Investigation or project

A worksheet, outline or task sheet that involves independent research

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.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
Data Handling
General numeracy / maths
Measures shape and space
Number

A super Level 2 lesson that focuses mostly on conversions (currency, distances and temperature). Includes a ‘distance between two cities’ chart that is useful for other activities. Great for the end of term.

Level
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.6
MSS1/L2.1
AN N1/L2.4
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Great way to practise using alphabetical order (and maps) to locate information. Note – probably best for those that live in the Wolverhampton area and requires a local AtoZ map (but the idea could easily be adapted for any area).

Level
Entry Level 3
English
Rt/E3.5
Rt/E3.9
Rw/E3.4
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Your task is to set up a new web site for ‘Blackwell Supermarkets’ but you need to check out the competition first! Encourage your learners to use and evaluate organisational features of web pages. 4 questionnaires (with tailored questions) for Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons and Asda.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rt/L1.4
Rt/L2.6 Use organisational features and systems to locate texts and information
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

A substantial resource designed to encourage students to tackle large projects in bite sized pieces. Originally used with E2E learners but suitable for all age groups. Aimed at E3- L1, it covers many literacy and numeracy topics and also requires some IT and research skills. Also used for L1 Key Skills IT portfolios and would now (2010) make an ideal Functional Skills project.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Functional Skills English
Maths
Functional Maths
ICT
Functional ICT
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Employment skills & Public services

A resource based on catalogues (Argos and Littlewoods) that works especially well with younger students. 2 versions, differentiated for Level 1 and Level 2. Covers addition and subtraction (money) and percentages.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
AN MSS1/L1.1 Add, subtract, multiply & divide sums of money and record
AN N2/L1.5 Calculate with decimals up to 2dp
N2/L1.8
AN N2/L2.8 Find percentage parts of quantities and measurements
Context
Independent living

Posting parcels provides a wonderful realistic and practical task – working out the cost of sending various sized parcels by Royal Mail. Covers weighing, measuring, reading information from tables, awareness of 3d shapes and space, etc.
Written by Lynn Savage and Judith Ryan

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Maths
MSS1/E2.5
MSS1/E2.6
MSS1/E3.5
MSS1/E3.6
MSS1/L1.4
MSS2/E3.1

Use a copy of Auto Trader (or similar) to select and buy cars – working out deposits and monthly payments. Then buy cars to do up and sell at a profit!

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
N2/L1.10
N2/L1.8
AN N2/L1.9 Find simple percentage parts of quantities and measurements
N2/L2.7
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport

Statistics investigation that involves extracting information from tables; tallies and general number practice based on past World Cup statistics and a Feb 2007 England and Australia match.

Level
Entry Level 3
Maths
HD1/E3.3
HD1/E3.1
AN N1/E3.1 place value <1000, odd / even, count in 10s /100s
N1/E3.9
Context
Sport and fitness

What’s the weather like? and Party Time! are two ‘real-life’ task sheets that involve budgeting, Excel charts and tables, rounding and checking, and finding mean and range.

Level
Level 1
Maths
HD1/L1.3
HD1/L1.4
HD1/L1.2
HD1/L1.1
ICT
Charts & graphs
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism