At the time, people asked if I had a bank of them to share, I didn't but said I would when I had time (ha!). Over a year later, and a pandemic giving me a bit of time to sort them out, here we are! I'm hoping to release more and more gradually when they are ready, so let me know if you have any requests.
What They Look Like:
They do look a little confusing so you need to know the intent behind them before using them (don't just photocopy and hand out blindly).
Intended Uses:
The resource is supposed to be flexible for your classes/students. I've purposefully added them as a PowerPoint document as well as PDF so you can adapt them as needed.
Some students may be able to answer the question in the top third with no extra help, job done - you must be a fantastic teacher as they can do it without the scaffold!
For those who are unsure what Maths they need to use, the middle third is questions which enable students to first practice the skills needed to attempt the question - note the numbers are purposefully different so they can practice the skill then try to apply it to the original question in the top third.
Finally, for those who still can't access the question, the original question is broken down into three steps in the bottom third (in the same vein as the middle section but with the correct numbers for the original question), so some students will complete all three sections before answering the initial question whereas others may be able to answer it independently without the bottom two thirds, but they could use the bottom third to check their working and maybe see a different method. Some students may start answering in the stages and then have the 'penny drop' moment where they can see how to answer the question themselves and abandon the scaffold to freestyle the problem.
You can also use them as a we do, you do resource, where you look at the problem, discuss the Maths needed and look at the middle section as a class together to practice the skills, then students can attempt the question themselves from the top third, or if they need the structure try the bottom third to get the answer to the original problem without being teacher led.
I have previously used these by printing double sided, so the question is on one side, and the question broken down into stages is on the back, giving students the option of turning over if they need the scaffold. This way I can put three problems on one sheet, with the scaffolding on the back, so that students can choose for each question whether they need the scaffold or not. See example below:
These resources are free for you to use and adapt for however suits you and your classes, all I ask is that you give them a share on Twitter and tag me @mathspeptalk to tell me how you've adapted them or used them successfully - sharing is caring. Also if you have any recommendations for improving them or recommendations, please get in touch.
SET ONE: From White Rose Maths Hub GCSE Problem Solving
Circle Problem:
PowerPoint
Pythagoras' Theorem Problem:
PowerPoint
Trapezium and Pythagoras' Theorem Problem:
PowerPoint
Pythagoras' Theorem and Trigonometry Problem:
PowerPoint
Mean with Surds Problem:
PowerPoint
Volume (Backwards Cylinder) Problem:
PowerPoint
Front and Back Worksheets of Set One:
PowerPoint
SET TWO: From Edexcel Specimen Papers
Area and Proportion:
PowerPoint
Combining Ratio:
PowerPoint
Complex Speed:
PowerPoint
Complex Volume:
PowerPoint
Coordinate Geometry:
PowerPoint
Coordinate Geometry Circle:
PowerPoint
Front and Back Worksheets of Set Two:
PowerPoint
