Investigation or project

A worksheet, outline or task sheet that involves independent research

A lovely unit of work from Australia. Designed to be used during and after the games.
Cloze exercise, web research, discussion and self-evaluation.

Editor’s note
Apologies, the resource file had gone missing! Re-attached Dec 9, 2013

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
Sport and fitness

A whole session activity based on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. I used it to build on some dictionary work we hade been doing in previous sessions as well as paragraph writing and report writing. We had also been talking about open and closed questions so I have used examples of each in this resource to see if learners spotted them (they did!)

We are based in the same building as the library so there is lots of information handily available about local events but I also had internet enabled laptops in the classroom.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
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

Learners must choose the next manager of the England football team. Using the task sheet to guide them, they must research, collate and present information for five candidates and then make the final choice.

There is scope for plenty of lively discussion around the choices made and also about what the manager’s job entails.

A Power Point presentation is included as an example, but can also be printed out to use in some of the additional activities described.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Sport and fitness

An activity to explore money management and negative numbers. Be prepared to signpost students if need be.

The activity starts with discussing who is most likely to get into debt and then by recognising that anyone can if they don’t have good money skills.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
N1/L2.1
N1/L1.2
AN MSS1/L1.1 Add, subtract, multiply & divide sums of money and record
AN MSS1/E3.1 Add & subtract money using decimal notation
Functional Maths
Context
Business & Money management

A topical investigation that can be used as a group or individual task. Learners imagine they have won tickets in the ballot and must plan their trip to Buckingham Palace.
Ideal for E3-L1 Functional maths, English and ICT but could be easily adapted for higher or lower levels.

Level
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English reading
Maths
Functional Maths
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Inspired by Judith White’s autumn apple cake resource (ratios, converting measures, formulae, etc.) this series of open ended tasks focuses on the importance of showing working out and explaining/justifying their conclusions. It also helps students get used to the idea that some maths questions do not have just one “correct” answer.

The theme is baking several cakes for a charity event and making a profit.
You will need Judith’s original recipe (see below) to complete some of the tasks. Fully mapped to the Functional Maths criteria.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
General numeracy / maths
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Catering Food Nutrition

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

A short project for L1 Functional Skills or ESOL, wherein students research aspects of a foreign holiday destination and produce a piece of persuasive advertising based upon findings.

Level
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ESOL
General ESOL
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

A Functional Maths resource using area, multiplication, division and money. I have used Wickes catalogues with my students as they are small and easy to use, but combining the task with internet research to find the best price would be a really good way of doing this lesson.
Fully mapped to L1-2 Functional Maths criteria.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
General numeracy / maths
Context
Painting Decorating & DIY
Gardening & Horticulture
Construction Carpentry Plumbing