In this Core Maths task students are introduced to a new species of jellyfish that has been found off the Sussex coast and nicknamed ‘jellyblubbers’ by local people. It impossible to count how many ‘jellyblubbers’ are present, but some data has been collected and is being analysed for the purpose of answering the...

This RISP activity is ideal for introducing, consolidating or revising the idea of proof using a mathematical argument and appropriate use of logiocal deduction.

Students are asked to choose two triangular numbers and...

This report from Ofsted is based on a survey into the impact in schools of the government’s strategy for continuing professional development (CPD). The strategy was introduced in 2001 and subsequently relaunched in 2005. It aims to promote the benefits of CPD, help teachers make the most of the choices available,...

This resource contains a series of card tricks. Each trick is presented in two parts. In the first part enough detail is given so that the trick can be performed. A description of the desired effect is given followed by an explanation of the mechanics of the trick – actually what is done to ensure the trick works...

The Magic of Computer Science II begins with an introduction to the resource, explaining the basic concepts used in the book. There follows descriptions of how to perform seven tricks with explanations of how the trick works and the computer science concepts illustrated in the tricks.

The joker in...

The third collection of magic tricks, from Paul Curzon and Peter McOwan, is entitled ‘magic meets mistakes, machines and medicine. The five card tricks contained make use of maths and computer science theory, and are used by real magicians.

Each trick includes magician’s instructions. The theory behind each...

In this activity students are set the challenge of finding missing values such that the mean and variance of a Poisson distribution, a Binomial distribution and a normal distribution makes sense. The solution sheet contains three possible solutions.

This resource is part of the Making Stats Vital collection...

In this resource students deal with an optimisation problem involving perimeter and area based on a Greek mythological story about a princess. She wants to maximise the area contained in a given perimeter and decides on a circle. The concept of the Isoperimetric...

This activity, from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, introduces students to ways of combining errors (uncertainties) from two independent measured quantities. Using the equation for Doppler shift, the error in the rotational velocity and time period are calculated....

This London Engineering Project paper, from Royal Academy of Engineering, describes the stages of setting up the Solar Car Challenge as a 12-week themed activity. Students were asked to work in groups to create and customise cars to make them faster and bespoke. Work on...

This Mechanics in Action Project guide offers suggestions of practical activities for teaching mechanics that use the Leeds Mechanics Kit. The investigations focus on the modeling cycle. The Leeds Mechanics Kit contains simple apparatus for use with the mechanics syllabuses in A level Mathematics and Further...

In this practical protocol students investigate one way in which bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance through conjugation - horizontal gene transfer from one bacterial strain or species to another.

Plasmid-mediated evolution is fast because whole functional ‘modules’ are lost and gained, rather than the...

This Core Maths activity is based on the television programme ‘The Apprentice’ and was written by Core Maths students and their tutor. Examples of student work is also included.

The Apprentice: Guidance

The guide explains how the task was created and introduces the activity, including...