Contextual Resources

Displaying 1 - 10 of 27 resources:

A descriptive poem on the theme of Nature.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion about the seasons, local environments, the life cycle of animals and plants, global warming or the benefits of outdoor exercise.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes suggested questions and discussion prompts.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FE SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Rw/E3.1a Recognise and understand relevant specialist key words
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary
ESOL Rw/L2.2a Use reference material to find the meanings of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/L2.3a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different text types
Context
Animals, animal care, farming & equine
Gardening & Horticulture
Science, Nature & Weather
Mental health, awareness & psychology

A poem on the theme of shopping and food.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around shops, using technology, buying local produce and community spirit.

Editor's notes

Super for many levels and situations - includes a list of suggested questions/prompts.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FE SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Gardening & Horticulture

A short poem on the theme of food.  Can be used as a reading and pronunciation exercise or may be extended to include a discussion around food production and carbon footprint or the ethics of food choices. Could also be used as a basis for written work.

Editor's notes

I love this because it works on so many different levels!

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
FE SL&C Discussion
FE READING and understanding words
ESOL
ESOL Speak clearly & with appropriate register
ESOL Engage in discussion (Sd)
ESOL: Follow/participate in exchanges or discussions
ESOL Trace and understand main events of a text
Context
Catering Food Nutrition
Gardening & Horticulture

This document has been created to support learners who work with handling and using pesticides within the framework of current legislation. The material supports the following outcomes:

Level
Level 2
English
FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important
FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience
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 L2.16 Understand organisational features & use to locate relevant information in a range of sources
Maths
FM Complex multi-step problem(s)
FM L2.16 Calculate perimeters & areas of 2-D shapes inc. triangles & circles and composite shapes including non-rectangular shapes (formulae given except for triangles & circles)
FM L2.15 Calculate using compound measures inc. speed, density & rates of pay
Context
Gardening & Horticulture

An Entry 3 mock exam paper that follows the format for City & Guilds.

Based on a leaflet about gardening.

Editor's note

A marvellous practice paper! Suitable for all E3 Functional English students - whether or not their awarding body is C&G.  Covers almost all aspects of E3 Functional English reading & almost all writing SCS (subject content statements). 

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 E3.12 Understand organisational features & use them to locate relevant information
FE E3.18 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly & in logical sequence e.g. chronologically, by task
FE WRITING Clarity, cohesion, length and detail
Context
Gardening & Horticulture

Editor's note Jan 24 2022 19:50 - correction made to the final 2-way table question.

Pat and Mitch decide to build a mini wildlife pond from an old sink. This involves digging, gathering and arranging suitable items, a trip to the aquatic centre to buy water plants, and then sitting back and observing the fruit of their labours :)

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 E1.8 Describe & make comparisons between measures of items inc. size, length, width, height, weight, capacity
FM E2.14 Use metric measures of length including millimetres, centimetres, metres & kilometres
FM E3.16 Compare measures of weight including grams & kilograms
FM E2.16 Use measures of capacity including millilitres & litres
FM E1.9 Identify & recognise common 2-D & 3-D shapes inc. circle, cube, rectangle (inc. square) & triangle
FM E2.19 Recognise & name 2-D & 3-D shapes including pentagons, hexagons, cylinders, cuboids, pyramids, spheres
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 E1.7 Know the number of days in a week, months, & seasons in a year. Name & sequence them.
FM E1.12 Sort & classify objects using a single criterion
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 E2.23 Make numerical comparisons from bar charts
FM E2.25 Take information from one format and represent the information in another format including use of bar charts
Context
Science, Nature & Weather
Gardening & Horticulture

This resource covers what is expected at the Entry 1 ICT Functional Skills exam. It follows the structure of an exam paper.  An E2 version is also available.

I based in it on a Skillsworkshop English resource by Isabel Jordan.

Editor's note

Super practice for Entry Level 1 ICT. I love it when skillsworkshop users adapt and recycle existing resources. :) You can find the E2 version of this resource, along with Isabel Jordan's original Pavement Plants Functional English resources under "See Also".

Level
Entry Level 1
ICT
Entry 1 and 2 ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Context
Gardening & Horticulture

This resource covers what is expected at the Entry 2 ICT Functional Skills exam. It follows the structure of an exam paper.  An E1 version is also available.

I based in it on a Skillsworkshop English resource by Isabel Jordan. 

Editor's note

Super practice for Entry Level 2 ICT. I love it when skillsworkshop users adapt and recycle existing resources. :) You can find the E1 version of this resource, along with Isabel Jordan's original Pavement Plants Functional English resources under "See Also".

Level
Entry Level 2
ICT
Entry 1 and 2 ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Using ICT
Functional Skills ICT: Finding and selecting information
Functional Skills ICT: Developing, presenting and communicating information
Context
Gardening & Horticulture

Although many learners find patterns and sequences (including odd & even numbers) straightforward, there is a sizeable proportion that really struggle – particularly those with dyslexia and/or dyscalculia.

This resource grew from my frustration at the lack of practice material available for this topic at Entry Levels 2 and 3 in my one to one support sessions. There is generally only one question on this topic per FS assessment, and I found it difficult to come up with real life functional problems off the top of my head.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Maths
AN N1/E3.1 place value <1000, odd / even, count in 10s /100s
AN N1/E2.2 Read, write, order & compare numbers to 100; odd even nos.
AN N1/E2.1 Count reliably to 100, count on in 2s and 10s
N1/E1.8
FM E2.3 Recognise & sequence odd & even numbers up to 100
FM E3.6 Recognise & continue linear sequences of numbers up to 100
Context
Sport and fitness
Retail Hospitality Customer service
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism
Gardening & Horticulture