The Mathematical Word Hunt

The Mathematical Word Hunt

This activity is perfect for KS2, Y6 Transition Day, a Y7-Y8 lesson or a weak Y9-Y11 group.

Pupils will complete three colour-coded maths activities. For each activity, a series of maths questions will be displayed around the room. Each question has two possible answers, with each answer linked to a different letter.

Pupils must move around the room, solve each question and identify the correct answer. The letter associated with the correct answer should then be recorded on their answer sheet. Once all questions have been completed, the collected letters will spell a mathematical keyword backwards. Pupils must reverse the letters to reveal the correct word.

Green Activity – Addition and Subtraction
• Slides 7–17 will be printed on green paper and displayed around the room.
• These questions focus on addition and subtraction.
• Slides 1–2 will be printed on green paper and given to pupils as their answer sheet.
• Pupils solve each question and use the correct answer to identify the corresponding letter.
• The letters will spell COMMUTATIVE backwards.
• Once completed, pupils reverse the letters to reveal COMMUTATIVE.
Pupils then move on to the orange activity.

Orange Activity – Multiplication and Division
• Slides 18–28 will be printed on orange paper and displayed around the room.
• These questions focus on multiplication and division.
• Slides 3–4 will be printed on orange paper and given to pupils as their answer sheet.
• Pupils solve each question and use the correct answer to identify the corresponding letter.
• The letters will spell ASSOCIATIVE backwards.
• Once completed, pupils reverse the letters to reveal ASSOCIATIVE.
Pupils then move on to the blue activity.

Blue Activity – Mixed Operations
• Slides 29–40 will be printed on blue paper and displayed around the room.
• These questions focus on all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Slides 5–6 will be printed on blue paper and given to pupils as their answer sheet.
• Pupils solve each question and use the correct answer to identify the corresponding letter.
• The letters will spell DISTRIBUTIVE backwards.
• Once completed, pupils reverse the letters to reveal DISTRIBUTIVE.

Staff Role
Staff should encourage pupils to show their working, check their answers carefully and work independently where possible. The final mathematical word provides pupils with a useful way of checking their answers, as an incorrect answer may result in the letters not forming the correct word.

The activity is designed as an engaging maths treasure hunt/codebreaker, allowing pupils to practise their arithmetic skills while moving around the room and working towards uncovering three key mathematical words: COMMUTATIVE, ASSOCIATIVE and DISTRIBUTIVE.

Once the lesson has been completed