Contextual Resources

Letter writing task to be used after a letter writing layout and paragraphing session has been taught, to assess understanding and readiness for a writing exam. This task is aimed at students undertaking Construction/Customer Service related courses alongside Functional Skills.

Editor's notes

Ideal exam practice for all L1-2 learners but particularly those in construction. For a more scaffolded approach use with a formal letter template (look under See also for examples).

Based on a thought provoking Guardian article about same sex adoptive parenting, this Google Docs resource focuses on grammar (past perfect), working out vocabulary and discussion.  

Reading text and related questions (Google docs)  - best viewed in "print" mode.

Editor's note

Slide set that explores  the use of facial recognition and AI algorithms to look for suspects and find missing people.  Resource includes reading for meaning, and encouraging 'the questioning reader'.  The resource provides video and text stimuli, encourages learner discussion, and challenges them with a report writing task about bias in facial recognition algorithms.  

Editor's note

Why might we start our own business and how confident are we as a nation? Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about their career choices (in this case, running their own business) while building their English skills.

Editor's note

Slides (with short texts. images and videos) that explore the connection between stress and social media, social media addiction and the life we portray via social media.  This resource combines reading, writing and speaking and listening tasks to expand key vocabulary and encourage deeper critical thinking.  Maths skills are embedded through the reading and interpretation of line graphs.

Editor's note

Slides for L1 and L2 English learners to find out more about their career choices (in this case, a teaching assistant) while building their English skills.

Editor's note

Slides based on the theme of mental health, wellbeing, the importance of praise, self recognition and brag folders and SMART targets.

Editor's note

A multi-faceted resource that uses a combination of texts, video and images. Includes discussion prompts, short writing tasks and many short but complex reading texts with an emphasis on technical vocabulary. There is also careful attention to underpinning skills such as inference, language features and punctuation. There is enough material in here for many themed lessons!  

A resource created for an adult learner to develop confidence in handling and working with money in everyday contexts.

Editor's note

A really functional resource based on a supermarket receipt. Covers many E2 and E3 content descriptors (each question is mapped). If you are a Skillsworkshop resource contributor an answer sheet will be available shortly.

Planning sheet to support talk/presentation planning around the theme of food from a different culture. 

Editor's note

This very useful sheet is linked to slide 8 of the Black History Month PPT  (also from Stephanie) but can be used independently. Ideal for Level 1 talks and Level 2 presentations.

Black History Month slides for English Functional Skills. Covers a broad range of skills such as discussion points, comprehension, working out vocabulary from context and/or with a dictionary, language features, organisational features, fact and opinion, and punctuation. 

Editor's note