Fuel poverty calculation
Use mathematics to identify households that will be most affected by fuel poverty
This activity allows children to use their maths skills in a meaningful context and see how they can contribute to addressing societal issues. The interactive nature of the activity will also engage them, making learning both fun and impactful.
In the Fuel Poverty scheme of work, students investigate the topical issue of the cost and efficient use of energy. Using functional mathematics, they will analyse and interpret published facts and figures. Students can learn more in our What is fuel poverty? Maths activity.
This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the secondary national curriculum, particularly KS3. It has been designed to support the delivery of key topics within mathematics.
Activity: How use maths to identify households that will be most affected by fuel poverty
This is an engaging activity in which students will investigate what is meant by fuel poverty.
Fuel poverty is a critical issue affecting many households, and it's essential to understand how energy costs impact different sections of society. This activity will allow students to interpret graphs, identify trends, and delve into the characteristics of households most affected by fuel poverty.
Download our worksheet and PowerPoint presentation for a detailed lesson plan for teaching students how to calculate fuel poverty.
The engineering context
Understanding fuel poverty is crucial for future engineers and policymakers. It equips them with the ability to evaluate the societal impact of energy costs and devise better solutions for energy efficiency and affordability.
Suggested learning outcomes
Upon completing this activity, students should understand how mathematics is used in a variety of contexts, specifically in interpreting the impact of energy costs on different sections of society. They will recognise that mathematical insight is vital to probe published facts and figures, and that mathematical modelling, while a simplification, is integral to future planning. Despite the uncertainty of predicting the future, students will learn how maths can help us make informed decisions about pressing societal issues like fuel poverty.
Download our activity sheet and other teaching resources
The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
You can download our step-by-step instructions below as both a classroom lesson plan and a PowerPoint presentation.
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