To see all of the work I do for TES Maths, including Resource of the Week, Inspect the Spec, Maths Newsletters and Topic Collections, please visit the TES Maths Blog here

What is it?
I flipping love a codebreaker. In fact, I picked a few of my favourites out in the October TES Maths Newsletter. I have chosen this resource to show that codebreakers are not just for number and algebra based topics. With a bit of thought they can be used to spice up pretty much anything, including volume and surface area as in this particular resource. The first covers cubes, cuboids and cylinders, with codebreaker 2 looking at spheres, cones and pyramids. And with Foundation students needing to get to grips with non-prims in the new GCSE Maths exam, this resource could become an essential part of your teaching arsenal!

 
How can it be used?
The beauty of a codebreaker activity is they pretty much run themselves. They are perfectly suited to students either working independently, or in small groups. For extra support students could be provided with a formula sheet. And for a lovely little extension activity, students could be asked to create their own. More specifically, given one of the original grids, students could be challenged to come up with a new word. This involves them trying to create questions to match answers already given – a mighty challenge indeed. What could be better? 
Thanks so much for sharing

Craig Barton

 
Download Volume and Surface Area Codebreakers
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