Desmos
This page contains information on:
- Support with using Desmos;
- Useful collections of Desmos activities;
- Student tasks for GCSE and A level Mathematics;
- MEI Desmos Maths Art Competition (2019).
Support with using Desmos
In this video Tom Button gives a brief introduction to using Desmos Classroom Activities for remote teaching and learning.
In this video Natalie Vernon shows how to start creating your own Desmos Classroom Activities.
In this video Natalie Vernon shows how to copy and adapt existing Desmos Classroom Activities.
The AMSP offers professional development courses forusing Desmos including the live Teaching with Desmos course and an Desmos in the Maths Classroom On Demand PD course.
Support with using Desmos can accessed via: learn.desmos.com. Additional support to help during school closure is available at: learn.desmos.com/coronavirus/.
Useful collections of Desmos activities
Desmos have collated collections of classroom activites aligned with Key Stage 3, GCSE and AS/A level Mathematics:
Student tasks
These investigative tasks have been produced so they are easy to follow with the app on a variety of different devices including tablets and smartphones. They don't require any downloaded files. They are designed to encourage investigation and discussion.
GCSE Mathematics
| Topic | Student tasks For use with the app on laptops, tablets or smartphones |
Classroom activities Activities from teacher.desmos.com that require an internet-connected laptop or tablet |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra: straight line graphs | Equation of a line: y=mx+c Intersection of two lines Parallel lines |
Mini golf marbleslides Marbleslides: lines Polygraph lines Land the plane Card sort: Linear systems |
| Algebra: other graphs |
Roots of quadratic functions Completed square form Transformation of functions Equations of tangents to circles |
Marbleslides: parabolas Will it hit the hoop? Graphing stories Function transformations |
| Algebra: inequalities | Inequalities collection (5 activities) | |
| Geometry | Transformations Properties of quadrilaterals Circle theorems |
Polygraph: Polygons Laser challenge (angles) Puzzling it out (angles) Sector area |
AS/A level Mathematics: Pure Mathematics (AS)
| Topic | Classroom tasks |
|---|---|
| Functions | The Modulus Function Inverse functions |
| Algebra | Partial Fractions |
| Trigonometry | Solving equations in radians |
| Trigonometry identities | Double Angle formulae Rcos(θ−α) |
| Further Differentiation | Differentiating trigonometric functions |
| Integration | Gradient of tangent to y=lnx |
| Parametric equations | Converting parametric equations to cartesian equations |
| Numerical methods | Change of sign |
Using Desmos for the large data sets
The Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) has produced workbooks that show how to use Desmos to investigate the large data sets:
- AQA: Using Desmos for the AQA large data set
- Edexcel: Using Desmos for the Edexcel large data set
- MEI: Using Desmos for the MEI large data set
- OCR: Using Desmos for the OCR large data set
MEI Desmos Maths Art Competition (2019)
As part of Maths Week England 2019 MEI ran a Desmos Maths Art competition. The best two entries in each of three age categories received prizes of a Desmos T-shirt and a pizza party courtesy of Desmos. The winning artwork plus other notable entries can be viewed at: mei.org.uk/desmos-art
For more information about how to create art in Desmos please see the links below:
