News, Politics & Government items

Reading comprehension based on a BBC website report of New Year round the world. The first part requires specific answers (i.e. Shanghai rather than China) to require learners to think about their answers rather than copy out general lumps of text. The second part asks higher level, more analytical questions.
I am using as an introductory topic to New Year sessions.

Editor’s note
A simplified E2 version of this resource is now available – scroll down to See also.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Rt/L2.8
Rt/L2.3 Identify the main points and specific detail
Rt/L1.3
Rt/E3.4
Functional English reading
Context
News, Politics & Government items

A challenging set of questions based on a short text about the stunning Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London.
Questions cover number measures, time, money, area – many calculations involve working with very large numbers.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
Functional Maths - measures, shape & space
General numeracy / maths
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
News, Politics & Government items
History, culture, museums, libraries

Updated June 2017
New Entry 3 reading and writing tasks added. Available below as a separate PDF file. You will also need to download the L1-2 version as it uses the same text.

Level
Level 2
Level 1
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Functional Skills English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

An E3-L1 Functional Skills reading resource modelled on C&G assessments. The activities are based around two documents, one from the BBC news website and the other a leaflet advertising a private police service. May prompt discussion on the nature of crime, punishment and the role of the police force in society.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Functional English reading
Adult Literacy: Reading
Context
News, Politics & Government items

This is a news article about the sinking of the Costa Concordia. It is focused on an account of the situation as reported by the local mayor.
The article is accompanied by questions about what might be inferred from the account, what might be the mayor’s opinion and whether or not the account is biased. The questions have been used with adults studying for Edexcel Functional Skills at Level 2.

Level
Level 2
English
Rt/L2.5 Read critically to evaluate information and compare information, ideas and opinions from different sources
Rt/L2.4 Read an argument and identify the points of view
Functional English reading
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
News, Politics & Government items

This is a news article about the death of Whitney Houston followed by a series of questions which ask the reader to decide whether statements in the artice are true, false or inferred.

I have used it with several groups of adult learners who were working towards Edexcel level 2 Functional Skills. They really enjoyed discussiong the article. I did make an answer sheet but I changed it so many times in the light of discussion with different groups that I decided it was best to let them make up their own minds.

Level
Level 2
English
Rt/L2.5 Read critically to evaluate information and compare information, ideas and opinions from different sources
Rt/L2.4 Read an argument and identify the points of view
Functional English reading
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Using a video from YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6eTr4ldDYg) about the miniature earth I have created this PowerPoint on percentages. It will work well with John Thompson’s easy percentage worker-outer and Margaret Adams’ Calculating percentages as quantities (links below under “See also”).

Level
Level 1
Maths
Functional Maths - numbers and the number system
AN N2/L1.9 Find simple percentage parts of quantities and measurements
N2/L1.8
Context
News, Politics & Government items

[img_assist|nid=5297|title=|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=70]A functional skills practice writing task for English at E3-L2. Learners write to the Bayfords, recent winners of the £148m Euro Millions jackpot, suggesting what they could spend the money on to help others (or themselves!).

Could be linked to maths: examining costs, interest, odds of winning etc. and discussions around spending, working, and life after a big lottery win could be undertaken.

Layout reflects the City & Guilds exam format for E3 and L1/2.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
General literacy / English
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Business & Money management

A short reading adapted from an online news report. Exercises include comprehension questions, placing sentences in the correct order, matching words and phrases and a fill the gap exercise. Answer sheet included.

Editor’s note
Fully mapped to E2 Functional English (reading) with extra teaching tips.

Level
Entry Level 2
English
AL Rt/E2.1 Follow main points of short texts
Functional English reading
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Motor vehicles & Transport

A Level 2 Functional Skills English pack based on the troubles in London and other parts of England in the summer of 2011.

Reading and writing activities are included, alongside answers.

Discussions across a range of subjects may stem from this work in order to inform Speaking and Listening skills practice.

Fully mapped to the Functional English criteria.

Level
Level 2
English
Functional English - writing
Functional English reading
General literacy / English
Context
News, Politics & Government items