Functional Maths - numbers and the number system

Page 1: 8 maths questions relating to olympic torch
Page 2: Picture quiz: who is carrying the torch?
Page 3: Picture quiz: famous UK landmarks.
Page 4: UK cities – anagrams
Page 5: Answers

• Quizzes on pages 2 and 3 make good ice breakers and can also be used for SL&C discussion prompts.

A high interest worksheet which uses the layout of engines to reinforce some basic mathematical concepts, and to encourage reading. Lots of discussion points.
The angle of the V – right angle or acute angle?
Counting in 2s – How may cylinders – 2 rows of 3, etc.

Editor’s note: interesting mix of skills covered from E2 to L1. Focus is on angles but there is also basic doubling and counting in twos so would work well in mixed ability groups.

A set of cards that can be used to play a game where students have shares in a small company. Each group of three players receives ‘market updates’ in the form of cards that require them to divide a number in a ratio, or find the value of an amount given the value of part of the amount. Students are encouraged to keep full financial records. As a differentiation task for confident students, it is possible to calculate the percentage change in value of the shareholding at the end of the game.

I designed this activity as my level 1 learners needed more practice in solving word problems involving addition and subtraction and with reading numbers as words.

I have used a range of vocabulary to indicate the operation required eg. less than, difference, increase and decrease. My learners are mostly parents but the resource would be useful in any area of learning.

A set of cards to cut out and ideally put in plastic balls or a jazzy box. Aimed at E2- E3 Functional Skills learners as an ice breaker, introductory lesson or for revision. Students need to work out the question and identify the maths skills they are using to answer it. Best printed onto card.
Questions are aimed to appeal to young adult students – e.g. clubbing, Facebook, food, mobiles, etc.
Questions cover the 4 operations, money, time, shapes and more.
26 cards. Includes Functional Maths mapping chart.

A Sport Relief task which looks at the dates of the events and the cost of buying products from the Sport Relief shop. It includes reading a calendar and working out the days/weeks left until the event. It also includes questions on comparing, adding, subtracting (working pout change) and halving money. Learners have to read prices from the Sports Relief shop and decide what to buy with a given amount of money.

With answer sheet, and fully mapped to the E2-E3 Functional Maths criteria.

A set of cards where learners have to find percentages of money.
Note that it is percentage of not off – this should be discussed.

Use as a paired game. Learners share the cards between them, then both turn over one card each. They work out how much their card is worth then the “winner” or person whose card is worth more keeps both cards. Play continues until 1 player has all the cards.

Adapted from Emma Shaw’s Fractions of quantities top trump cards see below.

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.

A set of questions about an advertisement for motorbikes. Students are asked to find information about the store, as well as comparing the prices of motorbikes for sale. Provides practice in scanning, skimming, comparing numbers, etc.
Answer key included.

A simplified worksheet which covers labelling fractions, writing the words and a practical exercise in estimating eg: Mark 1/2 cup etc. Uses fractions commonly found in recipes and other practical situations. Ideal for, and mapped to, Functional Maths.