Sort or match cards

Cards for kinaesthetic sorting, matching and ordering activities

There is much evidence that phonics supports second language learning with ESOL learners at all levels. This resource is the first of a set that I use. It contains basic language information with terminology that is easy to understand, explains the code and the graphemes. It is easy to use, even if you (or your learners) have never used phonics. 

Remember to use the sound of the letter for example /a/ as in cat, not /ay/ as in pay. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
Adult Lit Rw/E1.2 Decode simple, regular words
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.2a Use basic sound-letter correspondence to sound out words
ESOL Rw/E2.3a Use context & range of phonic / graphic knowledge to decode words

A PowerPoint exploring the emergency services including 112 and gas emergencies. Simple text with images to encourage discussion and awareness concerning what is and what is not classed as an emergency. There is also a set of printable flash cards with suggestions.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
FS Eng E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FE E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
FE E3.1 Identify & extract relevant information & detail in straightforward explanations
FE E1.7 Understand & participate in simple discussions or exchanges with another person about a straightforward topic
FE E2.6 Make appropriate contributions to simple group discussions with others about a straightforward topic
FE E3.6 Make relevant contributions to group discussions about straightforward topics
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E1.1b Obtain information from texts
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Lr/E1.2a Listen for detail in short narratives and explanations
ESOL Lr/E2.4a Listen to, follow and respond to explanations, directions and instructions
ESOL Lr/E3.3a Listen for relevant and new information on radio, TV, video, in face-to-face situations, and over the phone
Context
Health and safety
Independent living

A wonderful kinaesthetic card matching game designed to help learners remember when to use capital letters.

This version was kindly adapted and updated by Emma Gentili to make it more suitable for today’s college learners. 

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E2.13 Use basic punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question, exclamation marks)
FE E3.13 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas)
FE L1.19 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, possessive apostrophes)
FS Eng SL&C Discussion

A quick but very useful match-up activity that makes a good starter activity for financial literacy or employment skills courses - and it's bound to prompt discussion.

Editor's note

Written for an Australian audience but I have added a UK version on page 2.  Learners can draw lines to match the items or, for a reusable resource, the page could be laminated and/or cut into 12 cards. 

 

 

Level
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
Functional Maths
General numeracy / maths
Popular topics
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Employment skills & Public services
Business & Money management

Cut and order word sort based on transport, money and grammar terms.  Tasks and extension tasks on the same sheet. Scissors needed for separating the cards. Works best with students working in pairs.

Editor's notes

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best! With useful extension ideas. Laminate for repeated use. Also handy for Functional English alphabetical order work.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
ESOL
ESOL Sd/E1.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Rw/E2.5a Sequence words using basic alphabetical ordering skills
Context
Motor vehicles & Transport

Word sort activity based on collective nouns/collocations for different types of foods. Suitable for E1/E2. Can be done in pairs as a reading and S+L activity, or individually. 

Editor's notes

With extension idea. Cards could be laminated for repeated use. Other vocabulary sorts are available from the same contributor.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
ESOL
ESOL Sd/E1.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Writing: word focus - spelling and handwriting (Ww)
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

Basic vocabulary word sorts, the first being based on fruit, vegetables and drinks, and the second on places (e.g. town, city), food and animals. Tasks and extension tasks on the same sheet. Scissors needed for separating the cards. Works best with students working in pairs.

Editor's notes

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best! With useful extension ideas. Laminate for repeated use. Also handy for Functional English alphabetical order work

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
ESOL
ESOL Sd/E1.1a Take part in social interaction
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Rw/E2.5a Sequence words using basic alphabetical ordering skills
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Animals, animal care, farming & equine

Practise using reordering strategies with these extra E2 (E1 questions are in a separate Wordwall activity) questions for our recently updated E1-E2 Mental addition strategies (reordering) PDF worksheet (Maggie Harnew, 2005, updated Feb 2022). Match the correct answer to each addition problem. (Reordering involves adding up large numbers first and/or looking for pairs of numbers that add up to 10, 20, 30, etc.). Can be used independently of the original resource.

Level
Entry Level 2
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
Mental maths

Practise using reordering strategies with these extra E1 (E2 questions are in a separate Wordwall activity) questions for our recently updated E1-E2 Mental addition strategies (reordering) PDF worksheet (Maggie Harnew, 2005, updated Feb 2022). Match the correct answer to each addition problem. (Reordering involves adding up large numbers first and/or looking for pairs of numbers that add up to ten. Can be used independently of the original resource.

Level
Entry Level 1
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E1.3 Add numbers which total up to 20, & subtract numbers from numbers up to 20
Mental maths

Practise using compensation strategies with these extra questions for our recently updated E2 Mental addition strategies (compensation) PDF worksheet (Maggie Harnew, 2005, updated Feb 2022). Match the correct answer to each addition problem.

Level
Entry Level 2
Maths
FM Context free underpinning
FM E2.5 Add & subtract 2-digit numbers