Broken Calculator



Broken Calculator by Transum.org

A fun activity with some thinking necessary…

Children are asked to click the available keys on the ‘broken’ calculator above to make the numbers 1 – 20. As  each total is achieved the calculation used to achieve a given number will appear in the table on the right.Those who manage to make all twenty totals earn a ‘Transum Trophy’ – a certificate sent to their email (or their teacher’s email if they wish!).

Unlike a normal calculator, for this activity, you cannot use one total you have found to help make another. Each calculation starts from scratch (zero). I also noted that any multiplications are treated as though they are in brackets… they’ll figure it out! Try to make each total using the fewest number of calculator key presses.


Other broken calculators are available from the links within the activity: 1 & 5,  2 & 3,  3 & 4,  4 & 5, 5 $ 2

The activity is tablet friendly and plays well on my elderly iPad mini.

Broken Calculator by Transum.org

Times Tables : Tables Master



Tables master Transum.org

Tablesmaster is a great way for students to practise individual times tables.

Played it every day it will help improve numeracy skills, mathematical proficiency and mental strength.

All times tables are included from 2x up to 13x (for the show-offs!)

There is also a printable page on which to record personal best times for completing times tables activities.

This activity is tablet friendly and plays really well on my elderly iPad.

Tables master Transum.org

Mental Maths : Beat the Clock by Transum.org



Mental Maths : Beat the Clock by Transum.org

Answer the questions in the puzzle as fast as possible.

Pupils type their answers into the boxes provided then press the ENTER or TAB key to move to the next box on a desktop or just tap on a tablet.

Any wrong answers can be corrected but the clock is ticking.

When all of the questions are answered  the page may be printed as evidence or a screen grab could be placed in an ePortfolio Maths file.

This page is designed to be printed if you would prefer to work offline using pen or pencil without the time pressure it is possible. There are multiple levels listed below

Mental Maths : Beat the Clock by Transum.org
  • Level 1 – Addition of single digit numbers
  • Level 2 – Subtraction of numbers less than 20
  • Level 3 – Addition and subtraction of numbers less than 30
  • Level 4 – Multiplication facts up to twelve times twelve
  • Level 5 – Division facts in tables up to twelve.
  • Level 6 – Mixed Multiplication and Division
  • Level 7 – All four operations, two terms
  • Level 8 – All four operations, two terms, harder
  • Level 9 – All four operations, three terms

Mental Maths : Magic Square



Magic Square by Transum.org

A classic magic square puzzle in which pupils are asked to arrange 9 numbers in a 3×3 grid so that all the lines across, all the lines down and the two diagonals add up to the same number. this works on my elderly iPad as well as other tablets.

In a subtle twist the target number is not given, though in Level 1 the numbers are 1-9 as in the classic end of term brain teaser.

There are six levels in total with progressively more difficult numbers which should keep your Maths wizards buzy!

In addition there is an option for a random square and also an intriguing UNmagic square where the object is to AVOID any of the lines adding up to the same number.

All the puzzles provide instant feedback which, when errors are made, can be a great stimulus for discussion amongst the mathematical high fliers in your group.

Magic Square by Transum.org

 

Arithmetic : A brilliant online times tables activity…



Arithmetic by Colorado University

This is one of the best times tables support activities I have seen in a long time.

The game offers three modes on which pupils are offered the opportunity to Multiply, divide or determine factors.

Three Levels of each of the above are on offer: within 6×6, within 9×9 and within 12×12 making this activity suitable for use across the whole primary age range.

Each activity can be attempted against the clock so giving students the opportunity to improve their times and thus their times tables competence. There is also an option to tur off the sound (thank goodness!).

This activity is tablet friendly and works very well on my elderly iPad (double tap required to select a square in the matrix when on iPad)

Arithmetic by Colorado University

“Tables thing” : a times tables practice activity



This activity was originally created so that my class could get competitive with themselves about improving their own times tables knowledge. It provides a written exercise in which pupils complete a 10×10 tables square, the difference being that the numbers along the top and down the left hand side are not sequential, preventing counting on.

By printing off the individual sheets linked below pupils can practise at home using the countdown clock which is also linked. For teachers wishing to use this as a daily morning activity there is also a ‘week to view’ printable.

Tables Thing Original
Numbers 1 – 10

Tables Thing Advanced
Numbers 1 – 12 excluding 1 and 10

Printable sheet for one week’s practice.

Stopwatch

The way we scored it was that the pupils were given 5 minutes to complete the grid and their score was the number of seconds taken to complete the grid plus the number of blanks and incorrect answers. So a pupil that only filled 84 squares and got 3 wrong would have a score of :

300 seconds allowed + 16 blanks + 3 wrong -= 319

A pupil completing all squares in 275 seconds and making 6 errors would have a score of:

275 seconds used + 6 wrong = 281

This allows pupils to have a number which they can compare to their previous bests and see the improvement they make over time.  To do it this way you need to have a countdown clock running so that they can see their time should they finish before the limit.

 

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