The Sydney Teacher Blog

Mystery Number This maths warm-up turns a few number clues into a full-on maths detective mission. The best bit? You can make it as easy or as tricky as you like! How It Works Think of a number, give your students a series of clues, and let them figure out the mystery. The trick is to reveal the clues one at a time so students can narrow down the possibilities as they go. Pop these clues on the board and see if your class can crack the code: I am a 3-digit number between 300 and 400. I am an even number. My digits add up to 15. My tens digit is double my ones digit. After each clue, ask, "What could the number be now?" Encourage students to share their guesses and explain their reasoning as the possibilities get smaller. The answer is 384, but don't give it away too soon!  Want to keep the fun going? Challenge students to create their own mystery numbers and write clues for a partner to solve. It's a great way to get them thinking about number properties from a different perspective. Why It's So Good • Builds number sense and logical reasoning. • Encourages students to use clues to eliminate possibilities. • Sparks mathematical discussions and encourages students to explain their thinking. • Easy to differentiate by changing the number of digits or the complexity of the clues. • Quick to set up and easy to repeat with new numbers. Next time you're looking for a quick maths warm-up, give Mystery Number a go! Start with a few simple clues, let the guesses roll in, and see who can crack the code. You might even have your students asking to be the ones to create the next mystery!

Maths Scavenger Hunt This maths activity is a fun, hands-on way to get students moving, thinking, and discovering just how much maths they can find right in their classroom or school. How It Works Give students one of the prompts below, depending on the maths concept you want to focus on. They can work independently, in pairs, or in small groups to find an object that matches the challenge and explain their thinking. Number Find a group of objects and describe the total in as many ways as possible (e.g. 8, double 4, or 2 × 4). Find something with a number on it and share an interesting fact about that number. Is it odd, even, a multiple, a factor, or a square number? Find a group of objects and represent the total as a fraction, decimal, or percentage of a larger group in the room. Measurement Find something approximately 30 cm long. Find something that weighs about 500 grams. Find something that could hold approximately 1 litre. Space Find an object shaped like a cylinder. Find something with exactly four right angles. Find two objects that have the same shape but different sizes. Want to add a little friendly competition? Set a timer and see which team can complete the most challenges, or ask students to justify their answers before earning a point! Why It's So Good • Adds energy to your morning maths routine and encourages active participation. •  Helps students recognise mathematical concepts in everyday objects. • Students need to explain why their chosen object fits the prompt. • Adjust the challenges to suit different year levels and abilities. • Choose your prompts, set your boundaries, and let the hunt begin! These are just a few ideas to get you started, but the possibilities are endless! Pick a maths focus, send your students on a scavenger hunt, and see what they discover. You might be surprised by the mathematical thinking that comes from simply looking at familiar things in a new way.

 Maths Is All Around Us I've heard tales of people getting parking tickets because Dad didn't read the sign properly. And in my case? I came back to find my car being hoisted onto a tow truck. Yep, a very real and very expensive lesson in why reading the fine print matters!  It's also the perfect reminder that maths pops up in the most unexpected places, even when we're just trying to park the car. How It Works Display the photo to your class and ask students to answer these questions: What time does the bus lane restriction start in the afternoon? How many hours per week is this lane a dedicated bus lane? If you parked under the 1P sign at 8:45 am on a Saturday, when would you need to move your car? Encourage students to explain their reasoning, calculate time intervals, and discuss how misreading a sign could lead to real-life consequences. You could even ask them to write their own question based on the image! Why It's So Good • Shows students how maths helps us make everyday decisions. • Practises students in reading timetables, calculating elapsed time, and interpreting time restrictions. • Encourages students to read information carefully and consider different conditions. • Connects mathematical reasoning to relatable, real-life experiences. • Simply display the photo and let the questions get students thinking! Use this picture prompt as your next Monday morning maths warm-up and see where the conversation takes you. It's a fun way to remind students that maths isn't just something we do in a workbook; it's something we use every single day!

Maths Is All Around Us Who knew a simple clock could spark so much maths? This time, we're heading to the Dymocks Building in Sydney, where one little picture opens the door to a whole lot of time-telling fun! How It Works Display the photo to your class and challenge students to solve these time-based maths problems! What time is shown on the clock? If 25 minutes pass, what time will it be? If this photo was taken during the day, what time will it be in 12 hours? Write your answer using the 24-hour clock. Write your own maths question about the image for a classmate to solve. Encourage students to explain their thinking, show their working, and share different ways to solve each problem. You could even challenge them to create a question involving elapsed time or the 24-hour clock! Why It's So Good • Helps students recognise that maths is all around them, even when they're out and about. • Practises students in reading clocks, calculating elapsed time, and converting between time formats. • Encourages students to think critically and apply their knowledge to everyday situations. •  Lets students write their own questions and challenge their classmates. •  Simply display the image and let the mathematical conversations begin! Add this picture prompt to your next Monday morning maths warm-up and see what your students come up with. You might be surprised by the questions they ask!

Maths really is everywhere, and I thought it would be fun to start capturing it in everyday life. So, I'll be sharing a Monday Morning Maths Club mini-series called Maths Is All Around Us, using everyday situations to get students thinking mathematically.

With Book Week around the corner, why not bring a little book shopping into your maths warm-up? This Maths warm up gets students exploring different book prices, working with money, and discovering that there's more than one way to solve a problem!

This is one of those maths warm-ups that looks simple at first, but don't let that fool you because it gets students thinking flexibly, sharing strategies, and proving there's rarely just one way to tackle a maths problem.

If your students enjoy sharing different ways to solve a problem, they'll love this activity. This low-prep maths warm-up turns a simple clock face into a creative challenge that gets everyone thinking.

Some of the best maths conversations happen when there's more than one correct answer. That's exactly why this is one of my favourite maths warm-ups. It's a low floor, high ceiling activity that gets every student thinking, no matter where they're at.