Speaking:
Back in My Day
Grouping:
Time:
Pairs → Small groups → Whole class discussion
15 minutes
Aim
Students will practice describing past habits and routines using “used to” and “would.”
Materials
• Flashcards with past vs. present situations (e.g., “wrote letters → send emails”).
• Sentence starter cards (e.g., “When I was a child…”).
Preparation
• Write examples on the board:
• “When I was a child, I used to ride my bike every day.”
• “We would always play football in the park after school.”
Activity Breakdown
1. Students pick a flashcard and describe past habits using “used to” or “would.”
2. They take turns discussing their childhood habits in pairs.
3. Groups share interesting habits with the class.
Instructions
1. Pick a flashcard.
2. Think about how life was different in the past.
3. Say a sentence using “used to” or “would.”
4. Listen to your partner’s sentence.
5. Share interesting answers with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Are we talking about the past or present?” (Past).
• “Can we use ‘would’ for past states?” (No, only repeated actions).
Examples
• “I used to have a flip phone, but now I have a smartphone.”
• “My grandfather would always tell us bedtime stories.”
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Remove sentence starters and let students create their own.
• Easier: Provide matching sentences for students to complete.
Error Correction
• Teacher corrects errors after students finish speaking.
Writing:
A Day in the Past
Grouping:
Time:
Individuals → Pairs
20 minutes
Aim
Students will write a short paragraph about a typical day from their past, using “used to” and “would.”
Materials
• A model text about a childhood routine.
• A writing checklist for self-correction.
Preparation
• Provide sentence starters:
• “When I was younger, I used to…”
• “Every summer, my family would…”
Activity Breakdown
1. Students brainstorm past habits and routines.
2. They write a short paragraph about a typical day in the past.
3. They swap papers with a partner for peer review.
Instructions
1. Think about a day from your past.
2. Write about your routine using “used to” and “would.”
3. Check your writing with the checklist.
4. Exchange with a partner and give feedback.
5. Make corrections and share with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Which phrase do we use for past states?” (“Used to”).
• “Can ‘would’ describe a past habit?” (Yes).
Examples
• “When I was a child, I used to watch cartoons every morning.”
• “In summer, we would go to the beach every weekend.”
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students write about their parents’ childhood.
• Easier: Use a guided worksheet with fill-in-the-blank sentences.
Error Correction
• Teacher provides feedback on tense usage and sentence structure.
Listening:
Then and Now
Grouping:
Time:
Individuals → Pairs
15 minutes
Aim
Students will listen to a short conversation comparing past and present habits and identify key differences.
Materials
• Audio recording of two people discussing life when they were younger.
• A worksheet with past and present statements (students match them).
Preparation
• Write example sentences on the board:
• “I used to walk to school, but now I take the bus.”
• “We would always go to the beach in summer.”
Activity Breakdown
1. Students listen to a conversation.
2. They match past and present statements on the worksheet.
3. They compare answers with a partner.
Instructions
1. Listen to the conversation.
2. Read the sentences on your worksheet.
3. Match past habits to present ones.
4. Check your answers with a partner.
5. Discuss with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Which phrase means a repeated past action?” (“Would”).
• “Can we use ‘would’ for past states?” (No).
Examples
• “I used to have long hair, but now it ’s short.”
• “We would visit my grandparents every Sunday.”
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students retell the conversation using their own words.
• Easier: Provide a word bank with key phrases.
Error Correction
• Teacher asks students to justify their answers and corrects errors as needed.
Reading:
What Was Life Like?
Grouping:
Time:
Pairs
15 minutes
Aim
Students will read a short text about life in the past and identify past habits.
Materials
• A reading passage about childhood in the 1990s or early 2000s.
• A worksheet with sentences where students fill in the blanks with “used to” or “would.”
Preparation
• Highlight past habits in the passage.
Activity Breakdown
1. Students read the passage.
2. They underline past habit phrases.
3. They complete fill-in-the-blank sentences with “used to” or “would.”
Instructions
1. Read the passage.
2. Find past habit sentences.
3. Fill in the blanks with “used to” or “would.”
4. Check with your partner.
5. Discuss with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Can ‘would’ describe past states?” (No).
• “What does ‘used to’ describe?” (Past habits or states).
Examples
• “Before smartphones, people used to write letters.”
• “My father would always take us fishing on weekends.”
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students rewrite the passage using their own experiences.
• Easier: Provide a word bank with possible answers.
Error Correction
• Teacher discusses common errors and reviews answers together.