Ice breaker
Numeracy: General numeracy / maths, Functional Maths - measures, shape, money, Functional Maths - number
Resource type: Game, Ice breaker, Revision material
Level: E2, E3
A set of cards to cut out and ideally put in plastic balls or a jazzy box. Aimed at E2- E3 Functional Skills learners as an ice breaker, introductory lesson or for revision. Students need to work out the question and identify the maths skills they are using to answer it. Best printed onto card.
Questions are aimed to appeal to young adult students – e.g. clubbing, Facebook, food, mobiles, etc.
Questions cover the 4 operations, money, time, shapes and more.
26 cards. Includes Functional Maths mapping chart.
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Engage in Discussion
Resource type: Discussion points, Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity
Level: E3, L1
This task was originally used for Functional Skills although it can be applied just as effectively to literacy sessions. The task aims to encourage learners to work in small groups to discuss what each phrase really means and therefore explore the different interpretations that other people have of them. Also makes a good ice breaker. Includes proverb cards, answer sheet and worksheet.
ICT: General ICT resources, Using ICT
Resource type: Game, Ice breaker
Level: L1, L2
This is a fabulous board game created as a fun and gentle introduction to L1-2 Functional ICT (or other ICT type classes). It also makes a good ice breaker at the beginning of term. Best printed onto A3 and laminated.
There is also an extra bonus ‘Quiz makers’ game available online (link available on the answer sheet).
Literacy: Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, SLc/E1.3, SLc/E2.2, SLc/E2.3, SLlr/L1.6
Numeracy: Functional Maths - data handling, Functional Maths - number, HD1/E1.1, HD1/E2.4, HD1/E3.3
Free tags: Equality and Diversity
Context: Catering Food Nutrition
Level: E1, E2, E3
Resource type: Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity, Worksheet or assignment
Find out and record everyone’s favorites from a diverse list of foods. Use as an icebreaker in any Entry Level literacy, numeracy, Functional Skills or ESOL lesson.
Also ties in well with lessons on diversity, healthy eating, collecting data, making / taking simple surveys, tallies, counting, asking questions, etc.
Mapped to Functional Maths and SfL adult numeracy, Functional English (speaking, listening and communication) and SfL adult literacy.
Literacy: Ws/E2.3, Ws/E3.4, Ws/L1.3, Functional English - writing
Resource type: Game, Ice breaker, Sort or match cards
Level: E2, E3, L1
A wonderful kinaesthetic card matching game designed to help learners remember when to use capital letters.
The game comprises 52 picture cards (26 proper nouns, 26 common nouns) and 
26 double ended upper-lowercase dominoes. It not only reinforces knowledge of capital letters but also is a good speaking and listening activity.
ESOL: ESOL Lr/E1.2e, ESOL Lr/E1.4a, ESOL Lr/E1.4b, ESOL Lr/E1.5b, ESOL Sc/E1.3a, ESOL Sc/E1.3b, ESOL Sc/E1.4b, ESOL Sd/E1.1a
Resource type: Discussion points, Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity
Level: E1
Lovely set of speaking, listening and discussion resources for the start of term in E1 ESOL classes. Covers taking part in social conversation; listening and responding to requests for personal information; accepting and declining offers / invitations (e.g. Would you like a sandwich?), and much more.
Includes question cards, would you like cards, food cards and a do-you-like questionnaire / ice breaker.
Full mapped and with detailed teaching ideas.
Numeracy: General numeracy / maths
Resource type: Ice breaker
Level: E2, E3, L1, L2
A great walk-around-the-classroom-and-meet-people ice breaker activity for the beginning of term (any level ).
Literacy: Speaking & Listening
Resource type: Bingo, lotto or Pelmanism, Ice breaker, Warm-up
Level: E2, E3
Students must circulate and question other class members in order to complete the bingo grid. Makes a great ice-breaker or warm-up activity. Also makes a good lead in to sentence work.
Aapted from Heidi Griffin’s original version (see below), this new version is differentiated for a slightly higher level learner group and includes sentences to be completed by the learner. Covers many speaking & listening elements (asking & answering questions, giving personal information, etc.).
Literacy: Speaking & Listening
Resource type: Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity, Warm-up
Level: E1, E2, E3
A great Entry Level ice-breaker or warm-up activity. Students must circulate and question other class members in order to complete the bingo grid. Also provides a good lead in to sentence work. Covers many speaking and listening elements (asking and answering questions, giving personal information, etc.).
Literacy: General literacy / English
ESOL: General ESOL
Context: Art Film Media Music TV, Catering Food Nutrition, History
Resource type: Ice breaker, Quiz
Level: E2, E3, L1, L2
A great set of ice breaker quizzes for all levels. 6 options. Can you write down a song for each letter of the alphabet? Or a food, film, TV programme, famous person, etc.
Students could be given a different quiz sheet each and be encouraged to wander round and ask other students to help fill the gaps. Alternatively students could work in teams – the first team to complete an entire sheet wins!
