Maths
Algebra Cluedo
What is it? This activity, uploaded by danwalker, offers an engaging way for students to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of crucial algebra skills. It is based on the classic board game Cluedo, and pupils must successfully complete lists of algebra questions in order to eliminate suspects, weapons and locations. The resource also contains help sheets to support students who struggle to remember algebraic methods.
How can it be used? The worksheets get harder as the net closes in on the guilty party. Topics such as substitution, factorising, expanding brackets and solving quadratic equations are tackled, and the promise of solving the crime provides students with the incentive to keep battling through the exercises. This is a simple idea that could be successfully applied to a whole range of topics for all ages and abilities.
Find it here: bit.lyAlgebraCluedo
Craig Barton is an advanced skills teacher at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton and a TES secondary maths adviser. Find him on Twitter at @TESMaths
English
Poetry revision cards
What is it? Shared by EmmaBB, these detailed revision cards cover the poems in the AQA GCSE anthology clusters on Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and pre-1914 poetry. This might make them sound restrictive, but the beauty of this adaptable resource is that it provides a perfect template for making a set of invaluable revision cards for any group of poems.
How can it be used? Rather than creating the cards yourself, get your classes to do the work as an initial revision activity. Using the existing cards as models, students can select an image to remind them of each poem and then use their notes from earlier lessons to fill in the rest. You can even divide up the poems and split the work between groups of students to make a whole-class set that can be laminated and referred back to throughout the year. This resource is ideal for helping exam classes to feel more in control of their revision.
Find it here: bit.lyPoetryRevision
Helen Amass is a former English teacher who writes for the TES website
Science
Rollercoaster Top Trumps
What is it? This resource comes from dawnsalter1 and is aimed at key stage 3 students studying forces and motion. The PowerPoint provides information on some of the world’s best roller coasters. Taking inspiration from Top Trumps card games, each slide lists eight features for students to compare and discuss, including height, maximum speed and capacity.
How can it be used? The resource is both eye-catching and entertaining, thanks to the wonderful presentation and formatting. It lends itself perfectly to being used as an introduction to a difficult unit, particularly during the slump of a Friday-afternoon lesson. For a real thrill, students could be challenged to explain the physics underpinning these exciting rides.
Find it here: bit.lyRollercoasterTrumps
Aimee Mckeon is a science teacher at St Andrew’s CE High School in Croydon, South London
To offer suggestions, please email helen.amass@tesglobal.com
