Making 100

Pupils write out the digits 1 to 10 like this:

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10

The aim is to create an expression that equals 100 by putting as many + – X and / signs between the digits as they like. You might like to demo one like this:

1    2   3 + 4   5   6  X 7 / 8 – 9 = 123 + 456 X 7 / 8 – 9 = 513

Obviously this one is too high but it does illustrate the method. You can decide whether the pupils must use BODMAS or not (I’d suggest they do!) and whether they are allowed to put brackets in as well.

There are many solutions and you might like to post them in the comments section below when you find them!

Thanks to Cat for this engaging little starter. It might make a brilliant homework too!

Have fun!

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Substitution Top Trumps

Do you remember playing the Top Trumps card game as a kid? Here are a couple of Top Trumps card game resources that will make any lesson about substitution really fun.

Click here for the animal substitution Top Trump cards.

Click here for the dinosaur substitution Top Trump cards. These are for higher attaining classes and feature brackets and indices.

There are lots of ways you can play Top Trumps but here’s one suggestion of how you can run the activity:

• Give one set of the cards to each pair.
• Place one of the cards defining a=, b=, c= on each table.
• Each pair splits their set of cards randomly into two and take one pile each.
• The first player speaks out a characteristic and the value (obtained by using substitution), e.g. “Speed 5”.
• The second player would look up the speed characteristic on their card and calculates the value.
• The person with the highest value is the winner and takes both cards and puts them at the back of their pile. If it is a draw then each player puts their own card to the back or their pile.
• The winner then starts the next turn by looking at the next card in their pile and reading out a characteristic and the value.
• The game carries on until one person has all of the cards.

Have fun!

Thanks to “kez84” on www.tes.co.uk for this excellent resource and also to Steph W for suggesting it.

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