Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

I adapted this from Helen Lloyd’s Planning a school party (see below). I used her idea to develop a task that my students could manage on their own while I was doing a first aid course. This version includes an extra task about providing a Santa and gifts, and I also included some simple fraction questions.

I used Helen’s supermarket list for prices of party food etc. As we have no ITC facilities, I downloaded and printed info from www.partydelights.co.uk for pocket money toys.

Here is another Level 1-2 variant on the classic ‘Smarties’ investigation which incorporates the use of a PC and Excel. I stopped using Smarties and Skittles because of the health and hygiene issues.

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.

A great project that covers many Functional maths and Functional English criteria. You win the lottery, buy a mobile phone shop and have to furnish it from catalogues and/or Internet sites.

Learn about budgeting, displaying data, working with areas and floor plans, bank statements, rounding, estimating, and much more. Everything must be written up as a comprehensive report with a clear conclusion (a great guidance page on report writing is included in the resource).

I worked with a plumbing tutor at Wiltshire College to write the attached task for a group of apprentice plumbers. The group enjoyed working on this. I was inspired to produce this after reading and using the Air Conditioner task contributed by Leia Fee (see below).

[img_assist|nid=4809|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=76]Useful set of two resources.
1) A Smart notebook file that introduces the topic, provides practice questions and finishes with a room decorating project and a self-assessment check.
Please note you must have the Smart notebook software installed on your computer in order to open, view and use this resource http://smarttech.com/
2) PowerPoint scale diagram multiple choice quiz (5 questions) makes a good final activity or use later for revision.

This PDF is an amalgamation of methods and worked examples, sorted by topic, for both L1 and L2 Adult Numeracy/Functional Skills (some sections are also suitable for Entry 3). It is not intended as an exhaustive resource, but more of a selection of “hot topics” and exam-friendly examples (some of which are paraphrased from actual past papers).

A very useful one page reference of the E3 Functional Maths coverage and range statements with additional amplification. Extra pages list and explain the all-important process skills (skill standards).
Modelled after our similar document for L1-L2 Functional Maths (see below) this resource is particularly useful for teachers that are new to embedding Maths and want a more detailed framework and and guidance with underpinning skills.

A clearly set out investigation into TV film age ratings. This makes an ideal investigation for mixed ability groups as it is cleverly differentiated for E3-L2 (E2 students could also participate with support).
All you need is a recent weekly TV guide.
Covers tallies, dual and single bar charts, pictograms, extracting and comparing information and designing a questionnaire. Fully mapped, and ideal for, Functional Maths.

Open task where learners must plan a good value party for 68 children and present their budget to the headmaster. Ideal for revision of money, decimals, budgeting, estimating and presenting information.