Adult Literacy, Functional English, and GCSE Resources

Displaying 1 - 10 of 193 resources:

Drill Music - Can Violent Lyrics Cause Violent Behaviour?

A double lesson Power Point with Level 1 and Level 2 reading and writing questions. The lesson explores the controversy around violent music and the relationship between music and behaviour. You Tube links  add detail and context to the debate in an engaging and thought provoking way. Lesson 1 focuses on the Reading exam with Level 1 and Level 2 questions that can be displayed on the board to reduce printing. Texts A and B explore the two sides of Drill music and its influence on young people.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics
FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence
FE E2.5 Clearly express straightforward information & communicate feelings / opinions
FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence
FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L1.10 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts
FE L2.12 Compare information, ideas & opinions in different texts, inc. how they are conveyed
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
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 L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
FE L1.19 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, possessive apostrophes)
FE L2.20 Punctuate writing correctly using a wide range of punctuation markers e.g. colons, commas, inverted commas, apostrophes, quotation marks
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 L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

The Runner: L1-2 ESOL mini quiz (in Google Forms)

Originally used as a diagnostic tool for Level 2 ESOL at the beginning of term - a short 'quiz' created in Google forms about The Runner poem submitted by Jean Morten (2023) You don't need to log into Google to complete it but if you do you can make a copy and adapt it for your own learners, and your own email address to collect responses, etc. 

Editor's notes

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
Poetry
ESOL
ESOL Reading (R)
General ESOL

Staying Safe Online - Fake News and Scams

Various activities based around the subject of staying safe online, fake news and online scams. Practise and preparation for the reading exams with questions to practise alphabetical order, features of text, purpose, style, reading comprehension and alphabetical order.

Editor's note

Such a useful  and topical resource! Written for Entry 3 ESOL but also ideal for Functional Skills English and Digital Literacy. The reading text on page looks deceptively simple but some of the exam-style questions are challenging and would also be suitable for Level 1.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information
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 E2.15 Use 1st & 2nd letters to sequence words alphabetically
FE E3.16 Use 1st, 2nd & 3rd letters to sequence words alphabetically
ESOL
ESOL Rt/E3.2a Distinguish between different purposes of texts at this level
ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.
ESOL Rt/E3.6a Skim read key textual features (title, heading and illustrations) for different purposes
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
ESOL Rt/E3.8a Read every word to obtain specific information
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/E3.4a Alphabetical order 1st & 2nd place letters
ICT
Protecting privacy - Entry Level
Protecting data - Entry Level
Being responsible online - Entry Level
Digital wellbeing - Entry Level
General
Study Skills and General Teaching
Context
Health and safety
Electrical, Electronics & Technology

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

Language Features Glossary

A comprehensive glossary of language features with examples and the opportunity for students to think of or write their own examples.

Editor's notes

4 minute slideshow with background music. Covers 12 features and helpfully explains the purpose of each and/or why it can be effective.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
ESOL
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes

L1 Fact and Opinion guide

How to identify facts and opinions at level 1 in prep for Functional Skills Reading exam (with some tips for how these skills can be used in a piece of writing too!).

Editor's notes

You tube: 3 minute slideshow with voice over - I especially like the tip about looking out for adjectives.

Level
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion
FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion

Homophone cloze exercises for E3 Functional English & beyond - Set 2

Written specifically for the new reformed English content which expects secure homophone skills at much lower levels than previously. Covers 6 of the 22 homophone spellings required at E3 using differentiated sets of cloze exercises. 6 sets each with 12-15 questions / sentences plus detailed teaching notes and an appendix listing all E1, E2 & E3 spellings.

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
Level 2
English
FE E3.17 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 3
FE L1.21 Spell words used most often in work, study and daily life, including specialist words
FE L2.22 Spell words used in work, study & daily life, including a range of specialist words
Homophones, homographs & confusables

Language Feature spotting video (Eurovision edition!)

Language feature spotting in songs - Eurovision through the ages edition! 8 songs that have all won Eurovision and use various language features. Suitable for L1 and L2.

Editor's note

Very topical and jolly 3 minute video.  Lyrics appear clearly, word by word, on screen. Covers rhetorical questions, simile, repetition and more. Teachers will probably want to watch in advance and formulate their own question prompts. PS. Some of these songs made me feel old!

Level
Level 1
Level 2
GCSE L1-5
English
FE L1.12 Recognise that language & other textual features can be varied to suit different audiences & purposes
FE L2.14 Understand how textual features/devices can shape meaning for different audiences/purposes
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Hobbies and Freetime Activities - Reading Practice

Reading activities to practise reading skills and prepare for exams. The first activity is 3 reading texts and exam style questions focussing on purpose, tone, features and other skills. The second activity asks students to select the correct word practising spelling, grammar and vocabulary skills. All activities are along the theme of hobbies and free time activities. Help to prepare for Entry 3 reading exams.

Editor's notes

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
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 L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details
FE L2.19 Identify different styles of writing & writer’s voice
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E3.3a Use a dictionary to find the meaning of unfamiliar words
ESOL Rw/E3.5a Use variety of reading strategies to read/understand unfamiliar words
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL Rt/E3.2a Distinguish between different purposes of texts at this level
ESOL Rt/E3.5a Locate organisational features, such as contents, index, menus
ESOL Rt/E3.6a Skim read key textual features (title, heading and illustrations) for different purposes
ESOL Rt/E3.7a Scan different parts of texts to locate information
ESOL Rt/E3.8a Read every word to obtain specific information
ESOL Rt/L1.2a Know how language and other textual features are used to achieve different purposes
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Attendance and Punctuality in College

Entry 3 activity to reinforce the importance of good attendance and punctuality in college. First activity asks students to choose and circle the correct word and further activities practise spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation at Entry 3 level. 

Editor's notes

A brilliant idea and excellent practice for ESOL students - especially at the start of the academic year. 

Level
Entry Level 3
Level 1
English
Use knowledge of punctuation and capitalisation
ESOL
General ESOL
ESOL Rs/E3.2a Recognise function of CLs, full stops, commas, question- exclamation- and speech marks, bullet points /numbering
ESOL Rs/L1.2a Use punctuation to help understanding
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
ESOL Rs/L1.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to predict meaning & check for sense
ESOL Ww/E3.1a Apply spelling knowledge to a wide range of common & special-interest words
ESOL Ww/E3.1b Apply knowledge of strategies to aid with spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1a Apply knowledge about vocabulary to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Ww/L1.1b Use strategies to aid accurate spelling
ESOL Rw/E3.5a Use variety of reading strategies to read/understand unfamiliar words
ESOL Rt/E3.1a Understand how meaning is built up in a variety texts of more than one paragraph
ESOL Rt/L1.5a Use skimming, scanning and detailed reading in different ways for different purposes
Context
Education and teaching