Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

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.

Handy reference cards to be laminated for pocket, purse or wallet. Quick reminders for mean, mode, median and range.

Lovely hands-on set of resources ideal for introducing ratio and proportion. Investigate the taste and appearance of different strength orange squash drinks and record your results.
Two investigations – one aimed at L1, one at L2. With additional substantial 4 page worksheets for consolidation / homework.

A set of two posters for the classroom – also useful as handouts.
Formulae (L2)
I asked a group of my learners to come up with a short and snappy set of rules for using formulae. One of the group wrote the rules in the form of a poster, from which I developed this poster.
Covers general rules for using formulae such as order of operations (BIDMAS). Plus a separate page specifically for using a formula to find the area of a circle.

A set of 2 posters for the classroom – also useful as handouts.
Metric measures (L1 upwards) – clarifies metric prefixes
Imperial measures (L1-2) – I’m not expecting students to know or learn these facts but this poster makes a useful discussion prompt (about the difficulties of working with Imperial measures and how much easier it is to use metric units) and also includes interesting facts about the history of Imperial units.

Ideas for a revision class on the theme of making a cake. I have included a cake recipe by Delia Smith and some prices of cake ingredients and items for cake decorating.

This uses the Olympic games 2012 as a focus.The main emphasis is maths / numeracy but ICT and English reading skills are also covered.

[img_assist|nid=4367|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=70|height=100]Learners will read dates by looking at a calendar and marking on when the Olympics start and finish (including the Paralympics), read times that the football events start and finish and put these on a clockface, and read prices of tickets of a match that they choose. There are also questions on shapes, number, money and doubling.