Contextual Resources

Short reading comprehensions on the 2019 New Year, one at L1 and one at E3. Includes some embedded maths and some E&D (references to Brexit - sorry, folks!).

Editor's note

The focus is on identifying, extracting and understanding the main points and detail. However there are also questions on fact & opinion, purpose of text, specialist words, using a dictionary and using knowledge of punctuation. Fully mapped to the new revised Functional English descriptors. With answers.

Entry Level 1-2 Maths questions based on a shopping poster from the BBC 2018 Children in Need appeal but can be used at any time. Main focus is positional vocabulary, money and basic number (+, -. x, /) skills

Editor's note

Fully mapped to the new 2018 Functional Maths content which takes effect from September 2019 (note that times tables to 12 x 12 and basic division skills are now expected at E2). Image below shows , as an example, the detailed E2 mapping.

Two sets of Functional English resources based on various texts from the set of seven How We Remember texts (follow link right, under See also to download the texts). 

L1 tasks - reading questions based on Texts B ( Poppies web site) and E (A Nation's Thank you - the People's Procession) and a related writing task.

L1-2 tasks - reading questions based on Texts E (as above) and G (Nurse Mary Borden - forgotten female poet of WWI) and a related writing task that focuses on presentation devices and persuasive techniques.

A set of Functional English tasks that underpin the revised Functional Skills English content, 2018 [1].  Resources will be released gradually (as they are written!) from Oct 21st until Nov 11th 2018. All tasks are based on one or more texts from a graduated set of seven, all focusing on the 2018 Armistice Centenary commemorations. Five sets of tasks, based on Texts A, B, C, D and E are now available.

A set of Entry 1 and Entry 2 English tasks that focus on two short texts about the alphabetical list of winter storm names released by the Met Office. The first Functional English resource I have written based on the revised Functional Skills English content (2018) which will be used by awarding organisations from September 2019 [1]. 

This revision aid for L1/L2 (mainly L2) Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills maths gives a side-by-side comparison of perimeter, area and volume, the sort of units that would be involved with each and a worked Functional Skills example of each with a PAV mnemonic for remembering which is which. I have also looked through the last few years of Pearson Edexcel FS for the sorts of questions that require each one. 
Note: All images from Pixabay, so do not need crediting.

Editor's note

Completing these challenges will help students to create a basic PowerPoint that runs automatically and provides evidence through printed handouts.

ITQ Learning outcomes covered: 1.1 1.3 1.6 2.3 2.4 3.2 3.3

Editor's note

I think the learning outcomes quoted above relate to the OCR ICT Award  (or similar) but this beautifully clear, step by step task sheet is ideal for any Level 1-2 ICT course.

I wrote this to add to Timings in a Salon by Carrie Bray (see link left) as I needed to encourage my higher level students in the same area.

I started the session by giving students terminology which they had to define, then work out how much it was worth if a=1p b=2p etc. (see PPT).

I used then used tasks to recap on 24 hour and analogue time next then used the attached worksheets alongside Carrie's worksheet.

I then provided a Tarsia puzzle at the end to recap on time.

Editor's notes

An analysis of an Entry Level 3 (E3) Functional Skills reading text about Walter Tull, contributed by  Laura Bell (2018) - see right for the link to Laura's resource.

A reading comprehension and writing activity at L1/L2 and at E3 on Walter Tull, one of England’s first black professional footballers and the UK’s first black army officer. He has an inspiring story and was killed in action in France 100 years ago (March 25, 1918). David Lammy MP is calling for his Military Cross to be awarded posthumously as an inspiration to others. Plenty of possibilities for speaking and listening discussions around the topic.

Editor's note