Higher Order Thinking Lesson Starters Activities Putting a

Higher Order Thinking Lesson Starters & Activities

Putting a different ‘spin’ on a lesson starter is a great way to introduce younger pupils to higher order thinking skills and stimulate meaningful discussion among pupils. The following activities can be used as lesson starters or as stand-alone activities (although be sure to leave plenty of time for sharing answers and discussion afterwards!)

True or False. . . ? This is a right angled-triangle 5 cm 12 cm How would you prove your answer?

Find the Fibs! Sarah completed the following lesson starter. Her final answers are shown in red. She made some silly mistakes! 1. Calculate 15 - 6 x 2 3 2. Solve the equation 2 x - 7 = 15 x=4 3. Calculate the perimeter of this shape: 3 cm 2 P = 24 cm Find her mistakes and 8 cm correct her work.

2 x + 5 = 17 Make up as many equations as you can in the next 5 minutes that have the same answer as the one above. Swap equations with a friend and solve them to check their answers.

Using exactly four 4 s it is possible to make all the numbers between 1 and 20. For example: 44 ÷ 44 = 1 and (4 x 4) ÷ (4 + 4) = 2 What other numbers can you make using four 4 s?

Answers 1 = (4÷ 4) x (4÷ 4) 2 = (4÷ 4)+(4÷ 4) 3 = (4 + 4) ÷ 4 4 = 4 + 4(4 - 4) 5 = (4 x 4 +4) ÷ 4 6 = 4+((4+4) ÷ 4) 7 = (4+4)-(4÷ 4) 8 = (4+4) ÷ (4÷ 4) 9 = 4+4+(4÷ 4) 10 = (44 -4) ÷ 4 11 = 4! / √ 4 - 4/4 12 = 4 x 4 - √ 4 13 = 4! / √ 4 + 4/4 14 = 4 + 4 + √ 4 15 = 4 x 4 - 4/4 16 = 4 x 4 + 4 - 4 17 = 4 x 4 + 4/4 18 = 4 x 4 + 4 - √ 4 19 = 4! - 4/4 20 = 4 x 4 + √ 4 How many did you get?

Eric’s Broken Calculator http: //www. mathsisfun. com/games/brokencalculator. html Pyramid Puzzle http: //www. transum. org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_d ay/starter_January 4. ASP Justundera Quid http: //www. transum. org/Software/SW/Starter_of_the_ day/starter_July 5. ASP