Non-calculator sums with standard form is a boring topic, so what better than a rubbish joke to go with it? Pupils answer questions and use the code to reveal a feeble gag.

Starts with the basic tests for numbers up to 10, then looks at tests for higher numbers and finally problem solving using divisibility tests. Also looks at proofs of some of the tests using algebra. Worksheets at end for printing.

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.

Worksheet where answers to questions are used to obtain a 3-digit code (which I set as the combination to a lockable money box containing a prize). Questions on a mixture of all the GCSE-standard percentage skills.

San Gaku, also known as Japanese Temple Problems, are challenging geometric puzzles requiring anything from Pythagoras' theorem (as in the questions chosen here) to much more complex maths to solve. The activity aims to introduce the style of problem through a few select questions, each with a numerical as well as an algebraic part. Answers, printable worksheets and interactive GSP also included.

Maze consists of squares containing identities, some of which are false. Pupils can only pass through squares containing true identities. Identities require ability to expand & factorise quadratic expressions and simplify algebraic fractions, so really only good for a GCSE top set. Extension - pupils find identities of incorrect squares and then design their own maze (there's a good discussion to be had about how to make a good maze - including common misconceptions to fool people).

Pupils eliminate suspects/weapons/rooms by completing worksheets on a range of fraction, percentage and decimal skills (see separate instructions). Works well as revision or as a competition. Also includes answers and a worksheet to remind pupils of techniques required.

The first of two complete lessons on distance-time graphs that assumes pupils have done speed calculations before. Examples and activities on calculating speed from a distance-graph and a matching activity adapted from the Mathematics Assessment Project. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review it if you download as any feedback is appreciated!

Worksheet where answers to questions are used to obtain a 3-digit code (which I set as the combination to a lockable money box containing a prize).

Classic quiz with question on angle rules, including simple parallel lines and knowledge of shape properties. Answers on last slide. Hope no-one minds my use of an image of Bob Holness - he will always be the face of Blockbusters to me!

Maze consists of squares containing questions with answers, some of which are wrong. Pupils are only allowed to pass through squares containing correct answers. Extension - pupils design their own maze. I like to discuss how to make the maze harder by including classic misconceptions like divide by 5 to get 5%

A set of powerpoints covering all topics in M2. Examples labelled WB correspond to the separately attached 'Workbook&' (I give this as a single booklet so pupils have a clear model answer to each topic). References to Exercises are from the Pearson Edexcel M2 textbook.

Fun quiz where pupils get to run around while still doing maths. Goes down an absolute storm! Can be easily adapted to other topics. See separate instructions.

One significant figure estimation is a boring topic, so what better than a rubbish joke to go with it? Pupils answer questions and use the code to reveal a feeble gag. Mistakes on first version now corrected.

Maze consists of squares containing questions (on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions) with answers, some of which are wrong. Pupils are only allowed to pass through squares containing correct answers. Extension - pupils design their own maze (I like to discuss how they can make their maze harder by including classic misconceptions). Extra worksheet included to help pupils think about misconceptions (warning - this may well confuse weaker pupils!)

Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions is a good topic, so what better than a joke to reward pupils' efforts? Pupils answer questions and use the code to reveal a funny gag.

A complete lesson on introducing 3-figure bearings. Activities included: Starter: A quick set of questions to remind pupils of supplementary angles. Main: A quick puzzle to get pupils thinking about compass points. Slides to introduce compass points, the compass and 3-figure bearings. Examples and questions for pupils to try on finding bearings fro m diagrams. A set of worksheets with a progression in difficulty, from correctly measuring bearings and scale drawings to using angle rules to find bearings. Includes some challenging questions involving three points, that should promote discussion about different approaches to obtaining an answer. Plenary: A prompt to discuss how the bearings of A from B and B from A are connected. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson on sharing an amount in a ratio. Assumes pupils have already learned how to use ratio notation and can interpret ratios as fractions - see my other resources for lessons on these topics. Activities included: Starter: A set of questions to recap ratio notation, equivalent ratios, simplifying ratios and interpreting ratios as fractions. Main: A quick activity where pupils shade grids in a given ratio( eg shading a 3 x 4 grid in the ratio shaded:unshaded of 1:2). The intention is that they are repeatedly shading the ratio at this stage, rather than directly dividing the 12 squares in the ratio 1:2. By the last question, with an intentionally large grid, hopefully pupils are thinking of a more efficient way to do this… Examples and quick questions using a bar modelling approach to sharing an amount in a a given ratio. A set of questions on sharing in a ratio, with a progression in difficulty. Includes the trickier variations of this topic that sometimes appear on exams (eg Jo and Bob share some money in the ratio 1:2, Jo gets £30 more than Bob, how much did they share?) A nice puzzle where pupils move matchsticks(well, paper images of them) to divide a grid in different ratios. Plenary: A final spot-the-mistake question, again on the theme of the trickier variations of this topic that pupils often fail to spot. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

A complete lesson (or maybe two) on finding an original amount, given a sale price or the value of something after it has been increased. Looks at both calculator and non-calculator methods. Activities included: Starter: A set of four puzzles where pupils work their way back to 100%, given another percentage. Main: Examples, quick questions for pupils to try and a worksheet on calculator methods for reversing a percentage problem. Examples, quick questions for pupils to try and a worksheet on non- calculator methods for reversing a percentage problem. Both worksheets have been scaffolded to help pupils with this tricky topic. A challenging extension task where pupils form and solve equations involving connected amounts. Plenary: A final question to address the classic misconception for this topic. Printable worksheets and answers included. Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!

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 complete lesson on finding the nth term rule of a quadratic sequence. This primarily focuses on one method (see cover slide), although I’ve thrown in a different method as an extension. I always cover linear sequences in a similar way and incorporate a recap on this within the lesson. Starter: To prepare for the main part of the lesson, pupils try to solve a system of three equations with three unknowns. Main: A recap on finding the nth term rule of a linear sequence, to prepare pupils for a similar method with quadratic sequences. Examples on the core method, followed by a worksheet with a progression in difficulty for pupils to practice. I’ve included two versions of the worksheet - a simple list of questions that could be projected, or a much more structured worksheet that could be printed. Worked solutions are included. A worked example of an alternative method, that could be given as a handout for pupils who finish early to try on the questions they’ve already done. Plenary: A proof of why the method works. I’d much rather show this at the start of the lesson, but in my experience this usually overloads students and puts them off if used too soon! Please review if you buy as any feedback is appreciated!