Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

This is a good starter activity to introduce measures, shape and space. It is also useful in dividing classes into small groups.

Using the templates I created I printed them on to card of different colours. I gave the shapes to the learners as they entered the room and told them to find the table with the same shape on it. When they reached the table they found the shape and some questions to answer.

After five minutes I asked for feedback from the learners.

Editor’s note
With Functional Maths mapping

This activity encourages ESOL students:
- To communicate with each other while moving around the classroom,
- To revise Past Simple (questions and answers),
- To practise basic numeracy (subtraction).

With extensive teachers’ notes

Page 1: 8 maths questions relating to olympic torch
Page 2: Picture quiz: who is carrying the torch?
Page 3: Picture quiz: famous UK landmarks.
Page 4: UK cities – anagrams
Page 5: Answers

• Quizzes on pages 2 and 3 make good ice breakers and can also be used for SL&C discussion prompts.

A set of cards to cut out and ideally put in plastic balls or a jazzy box. Aimed at E2- E3 Functional Skills learners as an ice breaker, introductory lesson or for revision. Students need to work out the question and identify the maths skills they are using to answer it. Best printed onto card.
Questions are aimed to appeal to young adult students – e.g. clubbing, Facebook, food, mobiles, etc.
Questions cover the 4 operations, money, time, shapes and more.
26 cards. Includes Functional Maths mapping chart.

Find out and record everyone’s favorites from a diverse list of foods. Use as an icebreaker in any Entry Level literacy, numeracy, Functional Skills or ESOL lesson.

Also ties in well with lessons on diversity, healthy eating, collecting data, making / taking simple surveys, tallies, counting, asking questions, etc.

Mapped to Functional Maths and SfL adult numeracy, Functional English (speaking, listening and communication) and SfL adult literacy.

A 4 week scheme of work for OCN E3 Garden Horticulture. Great example of embedding aspects of all three Functional Skills into a vocational course. 4 × 2 hour sessions covering identifying weeds and vegetables; sowing seeds, bulbs and tubers; and preparing growing beds.
With detailed E3 Functional Maths,English and ICT mapping charts showing embedding of measuring, internet searching, reading instructions, writing plant profiles, etc.

8 week fully mapped medium term plan / scheme of work for teaching perimeter, area and volume to learners preparing for Edexcel ALAN (adult literacy and numeracy) tests.

Lots of detail – including hyperlinks to online practice tests and DfES Skills for Life worksheets. Fully mapped and differentiated. With loads of lovely hands-on kinaesthetic ideas for covering these topics.

A fantastically detailed SoW for 36 weeks. Originally written for construction students but suitable for any vocational area or discrete teaching. Each session is also mapped to the adult numeracy curriculum and includes details of learning objectives, Every Child Matters, assessment of learning, learning activities, and resources.

A great walk-around-the-classroom-and-meet-people ice breaker activity for the beginning of term (any level ).