Literacy Resources
Select learning level(s) and subject area(s) in the boxes below to find resources to suit. Then click on the title of a resource you are interested in to see full details of that resource, including file downloads, “more like this”, “see also” and comments from other users.
Literacy: General literacy / English, Recognise and understand a range of words, Use knowledge of grammar
Context: Art Film Media Music TV
Level: E3, L1
Resource type: Game, Warm-up
This is a great session starter. Students will work on their sentence construction and vocabulary with a card game that allows them to experiment with word order and effective word choice. Students have to put the words into a sensible order, even if the subject of their film is far from sensible.
In this game, students compete to make the scariest film title, or to sabotage other people’s film titles. It is a light hearted and fun game. The film titles created can also become writing prompts.
Literacy: Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing
Context: Health, Social care, Early years
Level: E3
Resource type: Revision material, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
This was produced as practice assessment material for a group of learners working towards E3 Functional English (with City & Guilds). They were struggling with producing the writing in the time allowed so we practised several short, sharp topics. Planning methods were tackled separately.
Editor’s note
Fully mapped to the E2-L1 Functional English writing criteria.
Literacy: Writing: text focus (composition), Functional English - writing
Context: Employment skills & Public services
Level: E3
Resource type: Revision material, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
A writing activity that requires learners to write 2 emails suitable for the workplace. Tasks are loosely based on the type of writing tasks required for City & Guilds Functional English at E3. Also involves searching for a suitable gift (Argos book or web site).
Editor’s note
Fully mapped to the E2-L1 Functional English writing criteria.
Literacy: General literacy / English, Functional English - speaking, listening & communication, Functional English - writing
Context: Art Film Media Music TV, Catering Food Nutrition
Level: E3
Resource type: Discussion points, Ice breaker, Listening and/or speaking activity, Writing prompts
This is a combination of speaking & listening, note taking & writing, that I have used successfully as an ice breaker with new groups. It involves learners talking to several people and finding out about their food likes & dislikes (plus allergies, religious considerations etc) before planning a menu for a dinner party. The menu must be acceptable to all the guests!
Literacy: Functional Skills English, General literacy / English
Context: Business & Money management, Independent living
Level: E1, E2, E3
Resource type: Discussion points, Reading comprehension, Worksheet or assignment
This resource arose from a conversation with a learner who had lost their debit card a number of times in the cash machine because they couldn’t read the screen fast enough.
I used it by discussing each of the screens with learners and then having them work through the reading text and the accompanying exercises.
Literacy: Functional Skills English, General literacy / English
Context: History
Level: E1, E2
Resource type: Cloze exercise, Discussion points, Reading comprehension, Worksheet or assignment, Writing prompts
Simplified texts and DARTS activities with follow up writing tasks at E1 and E2.
Based on material from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website http://hmd.org.uk/
Prior to completing the reading and writing tasks the class listened to a podcast of a survivor talking about their experiences.The material from both the listening activity (http://hmd.org.uk/resources/podcasts/i-was-there)
and the simplified reading (original text at http://hmd.org.uk/resources/survivor-stories/hidden-histories-martha-blend) was then us
Literacy: Reading, Functional English - reading
Context: Politics & News items
Level: E3, L1
Resource type: Assessment material, Reading comprehension, Revision material, Worksheet or assignment
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.
Literacy: Functional English - reading, Rt/L2.4, Rt/L2.5
General: Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context: Politics & News items
Resource type: Reading comprehension
Level: L2
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.
Literacy: Ww/L1.1, Functional English - writing, Ww/L2.1
ESOL: ESOL Writing: word focus (spelling and handwriting)
Level: L1, L2
Resource type: Cloze exercise, Worksheet or assignment
Students fill in the blanks using the words given, and then they can use them in their own sentences. Very common words that I notice my students have trouble with.
Literacy: Functional English - reading, Rt/L2.4, Rt/L2.5
Context: Art Film Media Music TV, Politics & News items
Level: L2
Resource type: Reading comprehension
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.