Functional Maths - measures, shape & space

Resources particularly suitable for teaching and underpinning Functional Mathematics - using common measures, shape and space.  May cover any or all of the following topics:

  • money (inc. simple interest);
  • time
  • metric and Imperial measures of length, weight and capacity
  • temperature
  • compound measures  inc. speed, density & rates of pay
  • 2D and 3D shapes inc. line symmetry
  • positional and directional vocabulary
  • reading scales / using measuring instruments
  • maps and scale plans
  • coordinates (positive & negative)
  • angles
  • constructing and interpreting geometric diagrams and models (inc. nets and elevations)
  • perimeter, area and volume.

Resources I designed as a mini project for Functional Skills maths. Also for L1/L2 Adult Numeracy

Editor’s notes:
Includes several recipes including a delicious sounding Spanish flan (some questions involving doubling and halving might also suit Entry Level students), mixing paint, proportion (wages) and some challenging L2 scale map questions. Fully mapped to the Functional Maths criteria.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
AN N1/L2.3
AN N1/L1.7
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

Inspired by Judith White’s autumn apple cake resource (ratios, converting measures, formulae, etc.) this series of open ended tasks focuses on the importance of showing working out and explaining/justifying their conclusions. It also helps students get used to the idea that some maths questions do not have just one “correct” answer.

The theme is baking several cakes for a charity event and making a profit.
You will need Judith’s original recipe (see below) to complete some of the tasks. Fully mapped to the Functional Maths criteria.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
General numeracy / maths
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Catering Food Nutrition

Inspired by Jane Russell’s place value slider (see below), this slider allows for easy conversion of metric units. I printed the sliders on A3 paper so there would be enough to pull from both sides. I used different colours for weight, distance and capacity.

An illustrated example shows how to use the sliders. Sets of 4 sliders are on different pages to make it easier to print on different colour paper. A photograph of the finsihed slider i salso availalbe below

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Maths
MSS1/L2.5
MSS1/L1.7
MSS1/E3.7
MSS1/E3.6
MSS1/E3.5
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space

A Functional Maths resource using area, multiplication, division and money. I have used Wickes catalogues with my students as they are small and easy to use, but combining the task with internet research to find the best price would be a really good way of doing this lesson.
Fully mapped to L1-2 Functional Maths criteria.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
General numeracy / maths
Context
Painting Decorating & DIY
Gardening & Horticulture
Construction Carpentry Plumbing

A scaffolded investigation created for my Level 1 numeracy group but ideal for, and fully mapped to, L1-2 Functional maths.
Part 1 involves reading a description of a room and drawing simple scale diagrams (a grid is provided) before pricing up a carpet from a discount company.
Part 2 is more complex: calculate the length of skirting board, wallpaper, paint, dado rail and door framing required.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.5
MSS1/L1.6
N1/L1.10
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L1.8
MSS1/L1.11
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Painting Decorating & DIY
Construction Carpentry Plumbing

Powerpoint presentation introducing area, perimeter and volume for L1-L2 Functional Skills (maths) learners. Covers rectangles, compound shapes and circles.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
MSS1/L2.8
MSS1/L2.7
MSS1/L1.10
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L1.8
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space

An original and very functional volume / area / converting measures task conceived during the heavy snows of winter 2010/11. It gives a new slant to snow clearing and could easily be adapted to different areas of driveways, paths, etc. Fully mapped to Functional Maths and adult numeracy.

Level
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.5
MSS1/L2.9
MSS1/L2.7
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Painting Decorating & DIY
Health and safety

Work out the cost of carpeting a flat (compound shapes) and seeding and fencing a rectangular lawn.
The step by step problem solving approach also makes this ideal for underpinning L1 Functional Maths – although the scaffolded worksheet on page 2 can be removed for confident students or for assessment purposes. It also provides useful practice with extracting information from a room plan and price list.
Fully mapped to L1 adult numeracy and Functional Maths.

Level
Level 1
Maths
AN MSS1/L1.1 Add, subtract, multiply & divide sums of money and record
HD1/L1.1
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L1.8
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
Painting Decorating & DIY
Gardening & Horticulture

Lovely introduction to perimeter, area and volume. The learner can move squares and 3D blocks around to see how area and volume relate to physical squares / cubes.

Please note you must have the ActivInspire interactive whiteboard software installed on your computer in order to open, view and use the flipchart resource.
A free personal edition is available for download at http://support.prometheanplanet.com/

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
MSS1/L1.10
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L1.8
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space

A set of exercises to practise timings in a salon. Ideal for, and fully mapped to, embedding Entry Level Functional Maths.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Maths
AN MSS1/E3.3
HD1/E3.1
MSS1/E2.4
HD1/E2.1
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
Hairdressing & Beauty therapy