An investigation into the number of factors a number has. This resource gets pupils to devise a formula to work out the number of factors a number has. This investigation should take up a whole lesson, or could be set as a homework task. Topics covered include: factors, multiples, prime numbers, prime factor decomposition, powers and roots. This investigation is particularly useful in getting pupils to become familiar with mathematical notation. This resource is probably more suitable for GCSE students than KS3 pupils, though the investigation is very flexible- the teacher can progress to further stages of the investigation for more able groups.

A short, snappy starter which refreshes pupil’s mental arithmetic skills and provides a healthy mix of challenge and competition. This starter is suitable for all maths classes in secondary school and those in KS2. The task is this: Using digits from 1-9, make an addition with two 3 digit numbers to make another 3 digit number. Each digit from 1-9 can only be used once (carrying is allowed). . This could be done as a competition to encourage group work where pupils (in teams) are set a certain amount of time and must come up with as many different additions as they can. This starter is also useful for generating discussions as the pupils may notice certain patterns in the answers (i.e. the digits of the final answer always add up to 18) and the commutative law of addition (3 + 5 = 5 + 3).

A selection of 8 starters on probability related to real life which are suitable for KS3 and GCSE students. The starters encourage students to think laterally, being similar to brainteasers. Topics covered include: experimental probability, listing outcomes, sample space diagrams, relative frequency, tree diagrams, probability scales and permutations/combinations. Each starter begins with a problem or statement which the children must decide is true or false through investigation, giving reasons why this is the case. This exercise would be perfect for encouraging discussions as students may present a wide variety of explanations.

This resource handily introduces compound interest to more able KS3 groups and GCSE in the form of adding interest to a bank account. Other topics covered include percentages and decimal multipliers. This resource is an investigation (with teacher notes and accompanying worksheets) which gets students to investigate whether how often interest is added to a bank account effects the total amount of interest. The problem is so: I invest £1,000 in a savings account at an interest rate of 3.1% p.a. for one year. What interval at which the interest is paid will get me the most money? The students can then be guided to calculating the total amount of interest when it is added, daily montly etc. before being guided to an overall formula to solve the problem.

This investigation (includes teacher notes and worksheets) is suited to very able KS4 groups and those in KS5 studying Maths. It covers the topics of convergence, subject of a formula and even can be expanded to iteration for more advanced learners. Pupils are given a starting value of a sequence, which they multiply by 3, add 10 to then and finally divide by 4 to generate the next term in the sequence. They then multiply this value by 3, add ten to it and divide by 4 to get the next term and so forth, generating the sequence in an iterative manner until the sequence converges. The goal of this investigation is to find a relationship between the initial starting value of the sequence and that which it converges to. This can be explained in a satisfying algebraic way using subject of the formula although pupils may offer other alternative explanations.

This resource is aimed as an extension activity for higher ability learners as it asks questions in a worded form on Circumference and Area. Useful as an extension, plenary or to consolidate learning of pupils.

A simple resource demonstrating how to calculate the area and circumference of a circle with worked examples clearly illustrating the methods behind answering the question. At the beginning of the resource, children are reminded of the precise definitions of Circumference, Diameter and Radius. Students can use this resource to help them with working out the area and circumference of a circle and and also for revision too. Primarily this resource should be aimed at those pupils in KS3 Maths, though older pupils may benefit from this as a refresher of some basic skills.

A Powerpoint on writing equations and formulae for KS3 and GCSE Foundation Maths Students. The Powerpoint contains enough material for a whole lesson. As well as showing pupils how to write expressions and formulae, this Powerpoint also covers how to substitute numbers into formulae, with real-life worked examples provided. Plenty of questions are included for pupils to attempt with an extension of solving equations to test more able pupils.

A whole lesson on standard form for more able KS3 maths groups and GCSE classes. Pupils are taught the definition of standard form, how to express numbers in standard form and how to evaluate standard form expressions. The laws of indices are also recapped. In this lesson there is a strong emphasis on mathematical notation and precision.

A Powerpoint which can be used as a whole lesson to teach pupils about sample space diagrams. Although intended for KS3 pupils, the content of the resource is also applicable for GCSE foundation students. The powerpoint is very interactive and allows students to get involved at every opportunity, with a strong link to literacy as students are prompted to learn the definition of key words.

A comprehensive Powerpoint for a whole lesson on constructing and solving linear equations for KS3 and GCSE foundation groups. Depending on the ability of the class, there is enough material on the Powerpoint for a couple of lessons if pupils need to be taken through the content more gradually. In the Powerpoint, pupils are introduced to the meaning of key words such as co-efficient, linear and equation, shown how to solve equations using the balance method and also how to construct and solve a linear equation when given information. There are plenty of worked examples and questions for pupils to attempt.

This is a Powerpoint teaching students how to find the interior and exterior angles of a polygon. It is equally suitable for KS3 and GCSE Foundation Maths students. There is sufficient material in the Powerpoint for at least 1 lesson, possibly 2 depending on how fast your class covers the content. The powerpoint shows pupils how to work out the interior and exterior angles of a polygon, firstly by providing them with key terms to learn, then by allowing them to investigate the link between the sum of the interior angles in a shape and the number of sides it has, before linking that to the exterior angle of a polygon. Other topics covered by this Powerpoint include: properties of shape, angle laws, generalising and substitution.

This excellent Powerpoint contains a whole lesson for pupils on finding the area and perimeter of 2-D shapes such as squares, rectangles and triangles. It also contains plenty of questions for pupils to attempt including standard, skill-based questions and extension questions which challenge the students to think laterally. Equally suitable for KS3 and GCSE Maths Foundation Groups.

An excellent and extensive Powerpoint which teaches students how to draw and interpret Pie Charts given a set of data. The Powerpoint also teaches the importance of pie charts in a real life context and encourages discussions. There are solid links with ratio, fractions and proportion. The Powerpoint also includes plenty of questions for students to attempt, including extension activities for more able students.