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.

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...

It is likely that you will shop in a supermarket, but will you spot the cheapest deals? ‘Best buy’ questions have been a staple on exam papers for years. Compare offers using equivalent quantities or unit cost to identify the best deal. 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 (answers included). The symbols on the tins are Mongolian numerals. Key words: best buy, value for money, proportion, equivalent quantities, estimate, unit cost, comparison, compare, ratio, joke, shopping, supermarket, (unlock, untangle, understand).

Solve simple problems involving proportion. Find the value of the shaded sector by working out the relationship between the information given and the sector required. Could be used as a starter for pie charts (because the jokes link to pies and circles), or as a fraction of an amount activity or to develop proportional reasoning. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the jokes they decode! (answers included) Key words: proportion, equivalent quantity, unitary fraction, fraction, fraction of an amount, pie chart, multiply, divide, share, sector, circle, whole, total, joke, decode.

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.

Round each number to one significant figure first, then calculate to make an estimate of the calculation to decode the joke. 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! The puzzle also supports literacy students have to split the string of letters into recognisable words to work out the answer (answers included). Key words: Estimation, estimate, place value, significant figure, joke, decode. round, significant figure, estimating, rounding, worksheet, joke, (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.

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 ).

Decide if each number is written in standard form or not. Answer yes or no to decode a joke. Students like to finish a puzzle, but they don’t always like the joke they decode! If you liked this activity search for Place Value - A pack of powers of 10 and standard form puzzles to decode. Key words: Standard form, place value, power, index, joke, decode, worksheet.

Students decode a paragraph to find out about one of the simplest laws of Physics. The puzzle relies on an ability to multiply by 2, 5 and 10. It can be used to identify a numeracy deficit involving simple multiplication. Devices within the puzzle allow students to self monitor their work and correct errors (answers included). Can be used in Science or Mathematics. Keywords: Physics, Law of reflection, 2s, 5s, 10s, times table, message, decode, ray, light, reflect, angle, mirror, incidence, reflect worksheet, cross curricular numeracy, numeracy, deficit, math, maths, numeracy across learning (unlock untangle understand).

Match the number in words to the number in digits to decode the puzzle. 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 read the punchline. (answers included). If you like this, search for: Place Value - decode the puzzles, from powers of 10, to standard form. Keywords: place value, multiply, units, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, thousandths, hundredths, tenths, puzzle, joke, code, number system, practice, math joke, maths jokes, 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.

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.

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.

Match the decimals given in words to the number given in digits. 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 read the punchline. (answers included). If you like this, search for: Place Value - A pack of decimal and fraction puzzles. Keywords: place value, decimals, units, tenths, hundredths, thousandths, puzzle, joke, number system, subtract, practice, math, maths joke, mathematics, unlock untangle understand.

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.

Three puzzles to support cross curricular numeracy in: French, Food Technology and Geography. Puzzles can be used as starters or 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. 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_1 or _2). Keywords: cross curricular numeracy, joke, decode, resource, the decimal system, read decimal numbers, place value, units, tenths, hundredths, thousandths, decimal, fromage, brie international joke day, tomato, salad dressing, earthquake, ground, worksheet, numeracy deficit, transference (unlock untangle understand).

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.

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).

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).