A sheet is shown containing six calculations that have been partially obscured by juice spilled on the sheet. The challenge is to work out what the calculations were, and their solutions.

This problem provides a gentle introduction to simultaneous equations. Three bags of shopping are shown: two have prices and one does not. The challenge is to find out the price of the final bag of shopping.

After thinking of a number, a series of steps is given that result in an answer that is independent of the initial number. There is scope to use fractions and directed numbers in the problem....

These activities, from the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) publication ‘Thinking for Ourselves’, provide a variety of contexts in which students are encouraged to think for themselves.

Activity 1: In the bag – More or less requires students to record how many more or...

This resource, produced by the Centre for Teaching Mathematics at the University of Plymouth, contains ten ‘puzzles to get the brain working!’

Each puzzle is designed to make students think laterally, consider the question carefully and not give the most obvious answer. The puzzles could be used as lesson...

This resource from Susan Wall contains a number of open–ended questions which explore understanding and allow a variety of approaches.

Each question is easily accessible but can be extended to make a more complex problem. Students are required to justify their answer and, where possible, generalise their...

These resources, produced by The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM), have been designed to encourage distinctive ways of thinking and learning as part of the NCETM professional development package.

Analysing reasoning and...

In this section you can see learners engaged in activities that promote mathematical discussion and explore your role in managing discussion with your own learners.

Introduction
Discussion is an excellent way for learners to rehearse their understanding and to learn from each other. Teachers often say...

Thinking about learning focusses on five aspects of effective practice that teachers and trainers have found to be particularly important in promoting successful learning: questioning, discussion, using misconceptions, assessment and meeting the needs of all learners. Selecting each of these aspects will allow you...

In this section you can see teachers and trainers using a range of questioning techniques.

Introduction
Teachers and trainers ask questions for a variety of purposes. Questions can be used to keep learners engaged during an explanation, to assess their understanding, to deepen their thinking or focus...

The This is Engineering: Entertainment STEM resource explores the essential role that engineers play in the entertainment industry.

This is Engineering: Entertainment asks young learners to express and share their thoughts and ideas, to be curious, experiment, find their own passions and interests, and to...