News, Politics & Government items

A set of differentiated Functional Skills tasks aimed at E3-L2 maths and L1-2 English reading. Based on a well designed, unbiased infographic published on the eve of the EU referendum by the I newspaper.
With answers and detailed FS mapping.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English reading
Maths
HD1/L2.1
HD1/L1.1
Functional Maths
Context
News, Politics & Government items

A quick paper based quiz on the EU adapted from the on-screen version on the uk.gov site at: www.eureferendum.gov.uk
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It isn’t directly about the referendum but might be useful to spark debates. Multiple choice, questions such as ‘how many countries are in the EU’ etc…..

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
English
Adult Literacy: Engage in Discussion
Rw/E3.5
Rw/E2.4
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
News, Politics & Government items

A short set of questions based on a pictorial map of The Mall and surrounding area for the Patron’s Lunch event held on June 12 2016. Would make a good starter activity especially if the map was displayed on a large screen or interactive whiteboard (link is provided in addition to an image in the PDF).
Focuses on interpreting map keys; shape, space & position, and basic number.
With curriculum mapping and answers.
Postscript

Level
Entry Level 3
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
History, culture, museums, libraries

A straightforward word matching/writing resource for Entry 1 ESOL.

Editor’s note
Also ideal for prompting discussion about local council services.

Level
Entry Level 1
English
AL Rw/E1.1 Have limited, meaningful sight vocabulary of words, signs, symbols
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Independent living

This is a literacy resource based around a recent news story. There are a range of tasks relating to an anti-litter app called ‘littergram’ and legal challenges made to the use of its name, with the potential to extend tasks into other aspects of littering and how the litter problem might be resolved. A final extension task asks students to take their own photographs of local examples of litter as supporting evidence for a writing activity.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Level 2 reading comprehension and writing activities based on three different texts (article, blog and cartoon).

  • Pack 1 – reading comprehension, Text B (blog post) and a discussion idea.
  • Pack 2 – reading comprehension, Text C (news article) and a writing idea. You need Text A (available separately – see below)

 

Note that Text A (which is carton based) can also be cut up and used as a sequencing activity for lower levels – not as easy as it looks!

Level
Level 2
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Functional English - writing
Context
Sport and fitness
News, Politics & Government items

A Level 1 Reading, Speaking and Listening and Writing resource pack based on topical issues around social media.

Editor’s notes
With answers and curriculum mapping. Ideal for all ages, but especially 16-19 year olds.
9/3/16: Minor edit, missing quotation mark in title fixed on page 1.

Level
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

Based on three recent articles about sugar in food and drinks – with a special focus on high sugar drinks sold by popular High Street coffee shops.

The articles are followed by six pages of challenging differentiated questions for E3-L2 Functional Maths – all are based on the articles. Topics include large numbers; fraction, decimal & percentage equivalents, averages & range, extracting information from tables, and the four operations.

Also includes embedded Functional English.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
Maths
General numeracy / maths
Functional Maths
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Health, Social care, Early years
Catering Food Nutrition

Topical resource based on a news story. Reading comprehension at 2 levels (E3 and L1/L2) plus two writing extension activities with writing frames. Some embedded maths (including a chart in the L1/L2 exercise) and the opportunity to discuss healthy eating. The higher level comprehension aims to get learners to understand in depth what they are reading, rather than just answer the questions from the text.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
Maths
General numeracy / maths
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Health, Social care, Early years

A resource based on a current (Jan 2016) Huffington Post news report about a piece of homework that was sent home for a child to learn which contained incorrect spellings.
Learners are to identify and correct the errors, write a full explanation of their thoughts on the matter and write an appropriate email to the head teacher.

Editor’s note
A wonderful, real-life and very functional task!

Level
Level 2
Level 1
English
Functional English - writing
Wt/L2.7
Wt/L1.6
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Education and teaching