Contextual Resources

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Burns Night E3 English tasks

Based on a short, simplified text about Burns Night, this set of 14 questions covers all E3 Functional Skills English reading content descriptors plus a couple of writing elements. Unlike assessment papers, the questions are arranged under topics such as purpose, punctuation, organisation, etc. 

Editor's note

Level
Entry Level 3
English
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E3.14 Form irregular plurals
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.13 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas)
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
History, culture, museums, libraries

Burns Night L1-L2 reading tasks

Based on an adapted newspaper report, this set of 26 reading questions covers many L1 and L2 Functional Skills English content descriptors. Unlike assessment papers, the 24 questions are arranged under topics so could be used for targeted revision: purpose and main points, detail and inference, punctuation (for understanding), style and tone, words and language, organisational features. Some questions are deliberately challenging and you may want all learners to tackle all the questions.

Editor's note

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.18 Use knowledge of punctuation to aid understanding of texts
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.15 Infer from images meanings not explicit in the accompanying text
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.16 Recognise vocabulary typically associated with specific types and purposes of texts (e.g. formal, informal, instructional, descriptive, explanatory and persuasive)
FE L2.13 Identify implicit & inferred meaning in texts
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.17 Analyse texts, of different levels of complexity, recognising their use of vocabulary and identifying levels of formality and bias
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
History, culture, museums, libraries

Reading and writing instructions

Read an example of written instructions that include several typical layout features of instructional texts. 
Followed by a choice of writing tasks to complete.

Suitable for Entry 3 through to Level 2 English Functional Skills.

Editor's note

Love the wide appeal of this resource: the sample instructions are those left for a babysitter but also include pets and cooking! The writing tasks cover preparing for a job interview or how to play a game (for example, online or board games).

 

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE E3.20 Use appropriate format & structure inc. appropriate use of headings & bullet points
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Animals, animal care, farming & equine
Health, Social care, Early years
Employment skills & Public services
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Reading and writing a report

Read an example of a report (about the facilities at a new community centre). Then plan and write your own report about a local park. For Level 1 and 2 Functional Skills English.

Editor's notes

This is just what other Functional English teachers need: I think it’s so important for learners to have realistic exemplar/model pieces of writing so they know what they’re aiming for. Also useful for ESOL.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L1.14 Understand organisational / structural features use to locate relevant information
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
FE L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose
FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables
FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Rt/L2.2a Identify the purposes of a wide range of texts, whether inferred or explicitly stated
ESOL Rt/L1.1a Understand how meaning is built up in paragraphed texts
ESOL Rt/L2.1a Identify different ways meaning is built up in a range of texts of varying genres
Context
Voluntary, Charity and Community
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Employment skills & Public services

Past Simple - Regular and Irregular Verbs Christmas

An activity to introduce the past simple form by reading about Christmas. Read about Christmas in the present and past tense then identify regular and irregular and past simple verbs. Introduces students to past tense and also familiarises them with British Christmas traditions.

Editor's note

Wonderful! I love the simplicity yet usefulness of this resource.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact 
ESOL Sc/E3.4c Give an account/narrate events in the past
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Reading (R)
ESOL Rt/E1.1a Follow a short narrative on a familiar topic or experience
ESOL Rt/E2.1a Use a range of strategies to trace & understand main events
ESOL Rt/E2.2a Understand & identify the different purposes of short, straightforward texts
Context
Faith & Religion
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Unscramblerer dictionary - Word of the Day and other resources

I like this - it's very well executed - even though I'm not sure exactly how it could be used within a Functional Skills English classroom. I receive many suggested links and mostly ignore them (due to them not being free or not being useful for Functional Skills). However, I always have a soft spot for "Words of the Day" as they can make great warm up activties at almost any level.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings
FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context
FE L2.15 Use a range of reference materials & resources (e.g. glossaries, legends/keys) for different purposes
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Travel Adjectives

A Beginners / Entry 1 level set of activities to introduce and practise using adjectives within the theme of travel.

Practise vocabulary, antonyms, spelling, sentence structure and handwriting.

Editor's note

Although written for ESOL most parts of this resource are also very suitable for E1-2 Functional English. In addition to the many tasks it also provides a short overview of adjectives  and basic sentence structure . Great for the build up to summer holidays - or indeed any time of year!

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Ws/E1.1a Construct a simple sentence, using basic word order & verb form
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Ww/E2.1b Use knowledge of sound–symbol relationships & phonological patterns when spelling
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Primary School bus crash shocks the community

Simplified news article about a bus crash in Australia. Reading activity with DARTs. Can be extended into a speaking and listening and writing activity.

Editor's notes

A very sad story.  Ideal for E2-E3 reading and discussion (and equivalent Australian levels). Dictionary/vocabulary work, T/F questions, sentences, cloze exercise and discussion prompt.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
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 E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts
FE E2.11 Read & understand sentences with more than one clause
ESOL
ESOL Reading (R)
Context
News, Politics & Government items
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Coronation Functional English E1-E2

A huge set of resources for E1-E2 reading, writing and SLC.

Can be used as revision, the core of two or more lessons (the writing tasks would make a good lesson on their own - there are four tasks, two for each level) or for assessment. Optional marks and detailed mapping is provided and many, but not all, questions are exam-style. 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.1 Say the names of the letters of the alphabet
FE E1.6 Make clear statements, communicate feelings & opinions on straightforward topics
FE E2.5 Clearly express straightforward information & communicate feelings / opinions
FE E1.5 Respond to questions about specific information
FE E2.3 Respond appropriately to straightforward questions
FE E1.4 Make requests & ask straightforward questions using appropriate terms & registers
FE E2.2 Make requests & ask clear questions appropriately in different contexts
FE E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FE E1.3 Follow single-step instructions, asking for them to be repeated if necessary
FE E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
FE E1.7 Understand & participate in simple discussions or exchanges with another person about a straightforward topic
FE E2.4 Follow the gist of discussions
FE E2.6 Make appropriate contributions to simple group discussions with others about a straightforward topic
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.10 Use effective strategies to find words meanings & check spelling e.g. simple dictionary, spell-checker
FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject
FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information
FE E2.9 Understand organisational markers in short, straightforward texts
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E2.11 Read & understand sentences with more than one clause
FE 1.14 Write letters of alphabet in sequence & in upper / lower case
FE E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E1.11 Punctuate simple sentences with capital letter & full stop
FE E1.12 Use capital letter for pronoun ‘I’ and proper nouns
FE E1.13 Use lower-case letters when there is no reason to use capital letters
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E2.14 Form regular plurals
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
FE E2.17 Communicate information using words & phrases appropriate to audience & purpose
FE E2.18 Complete a form asking for personal information (e.g. first name, surname, address, postcode, age, date of birth)
FE E2.19 Write in compound sentences, using common conjunctions to connect clauses
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries
Faith & Religion

Coronation Functional Maths E1-E2

1/5/2023 Sorry! Just seen that several pages have an incorrect heading of Halloween. Resource temporarily removed.  Now fixed and uploaded (11.15am 1/5/23) 

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
Maths
FM Simple one step problem(s)
FM E1.1 Read, write, order, compare numbers to 20
FM E2.1 Count up to 100 items
FM E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E2.13 Read & record time in common date formats, & read time displayed on analogue clocks in hours, half hours & quarter hours, & understand hours from a 24-hour digital clock
FM E1.9 Identify & recognise common 2-D & 3-D shapes inc. circle, cube, rectangle (inc. square) & triangle
FM E1.10 Use everyday positional vocabulary to describe position & direction including left, right, in front, behind, under & above
FM E2.21 Use appropriate positional vocabulary to describe position & direction including between, inside, outside, middle, below, on top, forwards & backwards
FM E3.20 Use appropriate positional vocabulary to describe position & direction inc.luding eight compass points and including full/half/quarter turns
FM E2.24 Sort and classify objects using two criteria
FM E1.13 Read & draw simple charts & diagrams inc. a tally chart, block diagram/graph
FM E2.22 Extract information from lists, tables, diagrams, bar charts
FM E2.25 Take information from one format and represent the information in another format including use of bar charts
Context
History, culture, museums, libraries