Contextual Resources

A wonderful, step by step planner based on a real example statement. Takes the learner slowly through each suggested paragraph. Ideal for UCAS applicants, work skills students, Functional English and embedded L2 literacy.

An unusual and very useful exercise written for preparation for work students who were nervous of taking messages and writing down information. It also provides useful reading and comprehension practice for all Entry Level learners and will prompt discussion on the importance of asking the right questions and writing down messages.
Ideal for Entry Level work skills students and for underpinning Entry 2 Functional English. Fully mapped to E2 Functional English crieria and the Skills for Life curriculum.

A lovely selection of quick generic and contextualised whole number and decimal problems to improve mental arithmetic skills.

Red hot chilli peppers is an interesting piece originally written for catering students but could also be of interest to any lovers of hot food! Includes comprehension and vocabulary questions, use of adjectives and a writing task.

A series of tasks designed as both an embedded literacy / Functional English assignment and also as a model to assist Art and Design students who had to make a portfolio describing various types of fabric.
It would be of interest to other learners who enjoy fashion subjects, leading to an extended project on silk in the fashion industry. Includes reading, watching a video, discussion, research and writing.

An adaptation of John Thompson’s popular You’re in the money (1997 – see below) which makes good use of Argos and Littlewoods catalogues. This adaptation has differentiated task sheets (E2-3, and L1-2) and is ideal for underpinning many aspects of Functional Mathematics including money, odd-even numbers, problem solving, rounding, averages and more; in addition to developing problem solving skills.

Pay Day is a great adaptation of earlier bank balance games (Jane Marsh’s original E3-L1 version and Judith White’s adapted L2 business version both still availalbe – see below).
This version was written specially for Entry Level learners on job related provision and is designed to get learners to think about their own finances: both in terms of what affects their regular income and what they could potentially do to improve their own situation.
Ideal for (and fully mapped to) E2-E3 Functional Maths.

A set of real life problems written for construction students but suitable for any L1-2 Functional Maths students. Covers area, perimeter, volume and scale drawings. coudl also be printed out as worksheets. Mapped to the FM criteria.
Linked to Elizabeth’s L1 and L2 FM Schemes of work (see below).

A set of real life problems written for construction students but suitable for any L1-2 Functional Maths students. Covers wages, hire purchase, savings accounts, metric measures, loans, and gas bills! Mapped to the FM criteria and linked to Elizabeth’s FM schemes of work (see below).
Mapped to the FM criteria. Could also be printed out as worksheets.

A set of two detailed lesson plans and sample differentiated active learning plans written for construction students but suitable for any L1-2 FM students. Mapped to the FM criteria.