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Aug 132013
 

This activity is about a wind turbine in Norfolk. Watch the video first, then try to answer the questions. You will need a calculator.

You can either do the activity on-line, or download and print the worksheet.

Aug 042013
 

This exercise will give you practice in writing big numbers in words. Many thanks to Sheffield Renewables for the use of their Top Trump cards to make this exercise.

Before you start here is an example. The St Wilfreds Centre has solar panels that produce 3250 kwh of electricity. In words this is three thousand two hundred and fifty kwh. Kwh stands for kilo watt hours.

Writing big numbers

May 152013
 

In these days of austerity, benefits are being cut and prices continue to rise. It has never been more important to be careful with your money, as getting into debt can spiral out of control and have dire consequences. A first step in taking control of your finances is to understand what you spend your money on. This sheet will help you work this out. To do it accurately you will need to record your spending carefully for several weeks but you may be able to estimate figures until you have got more accurate information.

Fill the figures in for an average month. So for example if you pay an MOT fee of £54.85 each year this would be recorded as 54.85/12 = £4.57 a month. If you spend £10 at the pub once a week that would be recorded as 4 x £10 = £40.

There is also an on-line version which does the sums for you here.

Apr 052013
 

Nelson Thornes have published a very attractive Functional Skills Maths Childcare workbook. It covers levels from Entry 3 to Level 2 and all the maths is set in the context of childcare. Topics include Body Mass Index, Child Protection Legislation, Childcare provision, Children in Need, National Child Measurement Programme, Staffing Ratios and lots more. This book will not only be useful to Childcare students but will be an invaluable resource for teachers and lecturers with mixed groups of students looking for ways to make maths relevant and “functional”.

I particularly like the section on measuring babies which looks at length and head circumference and uses a centile chart for boys weight during their first year. I like the way each section includes questions at three different levels, making differentiation a doddle!

I originally posted  “The only down side with the book is that there are no answers. How do students working on their own know that they have got the calculations right? Busy teachers still have to work out all the answers!”  but I stand corrected. The answers are all freely available by registering on the website at

http://www.planetvocational.co.uk/contact-us/register

Mar 022013
 

How many triangles are in this shape? (A Transum starter)

Download a pdf worksheet here.

 

When you are absolutely sure you have counted them all, click here and press the yellow button to see if you are right.

Jan 262013
 

This sheet from moneyfacts.co.uk  explains all about payslips

Jan 252013
 

Maths with Graham recommends this great revision book from CGP.

Follow the link and you can see some of the pages inside the book and order it on-line.

 

M3SRA3 – New Functional Skills Maths Entry Level 3 – Study & Test Practice (for 2020 & beyond)

This unbeatable Functional Skills book has everything students need to prepare for the Entry Level 3 Maths test! It covers every exam board and every topic, including all the calculator and non-calculator skills needed for the new EL3 Functional Skills specifications in 2019 and beyond.

 

 

 Posted by at 8:51 pm
Jan 232013
 

Play “Got it!”

http://nrich.maths.org/1272

Try to find a strategy so that you can always win! Can you explain your strategy to someone else?

Jan 212013
 

1. Write down your date of birth using 6 figures. So 25th December 1974 would be 25.12.74

2. Write down the last two digits of the year. (eg 74)

3. Divide by 4 and ignore the decimal part or remainder. (eg 74 ÷ 4 = 18)

4. Add together the answers to 1 and 2 (eg 74 + 18 =92)

5. Add the number of the day of your date of birth. (eg 92 + 25 =117)

6. Add a number according to your month of birth as follows.

JAN  1 (0 for Leap Year)   How do you tell if a year is a leap year?

FEB 4  (3 for Leap Year) How do you tell if a year is a leap year?

MARCH 4

APRIL 0

MAY 2

JUNE 5

JULY 0

AUGUST 3

SEPT 6

OCT 1

NOV 4

DEC 6

(eg 117 + 6 for Dec = 123)

For years beginning 18..   add 2

For years beginning 19.. add 0

For years beginning 20.. add 6

(eg 123 +0 = 123)

Divide your answer by 7 and work out the remainder.

(eg 123÷ 7 = 17 remainder 4)

The remainder gives the day of the week you were born on.

1 = Sunday

2= Monday

3= Tuesday

4= Wednesday

5= Thursday

6 = Friday

7 = Saturday

(s0 25.12.74 was a Wednesday)

 Links

Jan 212013
 

Leap years have an extra day in February, so there are 29 days in February and 366 days in a leap year. Lots of people believe that if a year is divisible by 4 it is a leap year. However there are some exceptions to this.

To work it out follow these instructions.

 
If the year divides exactly by 4 it is a leap year, UNLESS
it is a new century. (ends in 00)
If this is the case if it divides exactly by 400 it is a leap year, if not it is not.
 
Examples
 
Was 2012 a leap year?
2012÷4 = 503. YES!
 
Will 2018 be a leap year?
2018÷4 = 504 r2 NO!
 
Was 2000 a leap year?
2000÷400 = 5 YES!
 
Will 2100 be a leap year?
2100÷400 = 5 r100 NO!
 
 
 

Jan 212013
 

Ask your teacher (or somebody else) to

1.  Write down your house number.

2.  Double it.

3.  Add the number of days in a week.

4.  Multiply by 50.

5. Add your age.

6. Subtract the number of days in a year. (not a leap year)

7. Add 15

The answer is your teachers house number and their age!

Can you explain why this works?

Jan 042013
 

Everybody is feeling the pinch at the moment. Try this interactive  Money Saving Transport Quiz to see if you can save some cash! Here is the same exercise in worksheet format.

Jan 032013
 

Many people living in poverty are being ripped off with massive interest rates.  People who can’t get bank accounts and are trying to survive on benefits sometimes see no alternative but to use door step lenders or shops that offer instant credit but then charge extortionate interest rates.

Try this quiz to learn more about shopping on credit.

Dec 062012
 

Do you want to buy a book to help you prepare for your Functional Maths test? Why would you when you’ve got Maths with Graham! Well some people learn better with the aid of a book and this selection is a good way to make sure you have got to grips with all the important topics. All I ask is you buy from a reputable dealer that pays their taxes! The Level 1 book is out now and the Entry 3 and Level 2 books are following soon. Each topic is clearly explained with straightforward notes, tips and worked examples. There are also practice questions throughout the book, plus plenty of test-style questions (with answers) to help you prepare for the real thing. It is suitable for all the different exam boards.

M1SRA3 – New Functional Skills Maths Level 1 – Study & Test Practice (for 2020 & beyond)

This amazing Functional Skills book has everything students need to prepare for the Level 1 Maths test! It covers every exam board and every topic, including all the calculator and non-calculator skills needed for the new L1 Functional Skills specifications in 2019 and beyond. Everything’s explained in CGP’s easy-to-understand style, with examples and notes galore.

 

 

If you can’t afford the £7.99 the publishers are very generous and have actually put quite a few of the pages on-line, so it’s worth a look

 Posted by at 8:58 pm  Tagged with:
Dec 022012
 

 

 

Oct 122012
 

Download, print and cut out the triangles. Work with a friend to try and match all the questions with the correct answers and make a shape

Subtraction Entry Level 2 Jigsaw

Oct 052012
 

Download, print and cut out the triangles. Work with a friend to try and match all the questions with the correct answers and make a shape.

Rounding Whole Numbers Jigsaw

Oct 052012
 

Can you arrange the digits to make a correct sum? Compete to see who can do the most in 2 minutes.

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/sumsense/summulti.html

Oct 052012
 

Download, print and cut out the triangles. Work with a friend to try and match all the questions with the correct answers and make a shape.

Writing Fractions Jigsaw