Warm-up

Any resource that is particularly good for the start of a lesson

A great warm-up activity. Students work in pairs to find information in holiday brochures. Easily adapted for your own brochures. Covers scanning, organisational features, detailed reading, etc. at E3-L2.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rt/E3.4
Rt/L1.3
Rt/L2.3 Identify the main points and specific detail
Rt/E3.5
Rt/L1.4
Rt/L2.6 Use organisational features and systems to locate texts and information
Rt/E3.6
Rt/E3.7
Rt/E3.8
Rt/L1.5
Rt/L2.7 Use different reading strategies to find and obtain information, e.g. skimming, scanning, detailed reading
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

A short article with multiple choice questions and ideas for discussion. Several of the questions also require general L1 numeracy skills with time and large numbers, making this a good all round starter activity.

Level
Level 1
English
Adult literacy: reading comprehension (Rt)
Maths
Number
Context
Sport and fitness

A quick-to-prepare game that is easily differentiated for any E1-E3 group. Example games include addition and times tables – or make up your own. If you don’t have Monopoly a link is provided so you can print your own Monopoly money!

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
Mental maths
Whole Numbers

A 16 piece triangular jigsaw puzzle where common homophones must be matched to the correct sentence. Use as an ice breaker or plenary activity – great for pairs or small groups. Guaranteed to create promote discussion as learners solve puzzle (best laminated). As usual with Tarsia puzzles, you can choose to print a standard or large puzzle (select Output – large, i.e. 3 pieces per A4 sheet).

Level
Level 1
English
Homophones, homographs & confusables
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies

A 16 piece triangular jigsaw puzzle where pairs or small groups of learners must match 18 words to their correct definitions. Use as an ice breaker or plenary activity. Guaranteed to create promote discussion as learners solve puzzle (best laminated). As usual with Tarsia puzzles, you can choose to print a standard or large puzzle (select Output – large, i.e. 3 pieces per A4 sheet).

Level
Level 2
English
Rw/L2.1
Context
Health, Social care, Early years

A Simple and straightforward 16 piece jigsaw that makes a great group activity. Cardinal and ordinal numbers are matched with number words to form a triangle. This puzzle constructs sequentially, i.e. the word ‘one’ is at the triangle’s apex, matching with 1, then two, underneath it and so on up to 10 in cardinals and 8th in ordinals (this makes it a lot easier for preEntry learners to see how the triangle is constructed).

Level
M6
M7
M8
Entry Level 1
Maths
AN N1/E1.2 Read & write numbers up to 10 inc. zero
AN N1/E1.3 Order & compare numbers up to 10 inc. zero
Pre-entry
pre-Entry N1/M6.4 Recognise numerals 1 to 3, & with some inconsistencies 1 to 5
pre-Entry N1/M7.3 Identify and use numerals from 1 to 5
pre-Entry N1/M7.7 Use ordinal numbers 'first' & 'second'
pre-Entry N1/M8.5 recognise, use, record & know value of numerals 0-10
pre-Entry N1/M8.9 Use ordinal numbers, from 'first' to 'fifth'

16 piece jigsaw that makes a great ice breaker. First used with older learners who were unused to metric measures, and a younger learner who was unused to imperial. Match metric measure descriptions or quantities with their imperial equivalents to solve the puzzle and complete the triangle. Although converting between systems is only covered at level 2 of the curriculum the creator, Andrea, reports that E3/L1 students cope with this very well, as their life experiences help them.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
Maths
MSS1/L2.6

Crossword with 29 words and clues – increase awareness of word borrowing / origins (and improve spelling). Includes words of Old English, Spanish, Italian, Greek, French, Czech, Latin and American origin. Makes a good warm up activity.

You must download the free Eclipse software before you can use the ecw (Eclipse crossword) file below. See our Good Software – Eclipse Crossword entry for more information.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Rw/L1.3
AL Ww/L1.1 Spell & use spelling strategies
Word origins

Electrical words crossword consists of 21 word and clues – great vocabulary and spelling practice for learners on electronics / electrical courses or anyone with an interest in this topic. Makes a good revision or warm up activity.

Please note you must download the free Eclipse software before you can use the ecw (Eclipse crossword) file below. See our Good Software – Eclipse Crossword entry for more information.

Level
Level 2
English
Rw/L2.1
AL Ww/L2.1 Spell technical words
Context
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

A speaking and listening card game / warm-up activity for Entry 2-3 Literacy. Makes an ideal link to Entry level descriptive writing and work on adjectives. With differentiation ideas for preEntry and Levels 1-2. Best printed in colour and laminated. 20 animal cards plus extensive teaching notes which include differentiation ideas for preEntry and Levels 1-2.

If you want to use our ‘adjective wheels’ to help students plan their written or spoken descriptions please download the related “Animal Descriptions” game below.

Level
M8
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
SLlr/E3.2
SLc/E3.1
SLc/E3.3
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Context
Catering Food Nutrition