Using money

Tactile learning with money
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/E1.E1)
Thanks to Matthew J who sent in this idea.
I am a support worker in a ABE English class and work one to one with a gentleman with Alzheimer's. He responds best when he can physically engage with objects, especially by touching them. This method seems to allow him to retain the memory of objects for longer. We are working in the class on things like recognising money.

Using coins
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/E1.1)
Thanks to Gaynor M for this idea.
For very low level students I find it useful for them to feel and use the money to learn the different coins and notes. Try some role playing by using money in a make shift shop with cans of food.

The Onelife Budget Calculator
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.1)
On the Budget Calculator you can enter your monthly expenditure, breaking it down into rent, groceries and other areas. Set students a budget and ask them to stick to it. Experiment with changes to stay within the budget.

£ to pence on Trading Up
(Numeracy curriculum - N2/L1.6)
Trading Up shows viewers how to decorate their homes for less. In the makeover factsheets they list products used and the prices. You can ask students to convert the £ to pence and vice versa.

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Time and date

Sporty advent
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/E3 - L1)
Doing some work on dates? Why not kick it all off with an animated look at the sporty highlights of the year (2003) with the BBC Sport advent calendar. Enjoy the bells as you roll over the squares!

BBC World Service schedule
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.2)
Print out a World Service schedule and ask students to convert 24-hour clock times to 12-hour. Can they tell you when Outlook is on? This can also lead to a discussion about GMT and BST.

What's On the BBC?
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.3)
Visit the BBC's What's On guide to work out how long tonight's blockbuster film or radio play is on for. Calculate the duration of student's viewing habits. If they watch every episode of EastEnders in a week, how many hours of viewing does it add up to?

Gardening by the moon
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.3)
Get students to convert the calendar to a simple lunar calendar to decide when they should prune their garden (waning moon) and when they should plant things (waxing moon). If the full moon is on the 20th of November, when next spring would be a good time for planting?

Reading scales on the Revisewise site
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.4)
Revisewise is a site linked to the Key Stage 2 National Tests. On the Measures pages there is a great interactive guide to measuring time, capacity and weight. In the capacity exercise students have to read the scale on a jug. In the weight activity they have to read off some scales. There's also a printable factsheet and a quiz.

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Length and distance

Metric measurements
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.7)
Thanks to Rod M who sent in this idea.
A little ploy I use in metric measurement when working with students (especially the more mature, who are used to yards, feet and inches) is to first show the relationship between £ and p, then m and cm. So £1.00 = 100p and 1 m = 100 cm. When working with length, substitute metres for £'s and cm for pence, carry out calculation as for money and then change back to m and cm.

Imperial to metric
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.4)
Get learners to convert imperial measurements to metric, or metric back to imperial. They can check their answers using the 'Imperial to Metric' calculator on the BBC Homes DIY Paint Calculators site.

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Weight

Reading scales on the Revisewise site
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.4)
Revisewise is a site linked to the Key Stage 2 National Tests. On the Measures pages there is a great interactive guide to measuring time, capacity and weight. In the capacity exercise students have to read the scale on a jug. In the weight activity they have to read off some scales. There's also a printable factsheet and a quiz.

Body Mass Index
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L2.6)
A healthy way of practising converting between imperial and metric. Get students to check their Body Mass Index. Ask them to first calculate their BMI in one system, then convert their weight to the other system and calculate their BMI again. They'll know they've converted measurements correctly if the BMI matches!

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Capacity

Reading scales on the Revisewise site
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.4)
Revisewise is a site linked to the Key Stage 2 National Tests. On the Measures pages there is a great interactive guide to measuring time, capacity and weight. In the capacity exercise students have to read the scale on a jug. In the weight activity they have to read off some scales. There's also a printable factsheet and a quiz.

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Perimeters, area and volume

Demonstrating perimeters
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.8)
Thanks to Susan F who sent in this idea.
You can demonstrate and measure perimeters using either squared paper and a loop of string or a wooden board with nails. Attach a loop of string to the paper with blu-tack. You can demonstrate that a set length of string creates different shapes which have the same perimeter. Or with the wooden board use different coloured elastic bands around the nails.

Calculating area for DIY
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.9)
Run a class that looks at renovating the home. Get students to measure the dimensions of floors, walls and windows and then calculate the area. Decide how much paint, wallpaper, carpet or how many tiles will be needed to cover the area, then work out how much it will cost. Check you answers using the calculators on the Homes DIY Calculators site.

LLU+ Interactive games
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L1.1,MSS1/L1.2,
MSS1/L1.4,N1/L1.3,N1/L1.2,N1/L1.3) The LLU+ website has a range of Flash games available to test arithmetic and knowledge of weights and measures. These games might be suitable as exercises for the stronger learners in a class, as a complement to the Skillswise modules that cover the topics. LLU+ is a national consultancy and professional development centre for staff working in the areas of literacy, numeracy, dyslexia, family learning and English for Speakers of Other Languages.

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Temperature

Comparing the weather
(Numeracy curriculum - N1/L1.1)
Choose your local hometown for a 5 day weather forecast. Compare temperatures - which will be the warmest or coldest day?

Skiing weather around the world
(Numeracy curriculum - N1/L1.2)
Before you pop off to your ski resort for a weekend on the slopes, check out the weather forecast! Print out a selection of ski resorts’ forecasts to discuss negative numbers and how they appear to increase in value as the temperature gets colder.

Calculating mean temperature
(Numeracy curriculum - HD1/L1.4)
Choose your town and select a full five day weather forecast. Use the data to calculate the mean temperature.

Hotter or colder?
(Numeracy curriculum - MSS1/L2.4)
Join Annie as she makes her robot friends a drink. During different stages you have to guess the temperature of the freezer, ice-cubes and a warm drink. This game is part of the BBC Schools site, but the scenario encourages students to relate temperature to real-life situations. There is also a helpful Teachers area with online and offline lesson plans.

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