Adult Numeracy, Functional Maths, and GCSE Resources

This is a data handling activity aimed at L1/2 learners that involves calculating the mean and range, constructing a bar chart and then making sense of what the results mean in a functional context.

More observant learners may rename this activity ‘Sophie’s choice’!

Graph or squared paper is needed for question 3.

This aural check was used to assess learners before they attended my intensive 1:1 support / revision sessions for the Level 1 Functional Maths exam. These were generally students that I had not met or taught before.

Comprehensive, step by step 12 page workbook.
Students must research their own budgets and local financial institutions before making major financial decision such as costing an event and taking out a loan to buy a car.
Covers money, decimals, ratio and percentages (interest rates). Fully mapped to E2-L1 Functional Maths.

A set of questions created by a small group of Performing Arts students studying Level 1 Maths.
The questions were made up during their pre-exam revision sessions.
Some questions are not quite what you’d expect to find in the real exam!
Many topics are covered include ratios, metric measures, area & perimeter, time, percentages and money.
The overall emphasis is on showing all working out and checking answers with reverse operations.

Two differentiated investigations: one aimed at E3 learners, the other at L1.
Each covers a wide range of skills – including measures, bar charts, sell by dates, shapes and money. The L1 version includes a ‘best-buy’ section and fractions.
Adapted from previous Skillsworkshop resources including Easter Numeracy (Carrie Bray 2010) and Easter Eggs – Value for money? (Judith White, 2012). These can be found under “See also” below.
Tutor warning

This is a set of three (maybe more) lessons which looks at the costs of a night out to London. It starts with students having to look at a train ticket and get the asked information from it – cost/type of ticket/time. It uses addition as students need to find out the cost of two tickets. They then use google to search times of trains. The next session looks at the cost of the theatre ticket and finding out the change you would have from a given amount again researching the theatre on the internet.

In this activity, learners have to calculate how much paint is required for a specified job, find prices from different sources and work out total prices. This can then be compared. The resource is in two versions – one with formulae for the required calculations and one without – different pages from each version can be mixed and match to meet different learners’ needs.

The activity requires internet access – however price lists could be substituted for this if this is not available in your context.

A Functional Skills based project aimed at my Public Service students who are going to be on a Stewarding course. I linked some questions about rotas and timetables with a question about steward to crowd ratios to tie in with their short course.

I have created a small revision booklet on some of the topics that come up at Level 1 and 2 Edexcel Functional Skills Maths exams. This pack can be used for learners to complete self directed study or can be used alongside lessons. I have left it generic so can be adapted to suit different vocations.

I wanted to create a resource to enable my students to practise calculating with time.

Most of the students work in Wiltshire, but live in Yorkshire, so I thought it would be fun if they explored different travel methods to Yorkshire to see which was the fastest. The travel distances and times were from the Internet and I created this resource differentiated for Levels 1 and 2.

Editor’s note
Clever differentiation. Although both sets of questions are the same, the Level 2 learner has more complex information to choose from.