A range of maths questions relating to Valentine's Day. Topics include measures; perimeter, area and volume; fractions and percentages; and ratio/proportion.
Editor's note
Ideal for non-calculator practice and revision. Fully mapped to the reformed maths content, with answers
Level
Level 1
Maths
FM Straightforward problem(s) with more than 1 step
A set of six linked, differentiated texts about Valentine’s Day, with associated writing assessments.
Two texts and two writing tasks for Entry 1 and for Entry 2. One text and two writing tasks for E3, and one of each at Level 1.
Reading texts: an email, a recipe, a competition, a menu, a press release about a fun fair and a florist’s advert.
Writing tasks include form filling, an email, a restaurant review, a set of craft instructions, and a competition entry.
Answers will be available (to site contributors only) from late February 2018
Based on a short story, Highland Fling by Maureen Brannigan, from “Sexy Shorts for the Beach” edited by Victoria Kirwan-Taylor (Accent Press). However some of the writing and poetry extension activities could be used without reading the short story. Not just for romantics – the writing assignment might also cause great hilarity! Covers all Level 2 writing elements and many Level 2 reading elements (main points, research, summarise information, etc.).
A reading comprehension exercise written in the style of a practice OCR E1 reading assignment (Task 1). It also includes OCR style tasks 2-4 (purpose of text, reading signs and symbols) – these are NOT about Love Hearts.
Love Hearts task 1 can also be used independently or alongside our popular Valentine’s Day E2-L2 Love Hearts Assignment (see below) in mixed ability classes.
Level
Entry Level 1
English
Rs/E1.1 Read and recognise simple sentence structures
AL Rt/E1.1 Read short familiar texts
Rt/E1.2
AL Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
Covers alphabetical ordering, adjectives, reading comprehension, sentences and web research for E2-L2.
Sadly the original background history (on which the comprehension is based) is no longer available on the Swizzels Matlow or Love Heart sites. However related information can be found at the following sites which can make a good introduction to the assignment.
A brilliant resource – especially for younger, teenage students. Includes an original poem, discussion of slang, background info on Valentine’s Day, writing and speaking ideas.
Use as a fun investigation and/or a more formal assessment. Ideal for mixed ability groups as covers skills from Low E2 – E3 – High L1.
Covers estimating, measuring, rounding, data handling (bar charts, averages, pictograms), decimals, calculator use, problem solving, time, 3D shapes and percentages. With answer sheets.
Detailed marking boxes for E2, E3, L1 to allow for differentiated assessment, and extra squared sheets for drawing bar charts and pictograms. You will need to one packet of Love Hearts per pair or small group.
