Maths-for-Life

The Mathematics

The Maths-for-Life programme addresses five key areas of mathematics that are known to be challenging for re-sit students. Understanding these core GCSE topics will help students to achieve the marginal gains needed. 

Within the programme, mathematics is promoted as an interconnected discipline. Students are challenged to connect, and build on, their prior learning and are exposed to different ways of representing a solution. These experiences encourage students to build networks of related ideas which will help them transfer their learning from one problem-situation to another. 

hexagon
 

1. Parts of whole

The lesson aims to help students understand:

  • ways of mathematically describing a part-part relationship
  • ways of mathematically describing a part-whole relationship
  • how to use representations to give insight into solving problems
 

2. Proportional reasoning

The lesson aims to help students:

  • reflect on the reasoning they currently use when solving proportion problems
  • understand the power and efficiency of a multiplicative structure through the concept of rate
 

3. Algebraic expressions

The lesson aims to help students:

  • understand that n can represent a variable
  • understand multiplicative algebraic structure using an area representation
  • create algebraic expressions from area representations
 

4. Contextual problems

The lesson aims to help students:

  • determine the unknown in a problem
  • translate statements that relate to an unknown in a problem into a mathematical form
  • determine the value of an unknown in a problem
 

5. Handling data

The lesson aims to help students:

  • understand the relationship between data and its representations
  • understand and be able to find measures of location and spread
 

Maths-for-Life

Centre for Research in Mathematics Education
School of Education, University of Nottingham
Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road
Nottingham, NG8 1BB