Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

A set of posters / cards / checklists designed to prompt discussion, check learning and keep a record of student progression. Designed for Entry Level Functional Maths and English learners in an FE setting but suitable for all levels and subjects.
This resource was inspired by discussion on the NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics) site about “understanding versus doing” and I would like to thank the forum members for their ideas and feedback.

Using a newspaper article to interpret numbers and use decimals, fractions and percentages. This resource introduces the learner to billions, but the majority of questions and process are aimed at Level 1 (with some suitable for Entry 3).

Questions cover writing numbers in words and figures, place value, equivalent fractions, dates, measures, rounding, etc. Makes useful revision material.

The Level 2 extension questions involve creating a chart and converting a currency – all with a Harry Potter theme.

A really unusual reading comprehension exercise that also tests a range of maths skills (dates, large numbers, distance, etc.). Although the general reading level is around Level1 it is based on an Australian news article about a lottery winner and contains a lot of unfamiliar Australian vocabulary. Thus it also stretches Level 2 learners. An optional glossary is provided; this includes words such as swag, Slikpik, shire and half a dozen more.

Lovely topical set of maths questions based on mostly interesting Wimbledon statistics (men and women’s singles winners, ticket prices and strawberry sales). There’s also a set of questions based on the dimensions of a tennis court. The questions cover number, measures and data handling from E2 to L2; the majority of questions would be suit E3-L1. Many questions involve problem solving, ask the students to give reasons or thoughts, etc. thus making it very suitable for underpinning Functional Maths.

Lovely warm-up or “taster “ for L1-2 level groups. The idea could easily be adapted for Entry Level groups.
Just as the quote on the resource says:“The value of the problem is not so much in coming up with the answer as in the ideas and attempted ideas it forces on the would be solver.”
See comments below for some suggested answers. Please add your own answers or suggestions for other suitable groups.

A really interesting quick quiz – originally written to get e2e learners interested in numbers but makes an ideal warm up activity for any group (at any level).

An international themed resource for World Maths day on March 1st 2011 or any other day of the year.
It is also ideal for, and fully mapped to, Functional Maths. Will prompt disucssion on many issues from the UK population through to literacy rates in Peru and the Coral Coast in Fiji!
Includes tips for covering Functional Maths process skills.

A great set of topical questions covering whole numbers, rounding, ratios, fractions, percentages, volume, converting currency and data handling. There is a particular emphasis on working with large numbers. Provides useful revision at any time of year.
40 questions but these are not multiple choice. There is plenty of space for showing working-out and it is fully mapped to L1-2 Functional Maths.

A clever spreadsheet that creates a set of 15 loop or ‘follow me’ cards. Comes with a prewritten set of cards based on multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 100 but can you can easily add your own questions and answers on any topic.

A great set of two tasks. Task 1 is based on fitting out a kitchen and involves scale diagrams, measures, money, VAT and more. Task 2 is based on commercial office rental prices. Fully mapped to FM criteria.