A complete lesson on number pyramids, with an emphasis on pupils forming and solving linear equations. An excellent way of getting pupils to consolidate methods for solving in an unfamiliar setting, and for them to think mathematically about what they are doing. Activities included: Starter: Slides to introduce how number pyramids work, followed by a simple worksheet to check pupils understand (see cover slide) Main: A prompt to a harder question for pupils to try. They will probably use trial and improvement and this will lead nicely to showing the merits of a direct algebraic method of obtaining an answer. A second, very similar question for pupils to try. The numbers have simply swapped positions, so there is some value in getting pupils to predict how this will impact the answer. A prompt for pupils to investigate further for themselves, along with a few suggested further lines of inquiry. There are lots of ways the task could be extended, but my intention is that this particular lesson would probably focus more on pupils looking at combinations by rearranging a set of chosen numbers and thinking about what will happen as they do this. I have made two other number pyramid lessons with slightly different emphases. Plenary: A prompt to a similar looking question that creates an entirely different solution, to get pupils thinking about different types of equation. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on number pyramids, with an emphasis on pupils forming and solving linear equations. An excellent way of getting pupils to think about equations in an unfamiliar setting, and to create their own questions and conjectures. Activities included: Starter: A mini-investigation on three-tier number pyramids, to set the scene. One combination is best dealt with using a linear equation, and sets pupils up to access the more challenging task to come. Main: A prompt for pupils to consider four-tier number pyramids. Although this task has the potential to be extended in different ways, I have provided an initial focus and provided some responses that pupils could give, so you can get a clear idea of how the investigation might progress. I would spend the rest of the lesson responding to pupils’ work and questions, and probably get pupils to make posters of their findings or discuss their work with other pupils. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A challenging activity on the theme of triangle area, suitable for year 11 revision. The initial questions require a knowledge of basic triangle area, Pythagoras’ theorem, SOHCAHTOA, the sine rule and 1/2absinC so a good, challenging revision task. The questions have been designed with a ‘minimally diferent’ element, to draw pupils attention to how subtle changes can have significant implications for selecting methods. There are some follow-up questions, that could be used to shift the focus of the activity. I’d love to hear anyone’s suggestions of further questions.

At least a lesson’s worth of activities on the theme of quadratic sequences. Designed to come after pupils have learnt the basics (how to use and find an nth term rule of a quadratic sequence). Gives pupils a chance to create their own examples and think mathematically. There are four activities included: Activity 1 - given sets of four numbers, pupils have to order them so that they form quadratic sequences. Designed to deepen pupils understanding that the terms in a quadratic sequences don’t necessarily always go up or down. Activities 2 and 3 - on the same theme of looking at the sequences you get when you pick and order three numbers of choice. Can you always create a quadratic sequence in this way? What if you had four numbers? Could be used to link to quadratic functions. Activity 4 - inverting the last activity, can pupils find possible values for the first three terms and a rule, given the fourth term? A chance for pupils to generate their own examples and possibly do some solving of equations in more than one variable. Where applicable, worked answers provided.

A complete lesson of more challenging problems involving the sine rule. Designed to come after pupils have spent time on basic questions. Mistake on previous version now corrected - please contact me for an updated copy if you have already purchased this. Activities included: Starter: A set of six questions, each giving different combinations of angles and sides. Pupils have to decide which questions can be done with the sine rule. In fact they all can, the point being that questions aren’t always presented in the basic ‘opposite pairs’ format. Pupils can then answer these questions, to check they can correctly apply the sine rule. Main: A set of eight more challenging questions that pupils could work on in pairs. Each one is unique, with no examples offered, and therefore I’d class this as a problem solving lesson - pupils may need to adopt a general approach of working out what they can at first, and seeing where this takes them. Questions also require knowledge from other topics including angle rules, shape properties, bearings, and the sine graph. I’ve provided full worked answers FYI, but I would get pupils discussing answers and presenting to the class. Plenary: A prompt for pupils to reflect on possible rounding errors. Most of the questions have several steps, so it is worth getting pupils to think about how to avoid rounding errors. I’ve left each question as a full slide, but I’d print them 4-on-1 and 2-sided, so that you’d only need to print one worksheet per pair. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

Pupils solve straight forward quadratic equations to reveal a pathetic joke.

Pupils work out answers to questions on a mixture of SOHCAHTOA, sine rule, consine rule and Pythagoras’s theorem to reveal a fairly rubbish joke (although I quite like it).

A complete lesson on solving equations of the form sinx = a, asinx = b and asinx + b = 0 (or using cos or tan) for any range. Designed to come after pupils have spent time solving equations in the range 0 to 360 degrees, and are also familiar with the cyclic nature of the trigonometric functions. See my other resources for lessons on these topics. I made this to use with my further maths gcse group, but could also be used with an A-level class. Activities included: Stater: A set of 4 questions to test if pupils can solve trigonometric equations in the range 0 to 360 degrees. Main: A visual prompt to consider solutions beyond 360 degrees. followed by a second example (see cover image) that will lead to a “dead-end” for pupils. Slides to define principal values for sine, cosine and tangent, followed by a summary of how to solve equations for any range. Three example problem pairs to model methods and then get pupils trying. Includes graphical representations to help pupils understand. A worksheet with a progression in difficulty and a challenging extension to create equations with a required number of solutions. Plenary: A prompt to discuss solutions to the extension task.

A complete lesson on the theorem that the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference. For me, this is definitely the first theorem to teach as it can be derived using ideas pupils have already covered. and then used to derive some of the other theorems. Please see my other resources for lessons on the other theorems. Activities included: Starter: A few basic questions to check pupils can find missing angles in triangles. Main: A short discovery activity where pupils split the classic diagram for this theorem into isosceles triangles (see cover image). If you think this could overload pupils, it could be skipped, although I think if they can’t cope with this activity, they’re not ready for circle theorems! A link to the mathspad free tool for this topic. I hope mathspad don’t mind me putting this link - I will remove it if they do. A large set of mini-whiteboard questions for pupils to try. These have been designed with a variation element as well as non-examples, to really make sure pupils think about the features of the diagrams. A worksheet for pupils to consolidate independently, with two possible extension tasks: (1) pupils creating their own examples and non-examples, (2) pupils attempting a proof of the theorem. Plenary: A final set of six diagrams, where pupils have to decide if the theorem applies. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the theorem that opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral sum to 180 degrees. Assumes that pupils have already met the theorems that the angle at the centre is twice the angle at the circumference, the angle in a semicircle is 90, and angles in the same segment are equal. See my other resources for lessons on these theorems. Activities included: Starter: Some basics recap questions on the theorems already covered. Main: An animation to define a cyclic quadrilateral, followed by a quick question for pupils, where they decide whether or not diagrams contain cyclic quadrilaterals. An example where the angle at the centre theorem is used to find an opposite angle in a cyclic quadrilateral, followed by a set of three similar questions for pupils to do. They are then guided to observe that the opposite angles sum to 180 degrees. A quick proof using a very similar method to the one pupils have just used. A set of 8 examples that could be used as questions for pupils to try and discuss. These have a progression in difficulty, with the later ones incorporating other angle rules. I’ve also thrown in a few non-examples. A worksheet of similar questions for pupils to consolidate, followed by a second worksheet with a slightly different style of question, where pupils work out if given quadrilaterals are cyclic. A related extension task, where pupils try to decide if certain shapes are always, sometimes or never cyclic. Plenary: A slide showing all four theorems so far, and a chance for pupils to reflect on these and see how the angle at the centre theorem can be used to prove all of the rest. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the theme of the formula for 1+2+3+…+n, looking at how the rule emerges in different scenarios. Activities included: Starter: A classic related puzzle - counting how many lines in a complete graph. After the initial prompt showing a decagon, two differing approaches to a solution are shown. These will help pupils make connections later in the lesson. This is followed by a prompt relating to the handshaking lemma, which is the same thing in a different guise. Pupils could investigate this in small groups. Main: A prompt for pupils to consider the question supposedly put to Gauss as a child - to work out 1+2+3+…+100. Gauss’s method is then shown, at which point pupils could try the same method to sum to a different total. The method is then generalised to obtain Gauss’s rule of n(n+1)/2, followed by a worksheet of related questions. These include some challenging questions requiring pupils to adapt Gauss’s method (eg to work out 2+4+6+…+100). Plenary: A final look at the sequence Gauss’s rule generates (the triangle numbers). Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on the interior angle sum of a quadrilateral. Requires pupils to know the interior angle sum of a triangle, and also know the angle properties of different quadrilaterals. Activities included: Starter: A few simple questions checking pupils can find missing angles in triangles. Main: A nice animation showing a smiley moving around the perimeter of a quadrilateral, turning through the interior angles until it gets back to where it started. It completes a full turn and so demonstrates the rule. This is followed up by instructions for pupils to try the same on a quadrilateral that they draw. Instructions for pupils to use their quadrilateral to do the more common method of marking the corners, cutting them out and arranging them to form a full turn. This is also animated nicely. Three example-problem pairs where pupils find missing angles. Three worksheets, with a progression in difficulty, for pupils to work through. The first has standard ‘find the missing angle’ questions. The second asks pupils to find missing angles, but then identify the quadrilateral according to its angle properties. The third is on a similar theme, but slightly harder (eg having been told a shape is a kite, work out the remaining angles given two of the angles). A nice extension task, where pupils are given two angles each in three quadrilateral and work out what shapes they could possibly be. Plenary: A look at a proof of the rule, by splitting quadrilaterals into two triangles. A prompt to consider what the sum of interior angles of a pentagon might be. Printable worksheets and answers included throughout. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

Inspired by the TV show, pupils work in teams on a mix of Physical, Skill and Mystery maths puzzles . Game is divided into four zones based loosely on contributions of Greek, Egyptian, Indian and Chinese mathematicians in history. Teams collect crystals that buy a head-start in a final mega-puzzle - a really tough maze.Worksheets for printing at end of presentation which is clickable between menus.

A brief insight into how fractals are created as well as examples in Maths, art and nature. Includes a spreadsheet to investigate. Requires a basic understanding of complex numbers to fully appreciate.

Are you bored of telling students what calculator to get for secondary school maths? Then use this poster!

Looks at switching between different bases and the effect of base on arithmetic and divisibility tests.Plus an excel 'base switch&' calculator. A good enrichment task with a historical/real-life aspect, though probably best for more able pupils.

A selection of puzzles, most using the digits 1 to 9 and an element of working systematically to obtain a solution. A few are from the the excellent Nrich website. Based around key skills of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing but that doesn't mean they're easy!

A lesson or two of functional maths activities exploring a visual breakdown of the Budget that I found on the Guardian website recently. Requires knowledge of percentage change and reverse percentage problems. Starts with relatively straight forward calculations but gets a bit more political towards the end!

A hyperlinked list of geogebra interactives I’ve found on a range of maths topics. Not made by me, I’m just sharing in case people find them useful.

Pupils eliminate suspects/weapons/rooms by completing worksheets on a range of algebra topics including substitution, expanding, factorising, linear & quadratic equations, algebraic fractions and simultaneous linear equations. Works well as revision or as a competition. Also includes answers and a worksheet to remind pupils of techniques required.