Updated Apr 19 2024 (corrections made to pages 1&3 of the main PDF and page 2 of "Your Budget")
This resources uses the Spring 2024 budget and makes it accessible for learners on L1 and L2 English courses. The resource gives them the budget break down and some comprehension questions based on L1 and L2 reading exams.
Learners are then asked to design their own budget and think about why they would give money to certain areas outlined in the budget.
Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE READING understanding and locating information
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
Maths
FM L1.1 Read, write, order & compare large numbers (up to one million)
FM L2.1 Read, write, order & compare positive & negative numbers of any size
This is a set of worksheets in a MS Excel workbook that deals with fractions.
- Sheet one: a set of pictures (pie charts) that shows fractions from halves to tenths
- Sheet two: equivalent fractions with two pie charts, learners can input fractions and see if they are equivalent by looking at the shape of the pie charts
- Sheet three: starting to look at fractions being equivalent to decimals with two pie charts one for fractions and one for decimals
Level
GCSE L1-5
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
N2/L2.3
N2/L2.1
Adult Numeracy N2/L2.2
Adult Numeracy N2/L1.3
GCSE N10 (Work interchangeably with terminating decimals & their corresponding fractions)
This is an Excel file with a basic odd/even activity. I took inspiration from Jean Thomas’ “Reveal the hidden shapes!” activity from 2005.
With this activity, the tutor can design a picture (or one learner can design a picture for another learner) and it produces a printable sheet. The learner then shades all the odd numbers on the sheet in one colour, and all the even numbers in a different colour – revealing a picture or a message.
There are no macros, so cross-compatibility with Excel shouldn’t be a problem.
Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E2.3 Recognise & sequence odd & even numbers up to 100
AN N1/E3.1 place value <1000, odd / even, count in 10s /100s
AN N1/E2.2 Read, write, order & compare numbers to 100; odd even nos.
AN N1/E2.1 Count reliably to 100, count on in 2s and 10s
Topical resource based on a news story. Reading comprehension at 2 levels (E3 and L1/L2) plus two writing extension activities with writing frames. Some embedded maths (including a chart in the L1/L2 exercise) and the opportunity to discuss healthy eating. The higher level comprehension aims to get learners to understand in depth what they are reading, rather than just answer the questions from the text.
Budgeting Spreadsheet: Students enter amounts into a self calculating spreadsheet to work out a persons budget for the month.
This resource is best used around the topic of budgeting and bank accounts. I used it alongside the excellent Barclays Money Skills site.
Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Maths
MSS1/E3.2
AN MSS1/E3.1 Add & subtract money using decimal notation
Simulations of email and online banking registration forms. Can be used in succession, as for the banking registration form you need an email address. When you press the “create account” button it will open the printing menu. Good luck!
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.
Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Averages and range
Collect organise represent
Functional Maths - handling information and data
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Introduce the topic using the Smart Notebook activity.
8 identical pages, each with a blank number line, a movable arrow to show the position of the number to be rounded and a sentence at the bottom to state what is happening.
Learners can fill in the ends of the number line to see what values are relevant to the question i.e. rounding 23 to the nearest 10 would be either 20 or 30 as an answer. Then they can move the arrow to the position needed, 23, then see which value the number is closest to.
