Introduction

Have you ever wondered how maths and English can be learned together? Learning mathematical concepts in English helps students develop both numerical reasoning and language skills at the same time. Through engaging math exercises, learners can improve their vocabulary, practise reading comprehension, strengthen listening skills, and solve real-world problems confidently.

In this lesson, A1–B1 learners will explore basic maths symbols, arithmetic operations, shapes, and problem-solving strategies through interactive activities. Teachers can use these tasks in the classroom, while parents and homeschool educators can use them for independent practice.

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to recognise common maths vocabulary, understand basic operations, identify 2D shapes, and apply mathematical thinking in everyday situations.

Table of Contents

1. Essential Maths Vocabulary
2. Listening Activity: Basic Math Operations
3. Interactive Activity 1: Maths Symbols
4. Interactive Activity 2: Fill in the Blanks
5. Reading: Understanding Basic Maths Operations
6. Reading Comprehension Questions
7. Shapes and Geometry (Part 2)
8. Problem Solving Activities (Part 2)
9. Speaking Practice (Part 2)
10. Answer Key
11. FAQs

Essential Maths Vocabulary

Before starting the activities, learn these useful maths words.

Useful Maths Verbs

Verb	Meaning
add	put together
subtract	take away
multiply	find the total of equal groups
divide	share equally
calculate	work out the answer
solve	find the solution

Listening Activity: Basic Math Operations

Watch the video and complete the activities below.

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

ACTIVITY 1 – DRAG AND DROP

Excellent! You can identify the most common maths symbols in English.

ACTIVITY 2 – FILL IN THE BLANKS

Complete the Maths Sentences

Reading: Understanding Basic Maths Operations

Maths operations help us solve everyday problems. We use addition when we put numbers together. For example, if you have two apples and receive three more, you now have five apples.

Subtraction helps us find out how many items remain after taking some away. If you have five pencils and lose two, you still have three pencils.

Multiplication is useful when working with equal groups. If there are four bags with three sweets in each bag, multiplication helps us quickly find the total.

Division is used when sharing equally. If twelve biscuits are shared among four children, each child receives three biscuits.

These operations are used every day when shopping, cooking, travelling, and solving practical problems.

Reading Comprehension

ACTIVITY 3 – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Basic maths operations vocabulary in English for A1–B1 learners

Shapes and Geometry

Shapes are everywhere around us. We can find circles in clocks, triangles in road signs, rectangles in doors, and hexagons in honeycombs. Learning the names of shapes in English helps students describe objects, understand geometry, and communicate mathematical ideas more effectively.

Before completing the activities, review the shapes below:

Shape	Number of Sides
Circle	1 curved side
Triangle	3 sides
Square	4 equal sides
Rectangle	4 sides
Pentagon	5 sides
Hexagon	6 sides
Heptagon	7 sides
Octagon	8 sides
Nonagon	9 sides
Decagon	10 sides

Listening Activity 2: 2D Shapes Around Us

Watch the video and answer the questions below.

ACTIVITY 4 – FILL IN THE BLANKS

2D Shapes Vocabulary

ACTIVITY 5 – MULTIPLE CHOICE

Listening Comprehension: 2D Shapes

Question 1

How many sides does a pentagon have?

A) Four

B) Five ✅

C) Six

D) Seven

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Question 2

Which shape is commonly found in a honeycomb?

A) Triangle

B) Circle

C) Hexagon ✅

D) Rectangle

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Question 3

How many sides does an octagon have?

A) Six

B) Seven

C) Eight ✅

D) Nine

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Question 4

Which shape is often seen on a football?

A) Pentagon ✅

B) Hexagon

C) Triangle

D) Circle

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Question 5

How many sides does a decagon have?

A) Eight

B) Nine

C) Ten ✅

D) Eleven

H5P ACTIVITY 6 – DRAG THE WORDS

TITLE:
Complete the Shape Sentences

WORDS TO USE:

circle

triangle

square

hexagon

octagon

pentagon

SENTENCES:

1. A road sign is often shaped like a *triangle*.
2. A clock is usually a *circle*.
3. A dice has the shape of a *square* on each face.
4. Honeycomb cells are usually *hexagon* shaped.
5. A stop sign is shaped like an *octagon*.
6. A football contains *pentagon* patterns.

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• circle
• triangle
• square
• pentagon
• hexagon
• octagon

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“2D shapes vocabulary in English including circle, triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon and octagon”

Problem-Solving Strategies with Math Exercises

Maths is not only about numbers. It is also about finding solutions to everyday situations. Good problem-solvers read carefully, identify important information, choose the correct operation, and check their answers.

Read the situations below and decide which operation you should use.

H5P ACTIVITY 7 – DRAG AND DROP

TITLE:
Choose the Correct Operation

DRAG ITEMS:

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

SCENARIOS:

1. Emma has 7 apples and buys 5 more. *Addition*
   
2. Lucas has 15 sweets and gives 4 away. *Subtraction*
   
3. There are 4 boxes with 6 pencils in each box. *Multiplication*
   
4. Twenty biscuits are shared equally among 5 children. *Division*
   
5. A shop sells 3 packs with 8 stickers in each pack. *Multiplication*
   
6. Sarah had 18 balloons and 7 popped. *Subtraction*

Speaking Practice

Work with a partner and discuss the questions below.

1. Which maths operation do you use most often?
2. What is your favourite shape?
3. Can you name three shapes with more than four sides?
4. Where can you find circles in everyday life?
5. Why is maths important?
6. Can you create a simple maths problem for your partner?
7. Which shape do you think is the most interesting?
8. How do you use maths outside school?

Real-Life Maths Challenge

Maths is part of our daily lives. We use it when shopping, cooking, travelling, budgeting, and playing sports. Understanding maths vocabulary in English helps learners apply their language skills in practical situations.

Read the situations below and complete the activities.

H5P ACTIVITY 8 – FILL IN THE BLANKS

TITLE:
Everyday Maths Problems

INSTRUCTIONS:
Complete each sentence with the correct answer.

1. Anna buys 3 apples and then buys 4 more. She has *7 apples*.
2. A teacher has 20 pencils and gives 5 away. There are *15 pencils* left.
3. There are 4 bags with 3 sweets in each bag. There are *12 sweets* altogether.
4. Twelve biscuits are shared equally among 3 children. Each child gets *4 biscuits*.
5. A football team scores 2 goals in the first half and 3 in the second half. They score *5 goals* in total.
6. A shop sells 5 packs with 2 stickers in each pack. The shop sells *10 stickers*.
7. Mia has 18 balloons and 6 pop. She has *12 balloons* left.
8. Eight children share 24 cookies equally. Each child receives *3 cookies*.

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H5P ACTIVITY 9 – TRUE OR FALSE

TITLE:
Maths Facts

INSTRUCTIONS:
Read each statement and decide whether it is true or false.

1. A triangle has three sides. True
2. Division means sharing equally. True
3. A square has five sides. False
4. Multiplication helps us find the total of equal groups. True
5. An octagon has eight sides. True
6. Subtraction means putting numbers together. False
7. A hexagon has six sides. True
8. The symbol “+” means plus. True

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Download the Printable Worksheet

📄 Download the printable PDF worksheet to practise maths vocabulary, shapes, and problem-solving skills offline.

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Download the Math Exercises Worksheet PDF

Internal Learning Resource

To continue improving your English through educational topics, explore our article:

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Transportation in England: Essential Vocabulary and Activities

External Learning Resource

For additional maths practice and educational resources, visit:

BBC Bitesize Maths

Answer Key

Activity 2

1. plus
2. minus
3. times
4. divided by
5. equals
6. divide
7. multiply
8. subtract

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Activity 4

1. triangle
2. square
3. pentagon
4. hexagon
5. octagon
6. decagon
7. circle
8. heptagon

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Activity 8

1. 7
2. 15
3. 12
4. 4
5. 5
6. 10
7. 12
8. 3

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Activity 9

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True

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Conclusion

Learning maths in English is an excellent way to develop both language and problem-solving skills. Through these math exercises, students have practised essential vocabulary, explored mathematical operations, identified common 2D shapes, and applied maths to everyday situations.

Regular practice with maths vocabulary and interactive activities can help learners become more confident using English in academic subjects. Keep exploring, practising, and challenging yourself with new maths concepts in English.

FAQ