Since the demise of the Excellence Gateway (EG) on September 30 2023, there is no official Government backed website where the old Skills for Life core curricula are available. The EG has (partially) migrated to the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) at https://www.et-foundation.co.uk/ but there is no sign of these classic documents.
A revision task for Entry 1 and Entry 2 Functional Maths, based on the City and Guilds assessments. Includes comparing weight and prices, calculations with money, and 3D shapes.
There is a 'running' version and a worksheet. The running version is designed to be cut into strips. Students work in pairs or small groups on question 1 and one person 'runs' to the teacher when they have written the answer on their strip. If the answer is correct, the teacher gives the next question to take back to their partner. This can get competitive!
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Maths
FM Contextualised underpinning
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
FM E2.10 Recognise simple fractions (halves, quarters, tenths) of whole numbers & shapes
FM E1.9 Identify & recognise common 2-D & 3-D shapes inc. circle, cube, rectangle (inc. square) & triangle
FM E2.19 Recognise & name 2-D & 3-D shapes including pentagons, hexagons, cylinders, cuboids, pyramids, spheres
FM E1.8 Describe & make comparisons between measures of items inc. size, length, width, height, weight, capacity
An ESOL lesson embedding numeracy, diversity and British values, centred on the Spring Equinox and three festivals which happen around / on this day - Purim, Holi and Shunbun No Hi. Learners collect unfamiliar words on a vocabulary sheet and ask and answer questions to elicit meaning / explanation. There is a powerpoint to introduce the topic, using acronyms eg 7DIAW - Seven Days In A Week to elicit key words, and lead to an explanation of what the Vernal Equinox is and when it is.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E2.7 Know the number of hours in a day and weeks in a year.
FM E3.4 Multiply 2-digit numbers by 1- & 2-digit numbers
ESOL
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
This carousel of Jubilee tasks was hurriedly put together for a group of 10 E1-E3 Functional Maths and English 16-19 year old learners who had just (very successfully!) finished all their Edexcel Functional Skills assessments.
After a year of hard work from my students, the emphasis was on celebration and fun. However, learning objectives included: measuring, counting, writing an email, spelling, 2D shapes, estimating, rounding and working with money. Rough lesson outline also included.
A simulation of the AV and FPTP voting system first used in an Entry Level Functional Maths and English class on Referendum day May 5th 2011.
Students vote for their favourite chocolate and compare the results when using the two different systems.
Resource includes AV and FPTP ballot papers, ballot box labels and a polling station poster. Plus links to voting information videos and easy-read referendum information leaflets.
Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
Functional English reading
Maths
Functional Maths
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Hands-on / kinaesthetic activity where learners select coins, work out prices and change, and line up in order of “wealth” (according to their laminated purse cards).
With teaching and differentiation ideas. Fully mapped to E1-E2 numeracy and Functional Maths. Note: best used with real money but if you want printable money please use Magic Money for coins and Working in a Charity Shop for notes (see links below).
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.
Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Rt/E2.3
Rt/E3.7
Rw/E3.4
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
Maths
AN MSS1/E3.3
AN MSS1/L1.2 Read & measure time and use timetables
AN MSS1/L1.3 Calculate with and convert between units of time
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Christmas Star template was designed to accompany Sarah Horsley’s How to Make a Christmas Star resource (below) and makes the folding and cutting process easier. Ideal when using Sarah’s resource in a family learning situation.
