Measures, Shape and Space RESOURCES INDEX   page last updated 30/07/10

Common Measures

Shape and Space

 HELP: read this section if you are new to the site or unfamiliar with the adult numeracy curriculum
HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THE RESOURCE LISTINGS AND THE CURRICULUM ELEMENTS ON THIS PAGE

All worksheets and resources on this page are all linked to specific levels of MSS1/2 (measures, shape & space) in the Adult Numeracy Core Curriculum (England). To find resources for other areas of the curriculum (number, data handling) click here.  If you can't find the resource you need - please contact Maggie for help. The original 2001 printed version of the adult numeracy curriculum has been updated (2009) and replaced by an online interactive curriculum on the Excellence Gateway site (you will need to register in order to access the literacy, numeracy, pre-entry and ESOL curricula).

Note - white highlighting indicates elements or sub-elements that have been added or amended in the 2009 curriculum update.

• Compare today's date written in different media publications, e.g. newspapers, Teletext, computers, mobile phones.

• Match the months in words to their abbreviations.

• Write key personal dates, e.g. a learner's date of birth, the dates of birth of family members.

• Match dates written in different formats, e.g. 6/3/09, 6 March 2009, 6 Mar 09, 06/03/09.

• Compare and discuss different ways of writing 'sell by' and 'use by' dates on food labels or pharmaceutical products.

• Select 'Insert: Date and Time' on Word and compare the different ways of writing today's date.

• Be aware of different conventions used abroad, with particular reference to overseas websites, e.g. the American way of writing 4 July as 7/4.

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Holiday dates is an unusual challenge where the special dates/celebrations (e.g. Diwali, St Patrick's Day, Queen's birthday, Easter, etc.) must be matched to the correct month/s of the year. With research links. Contributed by Michael Garen. 2 pages. 40K

updated Multi-purpose card based resources for Entry level literacy and numeracy (first uploaded 31/10/2001). One of our most popular resources has now been given a facelift. Includes 'Follow Me' warm-up activity cards on ordering days, months and seasons - for group numeracy sessions (EL1-EL3), also suitable for Literacy (Reading levels E1-E3). Small cards for matching months/days to abbreviations or order. Larger cards for playing matching / sorting games /alphabetical ordering and spelling. Useful key word reference sheets connected to time and numbers. Cheque writing help. Match upper and lower case key words. With dozens of teaching ideas. Best printed on card or laminated. 17 pages. 85K.

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General Entry 1 Measure resources

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Entry 1 measure practice test in Edexcel-style. Great for extra practice and revision. 6 pages plus answer sheet. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk Thank you Ruth. 7 pages. 130K. Covers many E1 MSS1 (common measures) and MSS2 (shape and space) elements.

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• Use coins and notes in question-answer sessions, e.g. Give me a 10p, Have you got a five-pound note?, etc.

• Select from coins to match requirements in practical situations, e.g. £1 coin for a trolley, coins for a parking meter, vending machine, public telephone, etc.

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The problem with money... is a selection of graduated money problems (recognising coins, counting coins, cost of multiple items, change from a £1) where the correct coins must be selected from each picture box. Contributed by Michael Garen. 3 pages. 80K

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Magic Money use this series of 7 great work sheets with cardboard, plastic or real money to improve coin recognition skills and making coins up to various amounts. For Milestone 7 to Entry 2. Contributed by Dave Walkden, dave.walkden@duchy.ac.uk at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. 8 pages. 90K.

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Number Bonds - card match and ladder game. Match addition and subtraction problems to correct answers and practise mathematical vocabulary. Then play the Money Ladder game to practise coin recognition, and adding and subtracting to 10/20. 2 versions available (for E2 & E3).  Complete with spinners and ladder sheets. Contributed by Jean Thomas (The Henley College) jean@jeanthomas.co.uk 8 pages. 130K.

• In a group, discuss daily activities and their related times, e.g. favourite TV programmes, class times, getting up, going to bed, mealtimes.

• Fill in events on a simple day plan marked in hours.

• Understand the day and time of class.

• Use the vocabulary of the different days of the week, as well as weekday and weekend to discuss familiar events.

• Understand terminology such as spring term and summer term in the context of the course or children's schooling.

• Mark events on a planner for one week.

• Use TV listings to find out what days different programmes are on.

• Discuss the seasons in relation to events such as New Year, religious festivals, public holidays, education terms, etc.

Months and seasons is a beautiful set of worksheets. Learners must match months to seasons and also relate well known festivals and celebrations to each season (there is also a handy overview calendar for 2010). The last two sheets focus specifically on spring (clothes, foods, etc.). Also useful for E1-2 ESOL / Literacy (spelling months of the year). Contributed by Sonia Carroll, City and Islington College sonia.carroll@candi.ac.uk  150K

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updated Multi-purpose card based resources for Entry level literacy and numeracy (first uploaded 31/10/2001). One of our most popular resources has now been given a facelift. Includes 'Follow Me' warm-up activity cards on ordering days, months and seasons - for group numeracy sessions (EL1-EL3), also suitable for Literacy (Reading levels E1-E3). Small cards for matching months/days to abbreviations or order. Larger cards for playing matching / sorting games /alphabetical ordering and spelling. Useful key word reference sheets connected to time and numbers. Cheque writing help. Match upper and lower case key words. With dozens of teaching ideas. Best printed on card or laminated. 17 pages. 85K.

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Days of the week is a 6 page worksheet that combines colourful pages of information (days of week and their order, abbreviations, numbers on calendars) with interactive practice pages (drag and drop and a very clever page where the text changes colour if correct spelling is typed). First used with Entry 1 ESOL - ICT learners but also suitable for E1 literacy and numeracy. Contributed by Cathy Barton, Glasgow Metropolitan College catherine.barton@glasgowmet.ac.uk. 6 pages. 160K.

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Questions about days and months. Interactive worksheet with drop down menus to select the correct spelling, no. of days in a month, etc. (Use as a follow on exercise after the  Days of the week worksheet (above). Contributed by Cathy Barton, catherine.barton@glasgowmet.ac.uk Glasgow Metropolitan College. 1 page. 110K.

• Discuss size in relation to familiar objects, or objects in the room. Give statements to describe and compare size.

• Sort similar objects in order of size.

• Ask for items by comparative size, e.g. larger/smaller.

• Use judgement of size when packing or storing things.

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Big, bigger, biggest gives practice in ordering and comparing shape sizes - using big, bigger, biggest and small, smaller, smallest. Contributed by Michael Garen. 3 pages. 30K

• Compare the length, width and height of different objects.

• Discuss the size of the room, using the words length, long, width, wide, height, high.

• Compare the length of objects with a metre rule and decide if they are longer, shorter or the same length (learners do not have to measure at this level, but this is a useful preparatory activity).

Refer to General Entry 1 Measure section for resources that include coverage of this curriculum element

• Compare the weight of two different sizes of the same product, to decide which is heavier or lighter, e.g. large and small bags of sugar or rice.

• Compare the weights of two objects of different sizes to decide which is heavier or lighter.

• Compare objects of the same size but with different weights. Decide which is the heaviest and which is the lightest. Put them in order by weight.

Refer to General Entry 1 Measure section for resources that include coverage of this curriculum element

• Discuss capacity, looking at common containers for liquids and solids, e.g. cartons, bottles, cans, jars, etc.

• Look at containers of different shapes which hold the same amount and check by pouring liquids from one to the other.

Refer to General Entry 1 Measure section for resources that include coverage of this curriculum element

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General Entry 1 Shape and Space resources

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Entry 1 measure practice test in Edexcel-style. Great for extra practice and revision. 6 pages plus answer sheet. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk Thank you Ruth. 7 pages. 130K. Covers many E1 MSS1 (common measures) and MSS2 (shape and space) elements.

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• Identify a rectangle, square and circle from a range of 2-D shapes.

• Classify objects by shape.

• Find shapes in curtain or wallpaper designs, clothes, paintings, photographs or examples from nature.

• Compare the shape of faces of cubes and cuboids of different sizes. What is special about a cube?

• Identify a cube from a collection of objects.

• Experiment with drawing common shapes (e.g. different-sized rectangles) in a simple graphics package such as Paint.

• Recognise the shape of traffic signs and understand that the shape has a meaning.

2D and 3D shapes is a great set of resources for all levels from E1-L2. Includes info and worksheets, card/matching games and an IT drawing exercise. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 12 pages. 120K

Refer to General Entry 1 Measure section for resources that include coverage of this curriculum element

Also refer to General Entry 1 Measure section for resources that include coverage of this curriculum element

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Positional vocabulary is a useful gap fill exercise where you must select the correct word (above, underneath, etc.) to describe the relative positions of two or more different shapes. Contributed by Michael Garen. 1 page. 50K

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Entry 2 measure practice test in Edexcel-style. Great for extra practice and revision. 8 pages plus answer sheet. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk Thank you Ruth. 9 pages. 160K. Covers many E2 MSS1 (common measures) and MSS2 (shape and space) elements. NOTE: to ensure correct size of scale drawing on page 3 - set page scaling to 'none' when printing this PDF.

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• Exchange coins for their equivalent value using a number of smaller coins (up to £1).

• Find the total of a selection of mixed coins.

• Pay for things by ‘adding on' coins.

• Count out the exact amount when paying for something, e.g. a newspaper or the correct fare on a bus.

22/05 Interactive activities for Entry 2 Money. Please note these resources run in a web browser and should be installed as follows:

Each resource is a zip folder. Unzip (right click on downloaded file and select 'extract all') the folder to a suitably named folder (e.g. Money 1 or Money 2).

Your new folder will contain questions, images, button and a folder called moneyres (or money2res). Create a shortcut to a  file in moneyres called index.htm

Click on the file (or short cut) 'index.htm' to run the resources. If using on a Network or VLE please contact the author for further information jpd.thompson@btopenworld.com

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The problem with money... is a selection of graduated money problems (recognising coins, counting coins, cost of multiple items, change from a £1) where the correct coins must be selected from each picture box. Contributed by Michael Garen. 3 pages. 80K

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Money 1 is a series of very visual exercises providing excellent practice in making up money to given amounts, giving change, etc. 32 self-marking questions. Contributed by John Thompson, Bournemouth Adult Learning. jpd.thompson@btopenworld.com Zipped web folder. 250K. Please read installation instructions above

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Money 2 provides further Entry 2 practice and includes: 'missing money', making up money, working out change, etc. 22 self-marking questions. Contributed by John Thompson, Bournemouth Adult Learning. jpd.thompson@btopenworld.com Zipped web folder. 100K. Please read installation instructions above

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Money homework. Convert pence to £s, work out cost of multiple items and correct change, make up sums of money with coins. 2 pages. 35K.

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Magic Money use this series of 7 great work sheets with cardboard, plastic or real money to improve coin recognition skills and making coins up to various amounts. For Milestone 7 to Entry 2. Contributed by Dave Walkden, dave.walkden@duchy.ac.uk at Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. 8 pages. 90K.

• Use everyday situations to calculate totals and change from different amounts, e.g. two items from the canteen or two bus fares. Encourage a range of mental strategies (see addition, subtraction and multiplication).

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You're in the Money is a adaptation of John Thompson's popular You're in the money (1997) which makes good use of Argos and Littlewoods catalogues. This adaptation  has differentiated task sheets (E2-3, and L1-2) and is ideal for underpinning many aspects of Functional Mathematics including money, odd-even numbers, problem solving, rounding, averages and more; in addition to developing problem solving skills. Contributed by Ruth Read ruth.read@slowdog.vispa.com WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) East Midlands. 6 pages. 40K.

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A visit to the garden centre was written for NCPT horticulture students but ideal for anyone with an interest in gardening. Cover addition. subtraction. multiplication and division of whole number and money. Contributed by Pete Allsop, University of Derby  P.J.Allsop@derby.ac.uk 2 pages. 30K. Also filed under contextualised resources - horticulture. Ideal for underpinning E2-3 Functional Maths.

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The problem with money... is a selection of graduated money problems (recognising coins, counting coins, cost of multiple items, change from a £1) where the correct coins must be selected from each picture box. Contributed by Michael Garen. 3 pages. 80K

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Ordering a curry is a series of differentiated tasks that provide practice with adding up money and sticking to a budget. Contributed by John Michaux, Swindon College johnmichaux@swindon-college.ac.uk 1 pages. 30K

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updated Christmas presents and postage (first uploaded 11/12/2003) provides excellent differentiated assignments (2 each at Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1) using the Royal Mail web site or leaflets (last posting dates, parcel prices). Topics covered include reading tables, weighing, working with decimals and money, using calculators. Contributed by Di Mellor, previously at Darlington College. 7 pages. 100K

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updated (first uploaded 24/05/03) Restaurant Bills warm-up covers mental and paper-based money skills from Entry 2 to Level 2. All you need are copies of local food menus (or make up your own on the blank provided). Contributed by Sarah Richards Sarah.Richards@abingdon-witney.ac.uk Abingdon and Witney College. 2 pages. 70K.

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Money homework. Convert pence to £s, work out cost of multiple items and correct change, make up sums of money with coins. 2 pages. 35K.

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Mixed entry level number exercises. 4 very useful work sheets: counting forwards and backwards in two & tens (2 sheets). Number bonds to ten. Mixed everyday addition and subtraction problems (inc. money problems). Contributed by Jean Thomas (The Henley College) jean@jeanthomas.co.uk 4 pages. 30K.

• Compare today's date written in different media publications, e.g. newspapers, Teletext, computers, mobile phones.

• Match the months in words to their abbreviations.

• Write key personal dates, e.g. a learner's date of birth, the dates of birth of family members.

• Match dates written in different formats, e.g. 6/3/09, 6 March 2009, 6 Mar 09, 06/03/09.

• Compare and discuss different ways of writing 'sell by' and 'use by' dates on food labels or pharmaceutical products.

• Select 'Insert: Date and Time' on Word and compare the different ways of writing today's date.

• Be aware of different conventions used abroad, with particular reference to overseas websites, e.g. the American way of writing 4 July as 7/4.

PDF

PDF

Holiday dates is an unusual challenge where the special dates/celebrations (e.g. Diwali, St Patrick's Day, Queen's birthday, Easter, etc.) must be matched to the correct month/s of the year. With research links. Contributed by Michael Garen. 2 pages. 40K MSS1/E2.3

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updated Multi-purpose card based resources for Entry level literacy and numeracy (first uploaded 31/10/2001). One of our most popular resources has now been given a facelift. Includes 'Follow Me' warm-up activity cards on ordering days, months and seasons - for group numeracy sessions (EL1-EL3), also suitable for Literacy (Reading levels E1-E3). Small cards for matching months/days to abbreviations or order. Larger cards for playing matching / sorting games /alphabetical ordering and spelling. Useful key word reference sheets connected to time and numbers. Cheque writing help. Match upper and lower case key words. With dozens of teaching ideas. Best printed on card or laminated. 17 pages. 85K.

DOC

Days of the week is a 6 page worksheet that combines colourful pages of information (days of week and their order, abbreviations, numbers on calendars) with interactive practice pages (drag and drop and a very clever page where the text changes colour if correct spelling is typed). First used with Entry 1 ESOL - ICT learners but also suitable for E1 literacy and numeracy. Contributed by Cathy Barton, Glasgow Metropolitan College catherine.barton@glasgowmet.ac.uk. 6 pages. 160K.

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Questions about days and months. Interactive worksheet with drop down menus to select the correct spelling, no. of days in a month, etc. (Use as a follow on exercise after the  Days of the week worksheet (above). Contributed by Cathy Barton, catherine.barton@glasgowmet.ac.uk Glasgow Metropolitan College. 1 page. 110K.

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Calendars and questions. Large clear calendar for Jan 2006 with 12 accompanying questions. Plus a useful one page 2006 annual calendar which tutors can use to make up their own questions, ask students to circle important dates etc. 3 pages. 45K.

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Time cards 2 sets of cards to laminate. Set 1 (2 lots of 24 cards) covers units of time (E2-L1). Set 2 (30 cards) covers important dates (Christmas Day, etc.) and facts about months and years. To be printed on coloured paper and laminated. 2 pages plus teaching ideas. An ideal multi-sensory starter or revision activity for paired or individual work. 20K.

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Units of time quiz. 16 questions about units of time. Ideal for homework or revision. 1 page. 45K.

• Read the time on different analogue clock faces, using o'clock, half past, quarter to and quarter past.

• Read the time on different 12-hour digital clocks, using o'clock, fifteen, thirty, and forty-five.

• Match times in words to clocks with different faces.

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Telling the Time. Interactive worksheet with 3 pages of colourful information and key vocabulary followed by a 2 page time quiz (whole hours) with drop down menus. Contributed by Cathy Barton, catherine.barton@glasgowmet.ac.uk Glasgow Metropolitan College 170K

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12 hr digital and analogue time. 12 useful blank analogue clock faces (with spaces underneath to write time in digital format) and 2 pages mixed problems (analogue to digital and vice verse). 1 page for E2 (nearest hour, half hour, quarter hour), one for E3 (nearest 5 minutes). Note: due to size restrictions this resource does not include answer sheets. 700K.

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Digital and analogue time OHT. Clock face, blank digital cocks, clock hands and lots of teaching ideas. To be printed on acetate. 2 pages. 120K.

• Understand measurements on labels on clothes.

• Measure the length and width of the room in paces or to the nearest metre. Record and compare results, and discuss the need for standard measures.

• Use a 1 metre rule, marked in centimetres to show that 100cm is equivalent to 1m.

• In a group, discuss the best unit (m, cm) for measuring various items, e.g. furniture, doors, windows. Match a list of items to the best unit.

• Measure items above to the nearest m, cm, 10cm, as appropriate.

• Estimate and then use a ruler to measure lines drawn on plain paper to the nearest cm.

• In Word, make sure that the graphics (or drawing) toolbar is displayed. In 'Draw: Grid' select the following settings: 'Snap objects to grid', change horizontal and vertical settings to 1 cm; 'Display gridlines on screen', vertical and horizontal every 1 cm. Learners can now use the gridlines to experiment with drawing lines of different lengths. Alternatively, load a file of drawn lines for learners to measure using the grid.

• Use a ruler, metre rule or tape correctly, i.e. position of zero

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Jenga is a hands-on activity that covers measuring, multiplying and 3D shapes (and a quick game of Jenga!). With extension activities for L1 perimeter, area, volume, metric measures and tessellation. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 3 pages. 30K

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updated Make your own battleships game. Covers estimating, measuring and comparing lengths; perimeters and area. Contributed by Steph McGill, Bury College. 5 pages. 30K.

• Use a kilogram weight (e.g. bag of sugar) to compare other weights. Use comparisons such as more than a kilogram, less than a kilogram, about twice as much, etc.

• Use a simple balance to weigh objects using kilogram weights.

• Estimate the weights of different objects or items (e.g. packaged foods, washing powder) to the nearest kilo, and check by measuring or reading the label.

• Be able to use a range of equipment to weigh objects and to know how to set to zero.

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Estimating and measuring weights two work sheets (one also includes Imperial measures) for a great hands-on 'measures' session. Ideal for mixed ability groups. Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk Colchester Institute (who suggests that you ensure all measurements are securely covered or blacked out to avoid peaking!). 2 pages. 60K.

• Estimate the number of glasses of water to fill a litre jug or bottle and check by measuring.

• Compare different-shaped containers that hold a litre, including a 10cm cube.

• Use different-sized drinks bottles and cans with the labels covered to judge capacities from 1/2 litre to 5 litres. Record the results and check by measuring, or against the label.

• Use non-standard measures in cooking, e.g. tablespoonful or cupful.

• Read the capacity of paint tins to buy a required amount.

• Recognise that medicine is often given in ml and that one teaspoonful is 5ml.

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Estimating and measuring capacities two work sheets (one also includes Imperial measures) for a great hands-on 'measures' session. Ideal for mixed ability groups. Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk Colchester Institute (who suggests that you ensure all measurements are securely covered or blacked out to avoid peaking!). 2 pages. 60K.

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Matching capacities quick matching activity (makes a good starter and would also work well displayed on large screen). Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk  Colchester Institute. 1 page. 50K.

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• Look at weather charts in the newspaper, on web sites, and discuss the temperature, using terms like hot, warm, cool, etc.

• Decide what to wear from the temperature given on the weather forecast.

• Compare the temperatures in different places on weather charts, e.g. London is warmer than Edinburgh.

• Compare temperatures in degrees Celsius at different destinations in holiday brochures.

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Reading, recording and comparing body temperature is a paired task that introduced thermometers and reading simple scales. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 80K

• Use diagrams of simple scales to be read to the nearest labelled division (identify what scales learners are familiar with through work or leisure activities), e.g. read a speedometer to the nearest 10mph.

• Make sure that the ruler is displayed in Word ('View: Ruler'), and that measurements are set to cm ('Tools: Options: General'). Show learners how to enter different Top, Bottom, Left and Right margins in 'File: Page Setup'. Observe effects on text layout and look at measurements on the ruler.

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Reading scales makes a great introduction to this crucial and often difficult skill. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 15K

Discuss when rulers, tape measures, measuring tapes, bathroom scales, kitchen scales and jugs would be used.

Match measuring equipment to tasks.

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Entry 2 measure practice test in Edexcel-style. Great for extra practice and revision. 8 pages plus answer sheet. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk Thank you Ruth. 9 pages. 160K. Covers many E2 MSS1 (common measures) and MSS2 (shape and space) elements. NOTE: to ensure correct size of scale drawing on page 3 - set page scaling to 'none' when printing this PDF.

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• Identify everyday items by shape.

• Match names to shapes, and identify whether they are 2-D or 3-D.

• Find shapes in curtain or wallpaper designs, clothes, paintings, photographs, buildings or examples from nature.

• Experiment with drawing common shapes in a simple graphics package such as Paint.

• Understand references to the shapes of signs in the Highway Code

2D and 3D shapes is a great set of resources for all levels from E1-L2. Includes info and worksheets, card/matching games and an IT drawing exercise. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 12 pages. 120K

2D and 3D shapes gives practice in naming shapes and distinguishing between 2D and 3D objects. Contributed by Michael Garen.  1 page. 50K

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Properties of 2D Shapes. Name each shape and describe its properties. 2 pages. 30K.

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Properties of 3D objects.  Name each object and complete the missing information about faces, corners and edges. 2 pages. 35K.

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*Wordle activities for Entry level numeracy - more fabulous word and number cloud activities for E1 (maths words), E2 (odd even nos. and 2D shapes) and E3 (recognise, sort and and order metric measures). With instructions, extension ideas and answer sheets. Wordle is a brilliant Word cloud creator available at: http://wordle.net/ . Contributed by Dave Norgate, Bromley Adult Education College.  8 pages, 400K

• Complete a table for common 2-D shapes, listing the number of sides and the number of corners of each one. Compare results. Discuss the results for a circle.

• Complete a table for common 3-D shapes, listing the numbers of faces, edges and corners. Compare results. Discuss the results for a cylinder.

• Describe the shape of faces of common 3-D shapes.

2D and 3D shapes is a great set of resources for all levels from E1-L2. Includes info and worksheets, card/matching games and an IT drawing exercise. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 12 pages. 120K

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Jenga is a hands-on activity that covers measuring, multiplying and 3D shapes (and a quick game of Jenga!). With extension activities for L1 perimeter, area, volume, metric measures and tessellation. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 3 pages. 30K

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2D and 3D shapes gives practice in naming shapes and distinguishing between 2D and 3D objects. Contributed by Michael Garen. 1 page. 50K

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Properties of 2D Shapes. Name each shape and describe its properties. 2 pages. 30K.

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Properties of 3D objects.  Name each object and complete the missing information about faces, corners and edges. 2 pages. 35K.

• Use simple local street plans to practise giving and following directions.

• Look at a website such as www.streetmap.co.uk and enter your own postcode to find a local map. Describe where you live in relation to a main road, or a landmark such as a school, station, hospital or park. Visit websites such as Google Earth and point out landmarks that you can identify.

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Positional vocabulary is a useful gap fill exercise where you must select the correct word (above, underneath, etc.) to describe the relative positions of two or more different shapes. Contributed by Michael Garen. 1 page. 50K

• Use mathematical language to describe a right angle, e.g. square, vertical, horizontal.

• Identify right angles in the room.

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*Name the right angles. Write your name on the grid, then count the right angles. Plus  a second activity. 1 page. 17K.

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Practice E3 numeracy multiple choice test based on the online version available on the Move-On site.  Ideal for revision or assessment purposes. 30 questions. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk  12 pages. 250K

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Practice E3 Numeracy assignment - mobiles is a City & Guilds Style practice paper - 18 questions, many with a mobile phone theme. Covers money, measures, bar charts, estimating and rounding, tallies, fractions, multiplication, division and more. Great for homework, revision or assessment. Contributed by Dave Clapham, Park Lane College, Leeds.  8 pages. 100K

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Revision & vocabulary notes for the new Entry 3 Numeracy test was written for ESOL students with good basic numeracy skills who were taking the new E3 Multiple choice test without attending numeracy classes. However these notes are brilliant for any Entry 3 numeracy student. Contributed by Ruth Colclough, Newcastle College ruth.colclough@ncl-coll.ac.uk  4 pages. 80K

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MSS1/E3.1 Add and subtract sums of money using decimal notation.

• Enter sums of money into a column in a spreadsheet and format to currency (make sure the software is set to UK settings), and see how the figures are aligned.

• Write sums of money in columns for addition and find the total cost of items.

• Practise addition and subtraction using shopping receipts, household bills, price lists, orders for work or pay slips, e.g. check deductions on a pay slip.

• Cost a small job of work, or work out a budget for the week's spending, using a calculator or spreadsheet.

• Check bank statements, using a preferred method.

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You're in the Money is a adaptation of John Thompson's popular You're in the money (1997) which makes good use of Argos and Littlewoods catalogues. This adaptation  has differentiated task sheets (E2-3, and L1-2) and is ideal for underpinning many aspects of Functional Mathematics including money, odd-even numbers, problem solving, rounding, averages and more; in addition to developing problem solving skills. Contributed by Ruth Read ruth.read@slowdog.vispa.com WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) East Midlands. 6 pages. 40K.

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Home and Away flat budgeting is a  practical task where learners must furnish a flat for someone going off to uni.  Contributed by Andrew Case, Intraining Group. Andrew.Case@intraining.co.uk 6 pages. 250K. Suitable for underpinning E3 Functional Maths and includes full Entry 3 FM criteria information.

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Pudsey Collection is a topical and very practical problem solving set of tasks based on a Children in Need collection. Specially written for Entry 3 Functional Maths students and can be easily adapted to suit your own students / charity. Contributed by Anna Lister, annal@lakescollegewestcumbria.ac.uk Lakes College, West Cumbria. 4 pages. 50K

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Working in a charity shop is a practical set of tasks covering place value (writing cheques; counting up in 5s, 10s, 20s; adding up money) comes complete with paper money, paying-in slips and blank cheques. Contributed by Olubunmi Coker, Workfirst (New Deal provider), Nuneaton bunmiifedolapo@yahoo.com 3 pages. 170K Also filed under contextualised resources - employment

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Buying herbs at the garden centre is based on packets of seeds and covers addition and subtraction of decimals (money), range and mean, and scale drawings. Great for horticulture students or anyone with an interest in gardening. Contributed by Susan Brocklehurst S2BROCKL@ccn.ac.uk City College, Norwich. 3 pages. 85K. Also filed under contextualised resources - horticulture. Also ideal for underpinning E3-L1 Functional Maths

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A visit to the garden centre was written for NCPT horticulture students but ideal for anyone with an interest in gardening. Cover addition. subtraction. multiplication and division of whole number and money. Contributed by Pete Allsop, University of Derby  P.J.Allsop@derby.ac.uk 2 pages. 30K. Also filed under contextualised resources - horticulture. Ideal for underpinning E2-3 Functional Maths.

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MSS1/E3.2 Round sums of money to the nearest £ and 10p and make approximate calculations

• Look at price lists and discuss why so many prices end in 95p or 99p. Write the prices to the nearest £1.

• Access an online shopping site, and decide what items you would like to buy. Round prices to the nearest £1 and estimate the total cost.

• Use rounding to work out the approximate cost of items in a shopping basket.

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You're in the Money is a adaptation of John Thompson's popular You're in the money (1997) which makes good use of Argos and Littlewoods catalogues. This adaptation  has differentiated task sheets (E2-3, and L1-2) and is ideal for underpinning many aspects of Functional Mathematics including money, odd-even numbers, problem solving, rounding, averages and more; in addition to developing problem solving skills. Contributed by Ruth Read ruth.read@slowdog.vispa.com WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) East Midlands. 6 pages. 40K.

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Estimating total cost provides good practice with rounding money and estimating totals. 5 questions for Entry 3. Contributed by Dave Norgate, Bromley Adult Education College. 2 pages, 150K.

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Traditional Christmas Pudding maths investigation that involves a trip to the supermarket, scaling a recipe, rounding, estimating and much more! Contributed by Dave Walkden, dave.walkden@duchy.ac.uk  Duchy College, Cornwall. 1 pages. 15K.

MSS1/E3.3 Read, measure and record time.

• Use a standard calendar to find different days or dates, e.g. the first Saturday in June or May Day, and to record personal information such as a dentist's appointment.

• Discuss the difference between the 12-hour and 24-hour clock and the different notation for recording time.

• Match 12-hour and 24-hour clock times.

• Convert flight departure times in holiday brochures to everyday descriptions, such as half past ten at night.

• Match the times on illustrations of analogue and digital clocks.

• Match times in words to clock faces.

• Look at the date and time settings on the computer.

• Discuss why times vary in different parts of the world.

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• Discuss the distance from home to work or home to the training centre. Discuss how long distances are measured, e.g. reference to signposts in the UK (miles), and signposts in other countries (kilometres).

• Understand a distance on a road sign when travelling by car or bus.

• Discuss how far a learner would walk in 15 minutes or half an hour? In what circumstances would they walk, or cycle, or catch a bus?

• Provide distances in miles from where you are to nearby places, e.g. towns and cities in the UK. Rank them in order of distance from the local centre.

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MSS1/E3.5 Read, estimate, measure and compare length using common and standard units (this element amended in the 2009 curriculum update)

• Suggest appropriate units to measure, e.g. a football pitch, the distance to Birmingham, the length of a curtain, the height of a door, the length of a nail. Select lengths that are within the learner's experience and relevant to it.

• Practise estimating, measuring and recording lengths in different units, using different measuring instruments.

• Order lengths in metres in decimal notation. Use a rule or tape to measure out lengths and check the results.

• Use a ruler marked in millimetres and labelled in centimetres to draw and measure lines of different lengths.

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Jenga is a hands-on activity that covers measuring, multiplying and 3D shapes (and a quick game of Jenga!). With extension activities for L1 perimeter, area, volume, metric measures and tessellation. Contributed by John Thompson j.thompson@wigan-leigh.ac.uk Wigan and Leigh College. 3 pages. 30K

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Reading scales makes a great introduction to this crucial and often difficult skill. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 15K

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Practical sessions - weights, lengths, areas, capacities. Great, self-contained set of estimating, measuring and calculating activities designed to cover 4 sessions.  Contributed by Tim Goldstein. 10 pages. 50K

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updated Make your own battleships game. Covers estimating, measuring and comparing lengths; perimeters and area. Contributed by Steph McGill, Bury College. 5 pages. 30K.

MSS1/E3.6 Read, estimate, measure and compare weight using common and standard units. (This element amended in the 2009 curriculum update)

• Collect labels from different household packaging and compare the weights.

• Practise estimating, measuring and recording weights in different units, using different instruments. E.g. weigh ingredients for a recipe.

• Match familiar items to given weights, e.g. a packet of crisps is 30g, a tin of beans is 415g, a bag of rice is 3kg, a Paracetamol is 1g. Make sure that there is sufficient difference in the weights

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Estimating and measuring weight & capacity is a useful ICT based online supermarket exercise. Contributed by Carol Smith, West Nottinghamshire College.  1 page. 40K. Also filed under E3 ICT

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Reading scales makes a great introduction to this crucial and often difficult skill. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 15K

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Banana smoothie numeracy challenge  a hands-on practical task where groups of students must measure ingredients accurately (capacity and weight) and come up with a perfect smoothie recipe to be judged by the teacher. Marks are also awarded for an inventive smoothie name and a well written recipe (optional writing frame inc. for learners with Entry literacy skills) plus a detailed mark/feedback sheet. Contributed by Tara Swift, Abingdon & Witney College. Tara.Swift@abingdon-witney.ac.uk 3 pages. 50K.

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Practical sessions - weights, lengths, areas, capacities. Great, self-contained set of estimating, measuring and calculating activities designed to cover 4 sessions.  Contributed by Tim Goldstein. 10 pages. 50K

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Estimating and measuring weights two work sheets (one also includes Imperial measures) for a great hands-on 'measures' session. Ideal for mixed ability groups. Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk Colchester Institute (who suggests that you ensure all measurements are securely covered or blacked out to avoid peaking!). 2 pages. 60K.

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MSS1/E3.7 Read, estimate, measure and compare capacity using common and standard units. (This element updated since the 2009 curriculum update)

• Collect labels from different bottles or drink cartons showing capacity in ml or litres.

• Estimate and check the capacity of different containers for different purposes, using measuring jugs and other containers of known capacity. E.g. can I get a litre of milk in this jug? Can I mix five litres of weed-killer in this watering can? Can I use this saucepan to make two litres of soup?

• Match items to given measures, e.g. a spoonful of medicine is 5ml, a can of drink is 330ml, a large bottle of drink is 2l. Make sure there is sufficient difference in the capacities.

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Estimating and measuring weight & capacity is a useful ICT based online supermarket exercise. Contributed by Carol Smith, West Nottinghamshire College.  1 page. 40K. Also filed under E3 ICT

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Reading scales makes a great introduction to this crucial and often difficult skill. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 15K

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Banana smoothie numeracy challenge  a hands-on practical task where groups of students must measure ingredients accurately (capacity and weight) and come up with a perfect smoothie recipe to be judged by the teacher. Marks are also awarded for an inventive smoothie name and a well written recipe (optional writing frame inc. for learners with Entry literacy skills) plus a detailed mark/feedback sheet. Contributed by Tara Swift, Abingdon & Witney College. Tara.Swift@abingdon-witney.ac.uk 3 pages. 50K.

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Practical sessions - weights, lengths, areas, capacities. Great, self-contained set of estimating, measuring and calculating activities designed to cover 4 sessions.  Contributed by Tim Goldstein. 10 pages. 50K

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Estimating and measuring capacities two work sheets (one also includes Imperial measures) for a great hands-on 'measures' session. Ideal for mixed ability groups. Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk Colchester Institute (who suggests that you ensure all measurements are securely covered or blacked out to avoid peaking!). 2 pages. 60K.

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Matching capacities quick matching activity (makes a good starter and would also work well displayed on large screen). Kate Hart katy.hart@colchester.ac.uk  Colchester Institute. 1 page. 50K.

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• Choose the appropriate instrument from a selection provided to match a variety of measuring tasks, e.g. tape measure, ruler, kitchen scales, letter scales, bathroom scales, measuring jugs, spoons, medicine cap, etc.

• Look at the different units used in Word, e.g. font size in points, margins in cm. Look at the options available in 'Tools: Options (or Preferences): General' and experiment with different units

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Wordle activities for Entry level numeracy - more fabulous word and number cloud activities for E1 (maths words), E2 (odd even nos. and 2D shapes) and E3 (recognise, sort and and order metric measures). With instructions, extension ideas and answer sheets. Wordle is a brilliant Word cloud creator available at: http://wordle.net/ . Contributed by Dave Norgate, Bromley Adult Education College.  8 pages, 400K

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Banana smoothie numeracy challenge  a hands-on practical task where groups of students must measure ingredients accurately (capacity and weight) and come up with a perfect smoothie recipe to be judged by the teacher. Marks are also awarded for an inventive smoothie name and a well written recipe (optional writing frame inc. for learners with Entry literacy skills) plus a detailed mark/feedback sheet. Contributed by Tara Swift, Abingdon & Witney College. Tara.Swift@abingdon-witney.ac.uk 3 pages. 50K.

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Practical sessions - weights, lengths, areas, capacities. Great, self-contained set of estimating, measuring and calculating activities designed to cover 4 sessions.  Contributed by Tim Goldstein. 10 pages. 50K

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Practical problems with 3D objects. What can you fit through the letter box and the cat flap? Plus choosing suitable units and naming 3D objects. Great practice for E3 City and Guilds assignments. 3 pages. 100K.

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updated Weight Lotto (first posted 9/6/04). Great game for practising converting measures at Levels 1 and 2. Also covers number elements. Contributed by Karen Hannah, kare.hannah@gmail.com Now 5 pages with new 'suitable units' game, teaching ideas and extension / differentiation activities. 220K.

• Compare thermometers used for different purposes: clinical thermometers and fever scans for body temperature, weather thermometers, thermometers used in cooking, etc.

• Practise reading scales on different thermometers, using diagrams if necessary.

• Look at oven temperatures in different recipes. Decide what is a hot oven or a cool oven.

• Use Teletext, a newspaper or a website to find and compare today's temperatures (if above 0) in different cities around the world.

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Temperature and weather charts is a great way to introduce negative numbers and temperature in an everyday context. Contributed by Anne Carlill, Park Lane College. AECarlill@aol.com 3 pages. 60K.

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Reading, recording and comparing body temperature is a paired task that introduces thermometers and reading simple scales. Contributed by Jane Kay, Accrington and Rossendale College jkay@accross.ac.uk 1 page. 80K