Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

Written as a resource for distance learners with good reading skills who were challenged by some of the questions in the Level 1 Numeracy test.

I wanted to give them different methods of working out multiplication and division questions in particular – emphasising that multiplication is the reverse of division, and that multiplication is the same as repeated addition. The idea of division as repeated subtraction is also introduced.

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.

This resource uses the 2012 Olympics cycling road race as a theme and focuses on dates and time. Learners use a calendar to find a day and date, extract information from a table, add times to blank clock faces and carry out simple calculations. There is also a road map of the race with questions to answer.
Fully mapped to E2-E3 Functional Maths

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.

This resource was written as a seasonal end-of-term numeracy practice for my students. It includes questions on shape and space (room plan), money, fractions and directions.

Fully mapped to the Functional Maths E1-3 criteria.

An adapted version of Zoe Hyde’s Christmas E1-2 Functional Maths (see below) using Australian money. There are other minor edits – for example, the football is sent to New Zealand, not to Europe.
Questions cover almost all of the E1 and E2 UK Functional Skills maths criteria. Includes shapes, size, addition and subtraction, money, reading scales and much more. Fully mapped with teaching tips.

I adapted this from Helen Lloyd’s Planning a school party (see below). I used her idea to develop a task that my students could manage on their own while I was doing a first aid course. This version includes an extra task about providing a Santa and gifts, and I also included some simple fraction questions.

I used Helen’s supermarket list for prices of party food etc. As we have no ITC facilities, I downloaded and printed info from www.partydelights.co.uk for pocket money toys.

Lovely seasonal set of Functional Maths questions covering almost all of the E1 and E2 Criteria. Includes shapes, size, addition and subtraction, money, reading scales and much more. Fully mapped to FS with teaching tips.

I have found that many numeracy students get scared when you mention terms like percentages or fractions. I therefore developed this introductory activity for my new level 1 numeracy students. They are mostly young parents who were disengaged at school and have no mathematics qualifications.

They are usually nervous when they attend the first session so I try to boost their confidence and reassure them that the course will not be like school.

A great project that covers many Functional maths and Functional English criteria. You win the lottery, buy a mobile phone shop and have to furnish it from catalogues and/or Internet sites.

Learn about budgeting, displaying data, working with areas and floor plans, bank statements, rounding, estimating, and much more. Everything must be written up as a comprehensive report with a clear conclusion (a great guidance page on report writing is included in the resource).