done, but ultimately this is a self-checking worksheet that allows the teacher to help those who need it whilst others get on. I use these for starters or plenaries but use them how you wish.

Just the one Crack The Safe activity on functions, including substitution, inverses and composite functions. There are six question each with three possbile answers so students can self-check whilst the teacher help those who require it. The incorrect answers might create discussion as to how they came about too. I use these as starters and plenaries but use them how you like.

Twenty seven different algebra “Crack The Safe” activities. These have questions with a choice of potential answers (more than the number of questions to avoid answers by elimination). These are designed to allow students who are confident to get on and self-check answers (if their answer doesn’t appear they have made a mistake)whilst the teacher can help those who require it. These can be used as starters, plenaries or main task and can generate discussions. They are all available individually.

Twenty seven “Crack The Safe” activities (18 geometry and 9 data) where students have the ability to self-check their answers whilst the teacher helps those who require it. These can be used as starters, plenaries or main tasks and can generate discussion regarding the incorrect answers. Each of these is available individually.

Twenty seven separate worksheets (and answers) using the “Crack The Safe” template. These have questions and potential answers (more answers than questions to negate guessing or process of elimination answers). These allow teachers to help those who need it whilst others can self-check (if their solution appears in the set of potential solutions then they are good to go). You can use these as starters, plenaries or main tasks. These are all available individually.

This set of two worksheets is designed to force students to show their workings and not use a calculator when simplifying surds. There are straightforward simplifying, expanding brackets and rationalising the denominator with space to write working etc.

Two codebreakers (the first one is slightly easier than the second) where students must identify the equation of a trigonometric function from the graph, resulting in the punchline to a cheesy joke. The scale is as large as I can make it I’m afraid so I apologise that it is small. I used Desmos to draw the functions.

The usual stuff; cheesy joke revealed upon answering some questions.

Ten questions, each answered by four people. One of them has got the answer correct, the other three have got it wrong. Students find who got the answer correct then try to figure out what the others did wrong. This should lead to some nice discussion as either a starter or plenary, but you can clearly use it however you like.

We put on a Stem Day for Year 6 students and decided to do binary as the topic for a 45 minute session. This takes students through converting between binary and decimal numbers, including a couple of codebreakers (we produced a Stem leaflet for them to take away). The PowerPoint moves on to adding and subtracting in binary if you need it. It went well and was delivered by a range of people so if it’s useful to you… There’s even a bonus codebreaker on adding and subtracting in binary.