Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

I have developed this to help me explain the process of answering open questions in Functional Maths to my L1 / L2 ESOL Foundation students (Entry 3 ESOL). However, it is suitable for any group of E3-L2 Functional Maths students.

I’m hoping it’s better than trying to read through a lot of text in a book.
Practical examples will quickly follow the slides (not included here)

Practical examples (not included here) should quickly follow these slides.
Slide 9 can be printed for student reference.

Clever PPT reveals properties of eight 2D shapes, encouraging learners to name the shape before a picture is revealed. A whole class or small group activity designed to encourage discussion about the properties of shapes. Originally used in a family learning situation.

Introduce the topic using the Smart Notebook activity.
8 identical pages, each with a blank number line, a movable arrow to show the position of the number to be rounded and a sentence at the bottom to state what is happening.
Learners can fill in the ends of the number line to see what values are relevant to the question i.e. rounding 23 to the nearest 10 would be either 20 or 30 as an answer. Then they can move the arrow to the position needed, 23, then see which value the number is closest to.

A cheerful and very clear PPT introduces the idea of multiplication to E2-E3 Functional Maths learners. Accompanied by a 3 page worksheet. Two pages of number problems and one page with a mix of multiplication, addition and subtraction ‘word’ problems.

An E3-L1 Functional Maths, English and ICT task first used with learners at Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme. Plan and cost a restaurant meal for 20 officials (originally held at Frank and Benny’s, Chingford, but you will need to provide menus from a favourite local restaurant or chain) and then present your results in a spreadsheet..

An interesting worksheet that covers both literacy and numeracy. Best used with an interactive food label on the UK Government Eatwell site but the questions can also be answered using the provided printout.
Covers reading comprehension (scanning), extracting information from tables, using decimals and place value.

Lovely wall to help students get to grips with equivalents. Covers 1/2, /1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10 and 1/12ths. Great for display on an interactive whiteboard and for laminating and using with dry wipe pens, etc.

Forms part of a set of 5 resources linked to an excellent L1-2 lesson plan (that focuses on expressing one number as a fraction of another).

This is a PowerPoint presentation to use when teaching or revising the basic concepts of fractions and exploring common misconceptions held by students. This presentation also explores the link between fractions, decimals and percentages and the sharing of fraction amounts.
I have used the resource with Functional Skills and Skills for Life classes ranging from Entry 2 to Level 2 students.

Step by step method for using this very clever, little-known method of working out those tricky times tables from 6 to 9. (The method relies on the user knowing his or her “easier times tables” well so is not suitable for the complete times-tables novice. Very clear slides with lots of illustrated examples.
Please note you must have the Smart Notebook software installed on your computer in order to open, view and use the Notebook resource http://smarttech.com/

This spreadsheet is designed to enable students to check their own work; but also to learn about what happens when you add two decimals, or multiply two fractions, and so on.

The spreadsheet consists of the following sheets: