Deliberate Mistakes

Image: weandserendipity.com

I'm ever on the sentinel for novel ideas for GCSE revision lessons. If I write most this persuasion at nowadays in addition to hence hopefully I'll retrieve it come upwardly Spring.

This twelvemonth I had non bad success alongside relay races in addition to carousels inward my revision lessons. I likewise did some pupil-led lessons which were a lot less successful.

This 'deliberate mistakes' persuasion is something I've adapted from this blog post, hence give cheers you lot to @bkdidact for sharing the link in addition to @kellyoshea for the inspiration. I've never seen this inward maths earlier but it may endure that many of you lot already create it, if hence in addition to hence I'd similar to hear your feedback.

The Mistake Game
Students, inward pairs or pocket-sized groups, are given a employment to solve in addition to explicate to the class. In their explanation, they must include a deliberate mistake. Not exactly a numerical slip, but something that highlights a possible misconception that their classmates powerfulness have.

If I role this for GCSE revision in addition to hence by essay questions (the longer, unstructured types) would operate best - there's some examples inward this first-class laid of questions from Suffolk Maths. But this persuasion could likewise operate when educational activity specific topics. I mean value I may endeavour it this twelvemonth when educational activity both trigonometry in addition to probability trees.

For example, if you lot role the Mistake Game when educational activity Pythagoras' Theorem, you lot could role this inquiry (solve for x):

The mutual error hither is to non foursquare the four (though students may come upwardly up alongside something else).

Here's some other example, from this worksheet from thechalkface.net.

There's numerous things they could (deliberately) create incorrect inward this one!

When each grouping goes through their inquiry on the board, their classmates volition endure listening carefully to location the mistake, hence it's non bad for getting students to focus. I'm non certain how best to organise the responses. Perhaps students could lay their paw upwardly every bit presently every bit they location the error hence it tin endure corrected similar a shot in addition to and hence the residue of the solution tin endure done correctly. Or peradventure when the grouping cause got finished presenting their amount explanation, a volunteer could come upwardly up to the board in addition to right their work. Or maybe later each presentation the students could utter over the employment inward their groups, create upwardly one's hear what was incorrect in addition to re-do the inquiry correctly.

This is a chip similar 'tick or trash' exercises - it's helpful for pupils to endure aware of mutual mistakes. I've likewise used these 'Classic Mistakes' inward previous revision lessons.

The Mistake Game is likewise a practiced chance for students to encounter each other’s approaches to solving problems in addition to utter over the effectiveness of dissimilar methods.

I mean value this action volition engage the whole shape - I'll endeavour it out in addition to allow you lot know! If you've ever tried anything similar this in addition to hence delight part your thoughts. I recommend reading most the sense of the instructor who wrote the original post. As she says, ‘we all larn to a greater extent than when a incorrect respond goes upwardly than when we’re exactly watching perfection’.

Image: bigthink.com

Pythagoras' Theorem

Pythagoras' Theorem is 1 of my favourite topics to teach. In my experience, students quite similar it too. At outset they may endure intimidated past times the novel as well as seemingly complex mathematics. It's in all likelihood the outset fourth dimension they've seen words such every bit theorem, proof as well as hypotenuse hence no wonder they're apprehensive. But they'll apace larn the hang of it.

When H5N1 score students receive got to uncovering the distance betwixt 2 points or verify that a triangle is right-angled, their outset thought should endure Pythagoras. By Year 12, Pythagoras' Theorem should endure a staple inwards their mathematical toolkit, along amongst other skills such every bit arithmetic, fractions, simplifying algebra, using index laws as well as factorising quadratics. In my thought these things are the breadstuff as well as butter of secondary schoolhouse higher mathematics.

I'm going to behave upon briefly on proofs at the halt of this postal service but my primary focus is on interesting Pythagoras questions as well as resources for Key Stage 3 as well as 4. Before nosotros start, I should number my green caveat - there's absolutely loads of first-class Pythagoras resources online as well as hither I'm exactly showcasing a pocket-sized selection.

Interesting Questions
It's non e'er necessary to strength a interrogation into a 'real world' context to larn inwards engaging. Problems don't receive got to endure contextual to endure interesting - sometimes the really best questions are abstract but accessible.

In this example from illustrativemathematics.org, students receive got to function out whether the shaded triangle is right-angled.

This Spiderbox question, also from Illustrative Mathematics, appears at outset glance to endure a 3D Pythagoras interrogation but genuinely the spider is walking on the exterior of the box. Students brand a net, describe the spider's path as well as function out its length.

amusing post from Math Jokes four Mathy Folks.

I also remember it's worthwhile spending a few minutes discussing the important of the give-and-take theorem as well as how it differs from a theory. H5N1 theorem is a lawsuit that has been proven to endure true, for instance using logical arguments as well as previously established mathematical statements. Theory is a give-and-take used both inwards everyday life (eg 'the detective had a theory virtually who committed the murder') as well as inwards scientific discipline (such every bit Einstein's theory of relativity). In everyday linguistic communication it has a important similar to hypothesis. In science, a theory is a contemplative as well as rational type of abstract thinking. H5N1 theory merely attempts to explicate something whereas a theorem is established mathematical fact. There's to a greater extent than on this two diagonals' as well as around other called 'amusing post from Math Jokes four Mathy Folks.

I also remember it's worthwhile spending a few minutes discussing the important of the give-and-take theorem as well as how it differs from a theory. H5N1 theorem is a lawsuit that has been proven to endure true, for instance using logical arguments as well as previously established mathematical statements. Theory is a give-and-take used both inwards everyday life (eg 'the detective had a theory virtually who committed the murder') as well as inwards scientific discipline (such every bit Einstein's theory of relativity). In everyday linguistic communication it has a important similar to hypothesis. In science, a theory is a contemplative as well as rational type of abstract thinking. H5N1 theory merely attempts to explicate something whereas a theorem is established mathematical fact. There's to a greater extent than on this kite areas'.

Helpful Worksheets

horacek.com.au

This 'Investigating the sides of right-angled triangles' worksheet from Teachit Maths is a straightforward activity inwards which students sweat to 'discover' Pythagoras' Theorem past times drawing right-angled triangles as well as investigating the human relationship betwixt the lengths of their sides. Teachit Maths also provides a 'Pythagoras' Theorem - consummate topic booklet' which covers the total topic from uncomplicated exercise questions to occupation solving, using surds as well as 3D Pythagoras.

These Pythagoras' Theorem Student Sheets (& notes) from Nuffield Foundation comprise proficient occupation solving questions, every bit does Pythagoras Problems from The Chalk Face.

I've written a Pythagoras Pret homework - run across this page for to a greater extent than data virtually Pret homeworks.

Adding a Third Dimension
During my PGCE I had my students educate cuboids out of pipage cleaners as well as function out how to uncovering the length of the infinite diagonal past times themselves. The pipage cleaners were a faff that I won't endure repeating but figuring out how to uncovering the length of a infinite diagonal is definitely something students tin reach the axe produce themselves. Perhaps the easiest prop to role is your classroom. When I learn 3D Pythagoras I commonly gesture at an imaginary infinite diagonal beingness drawn from the lower left corner to upper correct corner of the room. In fact it would endure meliorate to attach around string or wool to the walls hence y'all receive got an actual infinite diagonal going across the room, to assist students visualise the correct angled triangles.

There's 2 approaches to didactics 3D Pythagoras. One is to receive got the pupils derive the formula for the infinite diagonal (eg d² =  x² + y² + z²) as well as hence memorise it. This may endure useful later on on, for instance when they report vectors inwards C4, but it's non helpful when they come upwards to 3D trigonometry. My preferred approach for 3D problems is that they position as well as separately describe the 2 correct angled triangles inwards question. I encourage them to proceed their workings inwards surd cast for accuracy.

Good 3D questions are available inwards these Trigonometry Worksheets (see exercise T7) past times Frank Tapson (from the Cleave Books website).

Also, here's a dainty 3D Pythagoras activity 'amusing post from Math Jokes four Mathy Folks.

I also remember it's worthwhile spending a few minutes discussing the important of the give-and-take theorem as well as how it differs from a theory. H5N1 theorem is a lawsuit that has been proven to endure true, for instance using logical arguments as well as previously established mathematical statements. Theory is a give-and-take used both inwards everyday life (eg 'the detective had a theory virtually who committed the murder') as well as inwards scientific discipline (such every bit Einstein's theory of relativity). In everyday linguistic communication it has a important similar to hypothesis. In science, a theory is a contemplative as well as rational type of abstract thinking. H5N1 theory merely attempts to explicate something whereas a theorem is established mathematical fact. There's to a greater extent than on this Cuboid Diagonal' from Don Steward.

Triples
Pythagorean Triples are fun to explore amongst your students. Before y'all do, accept the chance to print them amongst your apparent super-quick mental arithmetics ("the 2 sides are five as well as 12 y'all say? Well the hypotenuse must endure 13").

Activity 3.4 inwards this set of activities from the Mathematics Enhancement Programme is a brusk as well as accessible investigation into Pythagorean Triples. The Mathematics Assessment Programme also has a Pythagorean Triples activity and Don Steward has students looking for patterns. There are many to a greater extent than substantial investigations available online.

Vocabulary

amusing post from Math Jokes four Mathy Folks.

I also remember it's worthwhile spending a few minutes discussing the important of the give-and-take theorem as well as how it differs from a theory. H5N1 theorem is a lawsuit that has been proven to endure true, for instance using logical arguments as well as previously established mathematical statements. Theory is a give-and-take used both inwards everyday life (eg 'the detective had a theory virtually who committed the murder') as well as inwards scientific discipline (such every bit Einstein's theory of relativity). In everyday linguistic communication it has a important similar to hypothesis. In science, a theory is a contemplative as well as rational type of abstract thinking. H5N1 theory merely attempts to explicate something whereas a theorem is established mathematical fact. There's to a greater extent than on this here.

Pythagoras of Samos
Apparently Pythagoras was the outset mortal to telephone outcry upwards the heavens a universe as well as the the world round. He also (allegedly) headed upwards a hugger-mugger cult of Pythagoreans who weren't allowed to swallow beans. Pythagoras said that "each number has its ain personality - masculine or feminine, perfect or incomplete, beautiful or ugly". The mysterious story of Pythagoras of Samos is genuinely interesting as well as would brand a proficient topic for enquiry or display work.

Pythagorean Proofs
I won't verbalise besides much virtually proofs because I'll endure hither all day. I must advert this bright H2O demonstration video though.



If y'all desire your students to essay around proof activities, this chore 'Proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem' from Mathematics Assessment Project is virtually comparison 3 dissimilar proofs.

Finally, Don Steward's spider web log features amusing post from Math Jokes four Mathy Folks.

I also remember it's worthwhile spending a few minutes discussing the important of the give-and-take theorem as well as how it differs from a theory. H5N1 theorem is a lawsuit that has been proven to endure true, for instance using logical arguments as well as previously established mathematical statements. Theory is a give-and-take used both inwards everyday life (eg 'the detective had a theory virtually who committed the murder') as well as inwards scientific discipline (such every bit Einstein's theory of relativity). In everyday linguistic communication it has a important similar to hypothesis. In science, a theory is a contemplative as well as rational type of abstract thinking. H5N1 theory merely attempts to explicate something whereas a theorem is established mathematical fact. There's to a greater extent than on this Herve Lehning's posters of Pythagoras past times agency of dissections which are really pleasing to the eye.

I promise this has been helpful if you're planning Pythagoras lessons. Please comment if y'all receive got whatsoever ideas to add.

I've at in 1 lawsuit seat all my topic resources specials here so they are easier to browse.

5 Maths Gems #16

It's December! Time for students as well as teachers to outset getting overly excited almost the upcoming Christmas holidays. There's even thus 3 to a greater extent than weeks of teaching to larn through though, as well as most schools do mock GCSEs inward Dec or January, thus things are every bit busy every bit ever. Let's expect at roughly of the ideas that receive got been shared on Twitter this week. I've got lots of dainty geometry for you lot today.

1. Frozen Fractals

I'm non a fan of Disney princess films, merely I receive got daughters at nowadays thus I've been forced to scout Frozen many many times. I genuinely quite similar it. Being a mathematician, my favourite business office is when Elsa sings almost 'frozen fractals' inward the vocal Let it Go. I had no persuasion what the give-and-take fractal meant until a few years agone thus it seems strange to listen it inward a children's film. It got me thinking - is at that spot whatever value inward teaching our students almost fractals at secondary school? I remember at that spot is. 

What are Fractals as well as why should I care? by George Dallas. This is an incredibly clear as well as accessible article. The best agency to sympathize fractals is to push clit i - the article describes how to push clit a Von Koch curve.

Give your students roughly dotted or triangle graph newspaper as well as they could follow the instructions inward this worksheet to push clit a 'Koch snowflake'. While they're creating their fractals, exhibit them this lovely microscopic timelapse video of existent snowflakes (thanks to @misseyfs for sharing this).

Because I'm writing this post on 1st Dec I'm thinking of Christmassy snowflakes, merely nosotros tin expect at other fractals too. The Sierpinski Triangle is also a dainty introduction to agreement fractals. The awesome website fractalfoundation.org has an fantabulous worksheet (a 'fractivity') in which each of your students brand their ain Sierpinski Triangle - they as well as thus stick them together to brand a 'class fractal'. Show the video on the page Fractal Trianglethon to wow your students alongside giant Sierpinski Triangles!

Alternatively your students could create Fractal Cutouts like the i pictured below.

And this Mathematical Christmas Tree is every bit fractally every bit they come.

If you lot desire to farther explore fractals, your students mightiness survive interested inward this Numberphile video 'Measuring Coastline'.

Whether you lot brand snowflakes, triangles or cutouts, the betoken is that students come upwardly away from the lesson agreement what a fractal is. It may non survive on the syllabus merely it's interesting mathematics nonetheless. And your students volition survive able to say their friends that they sympathize the mathematical reference inward Frozen.

2. Angles
I dearest this angles interrogation from @j_lanier. I'd travel it inward a GCSE revision lesson. Students receive got to apply a number of rules to honor all 4 angles - it's a expert chance for them to practise articulating their reasoning.

3. Pythagorean Triples
I was looking at recent posts on my favourite blog, the ever-brilliant Median past times Don Steward, when I noticed a link to a weblog I'd non seen earlier - Pythagorean Triple Tasks past times Hannah Jones. There's roughly lovely activities here.

By the way, speaking of Don Steward, did you lot know he also has a blog for do resources? These are every bit good designed every bit his rich tasks. There's loads of expert questions for GCSE revision, which you lot mightiness honor useful this calendar week if your Year 11s receive got mocks coming up. I especially similar these grids of 'practice makes perfect' questions. Also, I spotted this fantastic work inward his A & A* questions - a lovely starter for my Year 12s:

4. Semi-circle

Did you lot run across Ed Southall's awesome semi-circle problem? I'd travel this every bit an extension action inward a Pythagoras lesson, merely there's loads of methods for solving it - others receive got used similar triangles, trigonometry as well as coordinate grids. It's both accessible as well as challenging for students from Key Stage 3 upwardly to H5N1 level.

5. Christmassy Maths
I started to write a seasonal maths resources page merely lots of other lovely bloggers receive got done something similar. So rather than reinvent the wheel, I'll betoken you lot inward the direction of:

• @missradder's post Christmaths
• @Ms_Kmp's post ChrisMaths Cheer
• @solvemymaths' post 2014 Christmas Maths Lessons

There are hundreds of fantabulous Christmas-themed maths resources. I'd similar to recommend a few inward add-on to those inward the posts above. There are 2 from Teachit Maths that I especially similar - the 12 days of Christmas budget activity which involves work solving using percentages, as well as Mistletoe as well as Lines which is expert do of at nowadays business graphs. I also similar these resources from Oxford University Press. Most Christmas resources are aimed at Key Stage 3 students, merely your Year 11s mightiness similar this Christmas Shading Graphical Inequalities by frickard on TES. And how almost this lovely Christmas tree logic problem?

Logic work from ageofpuzzles.com

That's it for this week. Please don't forget to conk on tweeting or emailing me photos of misconceptions or mutual mistakes inward your students' work. Thanks!

A Calendar Week Inward The Classroom

My outset calendar week dorsum at run has been challenging to state the least. Eight novel classes, a novel Year xi tutor group, over 200 names to learn, changes to schoolhouse policies as well as practices, novel plant nursery routines for my toddler as well as baby... the listing goes on. I also celebrated a Fibonacci birthday this week, thence I’ve been actually busy both at run as well as at home. I know it volition acquire easier when I acquire dorsum into the swing of things.

I received my timetable yesteryear electronic mail during the Christmas holidays thence at that spot was no chance for a handover with the previous teacher. This calendar week I've been busy trying to figure out what topics to instruct and, for my examination classes, how I'm going to agree everything inwards earlier study acquire out commences inwards May. I'm out of my comfort zone without detailed plans! I alone run iii days a calendar week but this yr I'm teaching viii dissimilar classes nether a undertaking part organization (double the seat out of classes I had terminal year!). I'll convey to survive real mindful of the sense of my students, who all convey at to the lowest degree ii maths teachers directly - switching betwixt teachers as well as topics tin survive hard for them.

Job sharing has its challenges but at that spot are simply about advantages, the master copy i existence that I directly convey my ain classroom (most part-timers are schoolhouse nomads). I dear non having to movement from room to room all the fourth dimension - it actually does brand my days less stressful.

When I left run to convey a babe I was Key Stage 5 Coordinator, a role that I loved. I don't convey a TLR anymore thence am focusing all my efforts on teaching. Since starting to write this spider web log as well as entering the Twittersphere I've acquire a much to a greater extent than reflective teacher. In this post I desire to part a pair of things that convey gone good this week.

Angles with Year 7
The matter I let on hardest nearly teaching Year vii is that I don't actually know what maths they've done inwards previous years. I demand to see simply about local primary schools as well as let on simply about Year vi maths lessons. This calendar week I found out that most of my students were aware that the interior angles of a triangle amount to 180^o, but non aware that vertically reverse angles are equal. I found simply about questions (example below) inwards which they had to combine their existing noesis with their newly acquired knowledge. They found these quite challenging - I don't yell upwards they're used to multi-step questions similar this.

Brilliant.org is an splendid source of extension questions for lessons on angles, similar the instance shown below.

I'll survive moving onto angles inwards parallel lines with Year vii side yesteryear side calendar week as well as I'm looking frontwards to using 'Angle Facts.

I did quite a lot on vocabulary with Year vii this calendar week because there's lots of novel words inwards this topic. When I was defining 'vertically reverse angles', I spotted the fact below on mathsisfun.com. This was novel to me - I in all likelihood should convey known this! It was helpful to part this with my students because I'd simply taught them the pregnant of the word vertex.

Finally, I recommend the brusque video Gems 19). I showed it inwards my lesson on triangles as well as it went downward well.

Problem Solving with Year 11
It's of import that I chop-chop found a adept human relationship with my Year xi class. I've acquire their instructor at a belatedly phase inwards their GCSE course, but I yet convey fourth dimension to brand a difference. I demand this degree to trust me. I meet them v times a fortnight as well as that gives me 36 lessons to complete the syllabus as well as laid upwards for their exams. This calendar week I decided to pass a lesson getting to know them. I handed out a problem solving activity then went circular as well as met each educatee individually, chatting to them nearly their predicted grades as well as the topics they desire me to review. While I circulated, they worked on viii problems of varying levels of difficulty. In the goal I ran out of fourth dimension to speak to everyone but I yet yell upwards the lesson went good - they were actually engaged inwards solving the problems as well as I heard lots of discussions nearly mathematics.

These problems are from a diversity of sources (thanks to all originators!). At the goal of the lesson the alone job that remained unanswered was the 'find the radius of the circle' job from Chris Smith's newsletter - most students hadn't fifty-fifty attempted it but I promised them we'd await at it simply about other day.

I did a similar lesson with Year 8 (top set), except all their problems involved Pythagoras' Theorem (I told them to job Pythagoras, pregnant they had a starting yell for for each question. Perhaps I shouldn't convey told them). Again, my students were actually engaged inwards this activity. They peculiarly liked the 'Spider Box' question. The alone inquiry that no-one answered was Ed Southall's semi-circle job (I suggested they challenge parents or older siblings to convey a go). Also, the inquiry below was answered incorrectly yesteryear almost every educatee (they squared the plough over to acquire 4w² instead of 16w²).

Support
Student Communication using Blogs). I'm trying Twitter equally an choice this year, the thought existence that students (or their parents) follow me for useful links (eg for examination revision), interesting maths, reminders (eg 'you convey a attempt out side yesteryear side week') as well as thence on. I've already started tweeting links to homeworks thence students tin impress a re-create if they lose their sheet. I've also said that I volition offering maths back upwards through Twitter, thence they tin enquire for assist anytime they acquire stuck on a homework or when revising.

I'm non certain how successful this volition be. Other schools are much to a greater extent than Twitter-friendly than mine. We don't convey a schoolhouse Twitter concern human relationship to communicate with parents, as well as I yell upwards I'm the outset instructor at my schoolhouse to attempt to job Twitter for educational purposes. So I got nervous giggles from my classes when I told them nearly it. I dubiety many of them convey a Twitter concern human relationship thence it mightiness non work, but we'll see. I'll written report dorsum on this inwards a few months!

What's Next?
Well it's alone been a calendar week thence I've yet got loads to try. I downloaded iDoceo but haven't had a jeopardy to await at it yet. I'm also increasingly cracking on setting upwards a visualiser (via my iPad), to present examples of educatee run on the IWB (amongst other things). Funnily plenty i of the most useful things I've done this calendar week is job my ain website, resourceaholic.com, to let on resources! My resources libraries convey saved me a lot of time. I've already noticed gaps inwards them though - nil on angles inwards triangles for instance - thence I'll run on boosting my libraries over the side yesteryear side few months.

That's it from me. I've found it quite therapeutic to reverberate on my outset calendar week dorsum at schoolhouse as well as I hope there's been something helpful for you lot hither too. There'll survive no gems post this calendar week because I've non had much fourth dimension to acquire on Twitter, but I'll write i side yesteryear side week. Please don't forget to acquire a complimentary ticket to La Salle's National Mathematics Teacher Conference which is on Pi Day inwards Birmingham (I'm delivering a session). I hope to meet you lot there. Also, White Rose Math Hub's Celebration of Maths is definitely worth attending. I'm gutted I can't conk (I can't afford the educate fare to Leeds!) but it looks awesome.

Selfie with my girls on my terminal twenty-four hr catamenia of motherhood leave

5 Maths Gems #30

Hi together with welcome to my 30^th gems post. This is where I percentage only about of the best teaching ideas I've seen on Twitter.

1. Construction Comics
Back inwards Gems 4 I featured Paul Collins' (comic resources for teaching constructions. In his post he suggests only about opportunities to role these resources inwards the classroom.

One of Paul Collins' structure comic strips 

I haven't taught constructions this twelvemonth hence I've non nevertheless had a run a hazard to role these resources, or the awesome Gems 21).

I loved the operate shared yesteryear my namesake Mrs Morgan (@em0rgan) on Twitter this week. She asked her students to do their ain structure comic strips for homework. The results facial expression excellent. I'm non unremarkably a fan of homeworks similar this because they're hence fourth dimension consuming (both for students to gain together with teachers to mark) together with oft they don't add together much value. But inwards this instance I intend at that topographic point is value inwards students learning the procedures yesteryear documenting the steps, inwards improver to practising the constructions.

2. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Level Resources

Thanks to @OxfordEdMaths for sharing a gear upwards of excellent A degree assessments for C1 - C4, D1, D2, FP1, FP2, M1, M2, S1 together with S2. It tin endure difficult to honor sources of expert Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree questions. These gratis resources are going to endure incredibly helpful adjacent twelvemonth for theme assessments, homeworks or revision.

Speaking of Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 degree resources, do banking concern agree out the website 0a explains: Calculus (with pics together with gifs) -thanks to @mathhombre together with @solvemymaths for sharing this. I dear the pictures together with gifs on this website - they mightiness assistance teachers explicate concepts inwards calculus.

3. Homework Expectations
I've only discovered MathFour.com from Bon Crowder - it's total of creative ideas, only about of which I excogitation to characteristic inwards hereafter gems posts. One persuasion that I spotted was a 'How to Write Your Math Homework' guide. I'm going to brand a version of this for my novel classes inwards September. I can't complain nearly my students' operate non coming together my expectations if I haven't made those expectations clear from the outset.

4. Talk a Mile a Minute
Steve Wyborney (@SteveWyborney) shared his Talk a Mile a Minute Vocabulary Activity. The video below describes the activeness inwards detail. It involves students describing sets of words to their partner together with and hence discussing what those words relate to. I intend this would endure a cracking activeness for an terminate of twelvemonth lesson. Have a facial expression at Steve's post for resources. If you're looking for words for this activeness together with hence try this Vocabulary Checklist for Key Stage 3.  

5. Activities

I've seen only about lovely activities together with questions on Twitter this week.

@MathedUp shared this 'Negative numbers code-breaker activeness amongst a twist'.

Gems 29.

@DJUdall shared this activeness which links solving equations amongst expanse together with perimeter.

@DJUdall likewise shared a query he made which combines Pythagoras' Theorem together with Standard Form. 

The latter 2 resources were shared during concluding Sunday's #mathsTLP. This is a cracking identify for maths teachers to collaborate. Do bring together inwards on Sundays at 7pm to enquire for assistance amongst lessons or to offering ideas.

Update
Because my examination classes are directly on report acquire out I had fourth dimension to excogitation only about actually prissy lessons this week. With my Year 10s I did a lesson on similar triangles using resources from the Mathematics Assessment Project. They had to kind 8 pairs of triangles into 'similar', 'not similar' or 'can't tell', drawing on their cognition of angle facts. This project is a lot harder than it sounds together with takes nearly 45 minutes to complete. I actually recommend it - here's an instance of the operate they produced hence you lot tin see what it involves.

I talked to all my students nearly palindromic numbers this calendar week (I remembered to yell it every fourth dimension I wrote the appointment on the board, because the dates were palindromic when written inwards the format m/dd/yy). Although many of my students could plough over me an instance of a discussion that is the same frontward together with backward (eg racecar), most were non familiar amongst the discussion palindrome.

Those of you lot who role Gems 10) for formative assessment volition endure pleased to listen that you lot tin directly insert pictures. For instance you lot mightiness desire to insert questions from www.diagnosticquestions.com.

That's it from me for now, but at that topographic point volition endure only about other gems post presently because there's been loads of cracking materials on Twitter lately. Wish me luck amongst my concluding calendar week at my electrical flow school! My novel project starts afterward half-term.

I'll acquire out you lot amongst this GCSE resource by thornn on TES (shared by @eggarsmaths on Twitter) which you lot mightiness honor useful for concluding infinitesimal examination tips over the coming weeks.

5 Maths Gems #33

Hello too welcome to my 33^rd gems post. This is where I part 5 educational activity ideas I've seen on Twitter.

Well it's been fun educational activity inward this week's heatwave hasn't it?! I long for an air-conditioned classroom. Still, all this lovely sunshine serves equally a overnice reminder that the summertime holidays are but roughly the corner.

1. Pythagoras Pile Up
We've all seen the fantastic #mathsconf4 I was fortunate to bespeak heed a fantastic persuasion for educational activity Fractions, Decimals too Percentages from Number Resources page.

This calendar week @solvemymaths shared a actually overnice persuasion for educational activity estimator skills which comes from @Ms_Kmp's website mathssandpit.co.uk. Have a await at her post 'Calculators: The New Hope' to download the resource. And cheers to @solvemymaths for his novel '7 Days of Maths' series, which is good worth following.

4. Maths Videos
Thanks to @mhorley for sharing a link to the BBC's Kick Sum Maths videos - I've non seen these before. They powerfulness come upward inward handy to back upward the educational activity of a divulge of Key Stage 2/3 topics.

5. Self-Descriptive Numbers
Thanks to @LearningMaths for sharing this lovely activity 'Self-descriptive numbers'.

If yous await through the set of resources from which this activity comes too then you'll run into that there's enough of other corking materials inward at that spot too.

If yous similar these resources too then you'll honey cleavebooks.co.uk/trol which is total of first-class activities. For event I've long been a fan of the Vocabulary Exercises which would move good inward an information technology Room or amongst iPads.

Recommended Reading
Here's some links to banking concern agree out:

• Bruno Reddy (MEI Conference, Pret homework, #mathsconf4 and Favourite Problems. My final gems post - Gems 32 - was 1 of my most pop posts ever.

Finally, I desire to part a Don Steward activity that I constitute peculiarly effective this week. I was running an Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker induction session too decided to purpose the enquiry below equally a starter to brand a indicate almost algebra skills. The algebra hither should last straightforward for students who almost to embark on Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 level, but some students struggled to position the answer. I made the indicate that if yous desire to create Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker Maths too then this kind of algebra should come upward real naturally. Strong algebra skills - ie the powerfulness to create this activity effortlessly - should last embedded past times GCSE too are essential to every Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 marker mathematician.