Spring

Written with the 2025 spring equinox in mind (March 20 2025 at 0901) but I got struck down by a virus so it's a bit late! A set of Entry Level tasks - starting with E1-2 analogue clock/date/calendar type questions about the equinox and British summertime. Followed by a similar E2-E3 section. The final two sections (mostly E3) are about a garden centre and cover number, measures, money and rounding. Although the underpinning skills are all Entry Level some of the problem solving tasks are multi-step and would also be suitable for Level 1.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E1.6 Read 12 hour digital & analogue clocks in hours
FM E2.7 Know the number of hours in a day and weeks in a year.
FM E2.12 Calculate money with pence up to £1 & in whole £s of multiple items, use correct symbols (£ or p)
FM E2.13 Read & record time in common date formats, & read time displayed on analogue clocks in hours, half hours & quarter hours, & understand hours from a 24-hour digital clock
FM E3.5 Approximate by rounding numbers less than 1000 to the nearest 10 or 100, use rounded answer to check results
FM E3.10 Calculate with money using decimal notation & express money correctly in writing in pounds and pence
FM E3.11 Round amounts of money to the nearest £1 or 10p
FM E3.12 Read, measure & record time using am & pm
FM E3.13 Read time from analogue & 24 hour digital clocks in hours & minutes
FM E3.2 Add & subtract 3-digit whole numbers
Context
Gardening & Horticulture
Science, Nature & Weather

A L2 reading lesson around the optimism of Spring, and Easter and pagan traditions, especially suitable for the start of the Summer term, as a springboard to setting intentions for the rest of the course. Suitable for ESOL or Functional Skills courses.

Editor's note

Fully mapped to the reformed FS content - and GCSE English. Also includes a vocabulary consolidation task for the next lesson.

Level
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
GCSE Reading AO1a Identify/interpret explicit & implicit information & ideas
GCSE English Reading AO2 Explain & analyse language & structure
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L2.1a Identify different ways meaning is built up in a range of texts of varying genres
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
ESOL Rt/L2.3a Identify the main points and specific detail in different types of text of varying lengths & detail
ESOL Rt/L2.6a Use organisational features and systems to locate texts and information
ESOL Rt/L2.8a Summarise information from longer documents
Context
Faith & Religion
Mental health, awareness & psychology

An ESOL lesson embedding numeracy, diversity and British values, centred on the Spring Equinox and three festivals which happen around / on this day - Purim, Holi and Shunbun No Hi. Learners collect unfamiliar words on a vocabulary sheet and ask and answer questions to elicit meaning / explanation. There is a powerpoint to introduce the topic, using acronyms eg 7DIAW  - Seven Days In A Week to elicit key words, and lead to an explanation of what the Vernal Equinox is and when it is.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E2.7 Know the number of hours in a day and weeks in a year.
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
ESOL
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Faith & Religion

A starter or ice breaker featuring random facts about March. Includes some embedded maths and E&D

Editor’s note
With answers and embedding /extension ideas for all levels.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

A topical Level 2 reading and writing assignment based on an article from the from the Observer. Ideal for early spring / late winter but can be used any time of year. Covers comprehension, purpose of text, apostrophes, vocabulary and dictionary work, and writing. Includes differentiation and extension ideas.

Level
Level 2
English
Adult Lit Wt/L2.3 Present information and ideas in a logical or persuasive sequence, using paragraphs where appropriate
Rw/L2.2
Rw/L2.1
Rt/L2.2 Identify the purpose of a text and infer meaning which is not explicit
Rt/L2.1 Trace and understand the main events of continuous descriptive, explanatory and persuasive texts
Context
Science, Nature & Weather

Spring Festivals – Entry 3 comprehension questions (also includes alphabetical ordering and dictionary work) based on a short text about spring festivals from different cultures and faiths. The short text is part of the Easter Eggs – best buy? resource (below) which you will also have to download

Level
Entry Level 3
English
AL Rt/E3.1 Understand longer texts
Rt/E3.7
Rt/E3.8
Rw/E3.4
Rw/E3.3

An L1-2 investigation that covers direct proportion (best buy), and rounding / calculating with money /decimals. Two options are included: students can either research Easter egg and chocolate prices on internet shopping sites or use those given. In both cases they must investigate the cost per 100g chocolate and work out the best buy. Final extension work includes consideration of ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘two for £…’ offers.

Editor’s note. New update for 2016 – based on supermarket prices in February 2016

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Maths
AN N2/L1.7
AN N2/L1.6
AN N2/L1.5 Calculate with decimals up to 2dp
AN MSS1/L1.1 Add, subtract, multiply & divide sums of money and record
AN N1/L2.3
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

A super differentiated whole group activity (E2 – L2) for spring, summer or autumn. Covers measures, area, rounding, substitution and more.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/E2.5
MSS1/E3.5
MSS1/L1.4
MSS1/L1.7
MSS1/L2.6
MSS1/L1.9
MSS1/L2.7
AN N1/L1.3
N1/L2.1
N1/E2.6
N1/E3.7
N1/L1.8
AN N1/L2.4
N1/E3.9
Context
Gardening & Horticulture