Hands-on / practical activity

Cooking , contructing, measuring and other kinaesthetic activities.

This carousel of Jubilee tasks was hurriedly put together for a group of 10 E1-E3 Functional Maths and English 16-19 year old learners who had just (very successfully!) finished all their Edexcel Functional Skills assessments.

After a year of hard work from my students, the emphasis was on celebration and fun. However, learning objectives included: measuring, counting, writing an email, spelling, 2D shapes, estimating, rounding and working with money. Rough lesson outline also included.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Maths
General numeracy / maths
Functional Maths
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries

This was designed to be used with a group of dyslexic learners but would be applicable for any learners with spelling difficulties.

I have used this by separating the group into small groups or pairs and then giving each group a different strategy to try with one of the words from the word list (two are provided – one for E2-E3, one for L1-2) or a word of their own that they want to spell.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
AL Ww/L2.1 Spell technical words
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies
AL Ww/E3.1 Spell common words
Ww/E2.1
General
Dyslexia support

A Functional Maths and numeracy task sheet written for a mixed group of entry level learners to collect, represent and analyse data on favourite biscuits. The topic is introduced with a news article about Britain’s favourite biscuits. Learners must create a tally chart/frequency table, a pictogram and a bar chart. Pre-drawn grids and squared paper is included.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Maths
HD1/E3.4
HD1/E3.3
HD1/E2.4
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Context
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 worksheet which gives students practice in naming and calculating the fractions most often seen in recipes. 1/2, 1/3 cup etc.
This worksheet can be accompanied with a ‘hands on’ exercise. eg: measuring 1/2, 3/4 cup of rice etc. You need: a tray, a marked measuring cup, a cup and a jar of rice or other suitable medium.
Ideal for, and mapped to, Entry 2 and 3 Adult numeracy and Functional Maths.

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Maths
N2/E2.1
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
N2/E3.6
N2/E3.1
N2/E2.2
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

I worked with a plumbing tutor at Wiltshire College to write the attached task for a group of apprentice plumbers. The group enjoyed working on this. I was inspired to produce this after reading and using the Air Conditioner task contributed by Leia Fee (see below).

Level
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.6
MSS1/L2.9
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Electrical, Electronics & Technology
Construction Carpentry Plumbing

Another great worksheet in the never-ending Smarties series. Three level 2 tasks covering evaluating one number as a fraction of another, and adding and subtracting fractions. You will need at least one tube of Smarties.

Level
Level 2
Maths
N2/L2.4
N2/L2.3
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system

Hands-on measuring followed by challenging questions about the cost and time involved in re-filling a swimming pool. Fully mapped for adult numeracy and Functional Maths.

Level
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.5
MSS1/L2.9
AN MSS1/L2.2 Calculate, measure and record time
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Context
Sport and fitness
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Extracting information from tables (you will need an up-to-date postal prices leaflet – free from any post office or download link provided) followed by hands-on practice weighing parcels. Ideal for, and fully mapped to, Functional Maths.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
MSS1/E3.6
MSS1/E2.9
MSS1/E2.6
HD1/E3.1
HD1/E2.1
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
Functional Maths - handling information and data
Number
Context
Independent living

Graduated activity for E2-L2 mixed ability groups. Involves recognising and sketching and drawing nets; constructing a chosen 3D shape; and (for L1 -2 only) calculating volume and surface area. With detailed adult numeracy and Functional Maths mapping information.
The tutor will need some pre-prepared nets – suggested web links are included.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
MSS2/L2.1
MSS1/L1.10
MSS2/E2.2
MSS1/L1.9
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space