Multiplying Decimals
This resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, illustrates the common mistakes students make when multiplying two decimal values. It suggests that the language used could be adjusted so that the term times is interchanged with of, thus one-tenth of one-tenth is equal to one one-hundredth. Practice of multiplying…
Calculations with Hundreds and Thousands
This resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, builds on students' previous knowledge of multiplying by powers of 10 to demonstrate how calculations such as 2000 x 300 can be performed accurately. Follow-up exercises provide practice in the skills learned.
Calculations with Negative Numbers
Straightforward logic is used in this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, to establish the calculation, necessary to move correctly along a number line, when the starting point is at a negative value. Phrases such as owing and debt are used to help students deal with directed number in context. Further…
Adding with Negative Numbers
A number line is used in this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, to illustrate how to solve a calculation involving negative numbers. To help correct misconceptions regarding these, the term taking away is used to represent minus and giving back for plus. Thus -8 +6 is read as taking away 8 and giving…
Dividing Whole Numbers by Fractions
This resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, uses diagrams to illustrate division by a fraction and, to clarify the common misconception identified with this task, prompts students to rethink the statement, divide three by one quarter, as the number of quarters that fit into three. Practice of dividing…
4/5- Publication year: 1990 - 1999
- Teacher guidance
Decimals and Their Equivalent Fractions
This resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, explores the misconception that decimals and fractions are different types of numbers. It illustrates how to write a decimal value as a fraction, as well as how, by using division, most fractions can be expressed with denominators of 10, 100 or 1000 to find their…
Multiplications Can Increase or Decrease
This resource, provided by the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, explores why multiplication does not always increase the size of a number. It explains how, by putting the term multiplying into a context with which students can identify and making a situation meaningful, this common misconception can be addressed. Practice…
Rounding Numbers
Students' misconceptions when rounding to the nearest 1000 is the focus of this resource from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. It illustrates how, when asked to round a value to the nearest 1000, some students mistakenly round to the nearest 10, then the nearest 100 and finally to the nearest 1000, giving an…
Probability
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on probability and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and…
Percentages
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on percentages and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and…
Numbers
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on numbers and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and the…
Mensuration
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on mensuration and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and…
Handling Data
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on handling data and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an historical background of a particular…
Geometry
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on geometry and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and the…
Fractions
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on fractions and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and the…
Equations
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on equations and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and the…
Decimals
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on decimals and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a particular topic and the…
Algebra
Designed to improve confidence in mathematics, these resources from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, focus on algebra and were developed particularly for primary teachers and those non-specialists who teach mathematics in the lower secondary years. Each section offers an overview of a specific topic and the key…
Lorenz Cipher Machine
The development of techniques used by code-breakers at Bletchley Park Breaking during World War II is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovations in Mathematics Teaching. New branches of statistical analysis and the development of the electronic computer emerged from this work and here students learn how one of the…
EAN Bar Codes
Bar codes are used extensively and this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, enables students to explore how they are structured. The activities are designed to prompt class discussion and mathematical thinking as students learn how to check that a code is valid and develop their own examples. European…
Braille
Braille is a system of dots which enables blind people to read and this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, provides the opportunity for students to explore the patterns used in this code. The activities are designed to prompt class discussion and mathematical thinking, while engaging students in decoding…
Penalty Shoot Out
Simulation of penalty shoot-outs is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematical Teaching. Students use random numbers to decide the probability of a team scoring a goal, as well as investigating the average number of kicks and the most likely result. The tasks are designed to prompt class discussion…
National Lottery
The Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching provide this resource which uses the National Lottery to promote class discussion and mathematical thinking. Students explore how the lottery works and investigate the probability of winning, as well as considering a variety of different investment opportunities. The teachers'…
Physical Fitness
Testing physical fitness is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Students are provided with sample data, which they apply to the Gallagher and Brouha Test to calculate the fitness index and determine appropriate grades. The resource is designed to prompt class discussion and mathematical…
Reading Age Formula
Formulae is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Students will be familiar with the term 'reading age' and here they apply different formulae to a selection of text samples, before comparing and considering the accuracy of the results obtained. Substitution into formulae…
Fruit Machines
Probability is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. A fruit machine is used to provide a practical situation which allows students the opportunity to explore the likelihood of obtaining a winning line, while the work is structured to prompt class discussion and mathematical thinking. Frequency…
Easter Date
Easter Day varies from year to year and in this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching, students encounter the algorithm used to establish when it will occur. A series of tasks, designed to prompt class discussion and mathematical thinking, lead students to predict when Easter Day will fall. This work…
Global Warming
Global warming is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Students are provided with data relating to average temperature rises over a 110 year period which are used to prompt class discussion and mathematical thinking. Graphical representation is a key element of this topic, which could…
World Championship for Test Cricket
International cricket is the focus of this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Data relating to 2006 is used to demonstrate how the ICC Test Championship Table is constructed and students are guided through a series of activities that have been designed to prompt discussion and develop mathematical thinking. This…
Fair Trade
The relationship between third world countries and the developed world is demonstrated in this resource, from the Centre for Innovation in Teaching Mathematics. Students work in groups to make and sell shapes, which are bought by the class teacher who performs the dual roles of Banker and United Nations. Market forces are applied…
Semaphore
The Centre for Innovation in Teaching Mathematics provide this resource which features the semaphore system of messaging, developed by the Chappe brothers in France in the late 18th century. The activities are designed to prompt discussion and mathematical thinking while students learn to interpret and code messages. A detailed…
Rankings in Sport
How performance is ranked in sport is the focus of this resource from the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Ranking plays a vital role in many sports, providing evidence for sponsors that a particular player, or team, is worth investment. Specific examples from cricket are provided and students learn the difference between…