These starter cards are designed to be used for mental math exercises with students from key stages 2 to 4. The cards cover topics in algebra and can be used to generate questions for students at different ability levels. Key questions are provided on the back of each card to guide students in their responses. The cards are meant to be adapted to match the abilities of the class and can be used individually or in groups to encourage problem solving and discussion.

1. Starter Cards - ALGEBRA

2. Introduction
 These
cards are designed to be used as
mental and oral starters at Key Stages 2 to 4
 Ideally they should be laminated with the
sample key questions on the back
 Please add key questions of your own and
adapt the cards to reflect the ability of your
students

3. A1

4. A1
SAMPLE KEY QUESTIONS
SUPPORT
CORE
EXTENSION
On your white boards,
write down
On your whiteboards
write down
•One bigger than t
•m bigger than t
•2 greater than t
•4 less than double t
•4 less than t
•3 greater than t and
then doubled
•Double t
•t less than 5
•t squared less than
a

5. A2

6. A2
SAMPLE KEY QUESTIONS
SUPPORT
CORE
EXTENSION
On your whiteboards,
write down
On your white boards,
write down
On your whiteboards
write down
•If m = 2 what is the
value of 5m ?
•One bigger than 5m
•m bigger than 5m
•2 greater than 5m
•4 less than double
5m
•How about m = 3 , 1,
a half ……
•4 less than 5m
•Double 5m
•5m less than 5
•Let m = 0.2 , 0.5 , a
quarter ……
•3 greater than 5m
and then doubled
•5m squared less
than a
•Let m = 1.2, 0.6, …

7. A3

8. A3
SAMPLE KEY QUESTIONS
SUPPORT
CORE
EXTENSION
On your whiteboards,
write down
On your white boards,
write down
On your whiteboards
write down
•As many pairs of
whole numbers as
you can which add
up to 6
•As many pairs of
fractions which satisfy
this equation
•As many pairs of
whole numbers
which satisfy this
equation – one
number must be
negative
•As above with
decimals and
fractions
•Express x in terms
of y

9. A4

10. A4
SAMPLE KEY QUESTIONS
SUPPORT
CORE
EXTENSION
On your whiteboards,
write down
On your white boards,
write down
On your whiteboards
write down
•As many pairs of
whole numbers as
you can which make
sense in this
equation
•As many pairs of
fractions which satisfy
this equation
•As many pairs of
whole numbers
which satisfy this
equation – one
number must be
negative
•As above with
decimals and
fractions
•Express x in terms
of y

11. Using cards A5 to A8






Give out the 4 cards to 4 pupils
Ask pupils to stand at the front of the class showing
the cards
Give ‘x ‘ a value e.g x = 1
Ask the pupils to put themselves in order lowest to
highest value of the expression
Repeat with other values, keep a record of card
positions and ask for comments as x increases in
value
Suitable for Core and Extension classes

12. A5

13. A6

14. A7

15. A8

16. A9
a , b , c , d…

17. A9
SAMPLE KEY QUESTIONS
SUPPORT
•These letters stand
for numbers in a
sequence. If the
numbers go up in
twos and a = 2, what
are the other
numbers?
•How about if b = 6
•d = 7 …..
•The numbers now
increase by 3 each
time …..
CORE
•The difference is 4
each time. If c = 11
what are the other
numbers?
•If d = 5 ……
•Each number is
double the previous
number. If c = 12 what
is a ?
•……..
EXTENSION
The difference is 3
each time. If a =1
what is the nth term?
If a= 4, use the nth
term to find the 10th
term …….