Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

Fun, multi-purpose speaking / reading / listening / writing / maths warm-up activity that can be used at any level and for any subject – particularly effective at Entry Level. Learners shake two dice to locate a word on a number matrix (good for maths:co-ordinates too!).
Five sample grids are provided – covering descriptions, homophones (2 grids), spellings and clothes – plus a blank grid so you can make your own. Includes full instructions and can also be used for numeracy.

This 16 piece triangular jigsaw is a great way to practise matching numbers to their written-as-words equivalents. Numbers range from 10 to a million but overall are suitable for E2 and E3. As usual with Tarsia puzzles, you can choose to print either a standard or large version of the puzzle (select Output – large, i.e. three pieces per A4 sheet).

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).

A multi-functional resource for Literacy or Numeracy. Sample TV listings by day, programme, start and end times, channel and genre. Use for alphabetic or numeric sorting, skimming and scanning exercises, literacy social sight vocabulary for days of the week, numeracy exercises for calculating time, etc. This resource contains some sample exercise questions to use which can be developed further according to need. I laminated the sheets and then cut up into days so lower level learners can move the elements around. Higher level learners can work from the whole page sheets as well.

A fabulous, very clear lesson plan ideal for money-management / personal finance classes. The mathematical focus is on percentages (VAT) but it also covers rounding and extracting data and can be used in mixed ability classes from E2 -L2.
The plan also includes links to online Budget videos, a ‘chop or not’ game, VAT calculators and more!
Also suitable for underpinning L1 Functional Maths, and linked to Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC).

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.

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.

Literacy and numeracy questions all based on the word CHRISTMAS (can easily be adapted for other seasonal festivals such a Diwali, New Year’s Eve or Ramadan). Covers vowels, consonants, number, ratios, simple substitution, range, mode and more!
Ideal for mixed ability groups (E1-L2). Also provides very good practice in reading instructions carefully.
Updated Nov 2011 – see comments below

A great way to start a class – provides mental maths practice for E2-E3 but also suitable for higher level learners who can try it out with with large numbers and discuss how it works!

A light-hearted one page quiz (number problems suitable for E2-L1) that could also be given to students as a Christmas card.