Overview

A 90-minute functional skills maths session for Entry Level 3 SEND learners, focusing on understanding, reading, interpreting, and applying temperature values using both °C and °F. Curriculum linked to the National Curriculum for England’s aims for functional mathematics: practical application, problem-solving, and independence with real-life measures.

Curriculum Alignment

National Curriculum Reference:

Mathematics – Using Measures (Statistics and Measurement) – Functional Skills Entry Level 3
Pupils should be able to:
- Read and record temperatures in everyday contexts (EL3)
- Use temperature scales and understand differences between values
- Solve simple word problems involving temperature
- Interpret data representations involving temperature (e.g., charts, tables)
- Communicate mathematical information clearly

SEND Considerations:

Multi-sensory learning approach
Scaffolded prompts and supportive assessment
Visual and interactive tasks to suit diverse learning needs
Repetitive reinforcement with gradually increased difficulty

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

Recognise and read temperatures on a thermometer scale (°C and °F).
Understand temperature vocabulary (e.g., hot, cold, warmer, cooler).
Calculate simple differences between temperature values.
Solve everyday word problems involving temperature.
Match temperature values to appropriate visuals and descriptions.
Record temperature readings and communicate findings in spoken and written forms.

Resources Needed

Large classroom thermometer posters (with clear °C and °F readings)
Individual student mini whiteboards and pens
Printed worksheets with cut-and-paste items (temperature values, pictures, word problem sentences)
Visual aids: Photos (sunny day, snowy day, fridge, boiling kettle)
Temperature gauges (plastic or cardboard) for hands-on practice
Timer/stopwatch for activity pacing
Sticky labels for matching game

Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge & introduce temperature concept

Welcome and warm-up: Discuss the weather today. “Is it hot or cold? How do you know?”
Show a large classroom thermometer, explain Celsius (°C) scale with real-life references (0°C freezing point, 20°C room temperature, 100°C boiling water). Brief mention of Fahrenheit for interest.
Vocabulary focus: hot, cold, warm, cool, freeze, boil

Teacher models reading temperature aloud.
Interactive: Ask students to come up and point to the temperature representing today’s weather.

2. Activity 1: Reading & Matching (20 minutes)

Objective: Recognise and match temperature values with pictures

Distribute printed cut-outs: temperature numbers (e.g., -5°C, 0°C, 10°C, 20°C, 30°C) and weather/temperature-related images (snowflake, sun, fridge, ice cube, steam).
On mini whiteboards, students write the temperature they think matches each picture, then paste the matching number next to it on the worksheet.
Group discussion to check answers, teacher reveals the correct matches one by one:

Image	Correct Temperature	Explanation
Snowflake	-5°C	Below freezing, cold and icy
Ice cube	0°C	Freezing point of water
Fridge	4°C to 5°C (use 5°C)	Cold to store food safely
Sunny day	20°C	Mild and warm
Steam/boiling	100°C	Boiling point of water

Accessibility note: Use real photos with large clear visuals.

3. Activity 2: Whiteboard Temperature Reading (15 minutes)

Objective: Practise reading temperature on thermometers

Show images of thermometers (clear scale with red column) at various temperatures (e.g., 5°C, 15°C, 25°C, 30°C).
Students write reading on mini whiteboards; teacher reveals answers slowly, asking “What does the red line show? Is it hot or cold?”
Scaffold with prompts: “Is this above or below zero?” “How many degrees warmer is it compared to freezing point?”

Extension for confident students: Compare two thermometers and find the difference.

4. Activity 3: Word Problems with Visuals (25 minutes)

Objective: Apply temperature understanding to everyday problems

Instructions: Present simple two-step word problems accompanied by visuals (e.g., pictures of a fridge and an outdoor thermometer). Read aloud with students jointly.

Examples:

a) “The temperature outside is 10°C. The fridge temperature is 4°C. How much colder is the fridge than outside?”

Step 1 reveal: What are both temperatures?
Step 2 reveal: Calculate 10 - 4 = 6°C difference.

b) “The weather forecast said 30°C today. Tomorrow it will be 25°C. How much cooler will it be tomorrow?”

Step 1 reveal: Identify temps.
Step 2 reveal: 30 - 25 = 5°C cooler tomorrow.

c) “Water boils at 100°C. Today, the water is only 50°C. How much more heat does it need to boil?”

Step 1 reveal: Identify the temperatures.
Step 2 reveal: 100 - 50 = 50°C difference.

Students annotate answers on worksheets, using number lines or visually shown step markers.

5. Activity 4: Cut-and-Paste Interactive Task (15 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce vocabulary and numerical understanding by matching phrases to temperature values

Provide strips with phrases ("freezing cold," "warm day," "boiling hot," "room temperature") and separate labels with temperature numbers.
Students cut out strips and paste the correct temperature next to the phrase on paper.
Class share: Each student reads one phrase and the temp aloud.
Teacher hints/correlates each phrase with everyday experience to anchor understanding.

Example:

"Freezing cold" → 0°C or below
"Warm day" → 20°C
"Boiling hot" → 100°C
"Room temperature" → 20–22°C

6. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

Objective: Review lesson learning and informally assess understanding

Quick Q&A with mini whiteboards held up for instant feedback:
- “Is 15°C warmer than 5°C?” (Yes)
- “What temperature is freezing point of water?” (0°C)
- “If it is 25°C today and 20°C tomorrow, is it warmer or cooler tomorrow?” (Cooler)
Praise effort and reflection: “Who can tell me one new thing they learned about temperature?”

Assessment & Feedback

Formative assessment through observation in activities and whiteboard work
Use of positive reinforcement and immediate correction where needed
Written work (matching and word problems) used to check for comprehension
Targeted questioning to ensure all learners are included and supported

Differentiation

Level	Support Strategies	Extension Ideas
Lower ability	One-to-one verbal prompts, paired work, larger visuals, fewer numbers	Use number lines visually for comparisons
Middle ability	Scaffolded questioning, partial word problems, guided written answers	Introduce simple Fahrenheit conversions (e.g., 0°C = 32°F)
Higher ability	Add multi-step problems, introduce basic temperature scale differences	Investigate typical UK vs. tropical climates using temperature data

Additional Ideas to Wow Teachers

Use interactive digital thermometer simulators on classroom tablets or smartboard for variable temperature readings.
Introduce a “Weather Reporter” role-play where students verbally report temperature readings using correct vocabulary and maths phrases.
Use tactile objects (ice cubes, warm water bottles with supervision) to link physical sensation to temperature understanding.
Incorporate simple coding activities (block programming) where students set temperature parameters for virtual thermostats.

Summary

This detailed, SEND-friendly plan fully integrates Functional Skills Entry Level 3 mathematical competencies in measurement and temperature, embedding National Curriculum standards and maximising engagement through multisensory and scaffolded activities. The interactive and varied approach ensures all students gain confidence, functional understanding, and independence in reading and calculating with temperature.

Temperature Mastery

Teaching Instructions