Teacher resources at Mr Whitfield's Pifactory

Pifactory Teacher resources

Panic!!!

Welcome to the teacher resources page at www.pifactory.co.uk. Below are some resources which teachers, pupils and parents are welcome to download for their own use or use in a maths class.

The resources are not to be resold.

The resources are used with a laptop and projector in my classroom. They do not need an interactive whiteboard (I do not have an interactive whiteboard). Many are designed to encourage pupils to work at the board, overwriting the projections.

They are mostly prepared using Excel 2002, Powerpoint and Geometer's Sketchpad. At the moment, none are zipped and so may take time to download.

Most have been prepared using a PC running Windows XP. However, I am now using an Apple Mac running OS X as I am fed up with viruses and Mr Gates' operating systems.

All the files should run on either platform, though the design doesn't always carry over.

I use Excel to automatically generate questions using random number generation over fixed ranges (to get a new set of questions hit F9) as well as to demonstrate maths ideas.

Powerpoint is useful for projecting accurate scales, graph paper, number lines and the like or for building up ideas and exercises such as writing formulae and simplifying expressions.

Geometer's Sketchpad is simply brilliant for demonstrating maths ideas and geometric constructions. To download an evaluation copy of GS click here.

I like to use pictures with historical, multicultural or art links where possible.

Like other teachers I never have enough time to either prepare materials or test them properly. I just have to run with what I've got and tweak along the way.

So, in return for making them available I'd appreciate some feedback to help make them better and develop more for posting here.

Please sign the Pifactory guestbook or email me with any comments about bugs, possible improvements, how they work in the classroom or other ideas for development. You could even email to say they are simply gob-smackingly brilliant. Or, you could send me one of your own resources.

The rest of the site has a comprehensive links page, a dictionary, a bookshop, level checker, online maths games, useful stuff such as number lines, mental maths tips, a wonder number, a panic button and cartoons. Click www.pifactory.co.uk to take a look.

Thanks for visiting the Pifactory.

PS, www.numeracysoftware.com also has some great resources for free.

www.mathsroom.co.ukhas resources focussing on the curriculum in Scotland.

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Jumping rabbits

Jumping rabbits is a Powerpoint file to demonstrate the balancing solution to linear equations, unknown 1 side and unknown both sides. Animated rabbits and weights leap on and off scales as the solution builds. Requires Powerpoint 2002 or higher. Powerpoint animations do not always seem to survive copying across discs, so enter-exit animations may need re-building. (added 9 April 04)

Solving linear equations

Solving linear equations is an Excel file to demonstrate balancing. Variable and randomly generated examples for unknown 1 side and unknown both sides, plus variety of randomly generated questions. Explanatory labels appear as solution builds. Features balances to show build up of solution. Examples involving fractions yet to be added. (Added 9 April 04)

Your starter for 10

Your starter for 10 is an Excel file which generates a variety of 10 starter questions. Different sheets grade the questions for ability. Includes questions on basic calculations, squares, cubes, rounding, estimating, solving simple linear equations, and the meanings of maths words.

Standard index form

Standard index form is an Excel file which demonstrates standard form for really big numbers and for really small numbers. Demonstration numbers can be varied. Confirms when standard form conversion is correct. Includes question generator and pictures of the earth from space and the Ebola virus with appropriate facts. Warning: the sheet demonstrating really small numbers has a bug on some numbers, please check before use.

Fractions addition and subtraction

Fractions addition and subtraction is an Excel sheet demonstrating addition/subtraction of fractions from a quarter up to sixteenths including, thirds, fifths, eighths and twelfths. Includes demonstration of equivalent fractions plus question generation on equivalent fractions, matching fractions and addition and subtraction. Now includes proper fractions and top-heavy fractions. (Repaired/updated 23 May 04)

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Fraction walls

Fractions wall is is Powerpoint file with a fractions wall up 16ths and a similar wall superimposed with lines indicating 2 per cent marks.

Fractions wall with equivalent fractions is a Powerpoint file with various fraction walls demonstrating equivalent fractions.

Fractions/decimals/percents is Powerpoint file for working on equivalent fractions, decimals and percents.

Decimals ten question tests

P>Decimals ten question tests is a series of Excel sheets with a variety of ten-question calculation tests. Questions generated using random numbers. Hit F9 for more questions. Hide/show button for answers. (Added 12 April 04)

Percentages

Percentages is an Excel file which demonstrates percentages and their link to fractions and decimal fractions.

Recurring decimals

Recurring decimals is and Excel sheet which demonstrates fractions and the patterns of recurring decimals by graphing the digits.

Arithmagons, number pyramids

Arithmagons is an Excel file which generates arithmagons of varied difficulty, involving addition and multiplication of cells. Includes arithmagons with "n" for lessons on simple algebra and writing of simple formulae. Hide and show buttons hide and show answers. Inlcudes a giant arithmagon generator.

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Multiplication by 10, 100, and 1000

Column shift is an Excel file which demonstrates how digits move around the decimal point as numbers are multiplied or divided by a power of 10 up to 1,000.

Simple multiplications

Simple multiplication is an Excel file which randomly demonstrates two multiplication questions, one simple, one harder. Hide/show buttons for showing the answers.

Box multiplication 99x99

Box multiplication is an Excel file which demonstrates multiplication up to 99x99. Hide/show buttons allow children to work at the board.

Place value

Place value is an Excel file which demonstrates place value. Generates numbers from billions to decimals to 3 dp.

Fibonacci sequence

Fibonacci is a Powerpoint file with slides illustrating the basic sequence using pictures of rabbits, Dudeneys cows, natures's numbers based on pictures of pine cones, cauliflowers and flowers plus the golden ratio. Based on the excellent Cut the Knot.

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Stairs investigation

Stairs is an Excel file which demonstrates a Year 10 coursework preparation project. Involves the addition of the numbers in a defined stair shape on a variable number grid. Total is given for each Stairs shape. Shape is moveable. Grid size is variable from 10x10 to 15x15. Students have to find a general solution for the stari total on any grid.

T-shape investigation

T-shapes is an Excel file posing a similar problem to Stairs. Grid size variable from 9x9 to 15x15.

Cops of New York

Cops of New york is a Powerpoint file introducing an investigation to find how many cops are needed to guard New York from Al Capone. Features pix of NY cops from history, pix of Al Capone and friends (and mum) plus a map of NY clearly showing the grid system as well as grids and tables for the investigation. One deliberate mistake... which will be corrected as soon as I get time to stitch together a map of Chicago and rename the investigation Cops of Chicago.

Sum of two dice

Sum of two dice is an Excel file, which simulates two dice being thrown. The accumulated sums of the two dice are shown as a bar chart. Best run as a race, which number will win and why? Drag bottom slider slowly to the right to throw dice repeatedly. To re-start drag slider back to the left and hit reset button. If error message indicating circular reference appears, go to tools/option/calculations and set iteration to 1.

History of world numbers

World numbers is a Powerpoint file showing the history of numbers, starting with the Oshango bone and ending with binary numbers via Egypt, China, Babylon, India, the Mayans, the Incas.. and Greeks.

Pythagoras theorem

Pythagoras theorem is Powerpoint file demonstrating basic Pythagoras. See also animation on home page of the Pifactory.

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Pythagoras theorem

Pythagoras is a Geometer's Sketchpad file which demonstrates the basic idea, offers a simple proof, and shows the effect of changing the right angle to either an acute or obtuse angle.

Pythagoras biography

Pythagoras biography is a Powerpoint file that gives a biography of Pythagoras. Set to run automatically (according to your version of Powerpoint you may need to reset the animations using the rehearse timings function) as pupils settle during lesson registration. Runs for about 4 minutes.

Writing formulae — Squares and quadrants

Squares and quadrants is a Powerpoint file with a series of lessons aimed at helping with writing of formulae and simplifying expressions. The slides can also be easily printed out as worksheets. Using notation for a square and a quadrant pupils have to write expressions for areas of shapes. Set up for work by children at the board.

Writing formulae — Squares and quadrants, Archimedes

Archimedes is a Powerpoint file extending the idea of squares and quadrants to second order expressions.

See also www.math.utah.edu/~alfeld/index.html and Archimedes and the Computation of Pi. A brilliant animation developed by Peter Alfeld at UoU.

Enlargements

Transformations and enlargement is a Powerpoint file demonstrating enlargement, scale factors and centre of enlargement. Includes exercises which can be printed as worksheets or used for boardwork.

Ratio and proportion

Mona Lisa is a Geometer's Sketchpad file ilustrating ratio and proportion using the faces of the Mona Lisa and the first US president, George Washington. (Updated 19 November 04)

Basic grids

Grids is Powerpoint file including basic grids such as graph paper, x-y scales, number lines, squared paper. For projection for basic boardwork. (Updated 9 April 04)

Co-ordinates

Random co-ordinates is an Excel file that randomly generates co-ordinate points in the first quadrant and all four quadrants.

Missing operations

Missing operations is an Excel file that randomly generates questions... find the missing operations +, -, / or x.

Angles and bearing

Angles and bearings is a Geometer's Sketchpad file for exercises on angle estimation and bearings based on a map of Middle Earth, Lord of the Rings. The file is large and has been zipped.

Areas of triangles and parallelograms

Areas of triangles and parallelograms is a Geometer's Sketchpad file demonstrating areas based on a rectangle.

Number lines

Number lines is an Excel file with a series of adjustable number lines going from thousandths to thousands. Includes fraction, decimal and percentage equivalents. Percentages of amounts, percentage change.

What's the point of maths?

HMV is a Powerpoint presentation based on a letter written by HMV Group CEO Alan Giles explaining why he considers maths to be important for HMV. Runs as continuous show for 4 minutes or so, meant to be used while pupils enter the classroom or for discussion. (Added 9 April 04)

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