Intermediate
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lesson your students are studying.
Greetings School People Work Family House Food Clothes Sports Shopping Transportation Health City Animals Weather Future
Vocabulary
Language Focus - nationalitiesFollow-up activities - (1) Go over the nationalities of the people in your class. (2) Students name a thing or person and the others guess the nationality. (eg. Corona beer - Mexican)
Grammar
Language Focus - to be/present tense reviewFollow-up activities - none
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - An elderly man discusses his travels.Follow-up activities - (1) Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out. (2) Class discussion (or discuss in pairs) - If you had a month of free airfare, where would you go and what would you do.
Reading
Language Focus - The elderly man's itinerary and a postcard from one of the destinations.Follow-up activities - Do the activity from the "More Practice" section - Imagine that you are Phil Andrews and you are at one of the destinations listed on the itinerary (not Mexico). Write a letter to the reporter who interviewed you (in the "Dialog" section) telling her what you are doing.
Spelling
Language Focus - plural spellingFollow-up activities - Have students think of three more words (not from the lesson) that follow each of the spelling rules (-s, -es, ies, -ves, irregulars).
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - nationalitiesFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - miscellaneousFollow-up activities - (1) Password - The students have to describe one of the words in the list (without saying the vocabulary word, of course). The other students guess what the word is. (2) For homework have students write ten sentences using any of the vocabulary words from the list (different from any sentences in which the words were used on the Vocabulary page).
Grammar
Language Focus - Possessive pronounsFollow-up activities - Have students write one sentence with each possessive pronoun.
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Two students discuss a magnet school.Follow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Reading about magnet schoolsFollow-up activities - Students discuss (or write about) the advantages and disadvantages of the kind of magnet school described in the second paragraph of the reading.
Spelling
Language Focus - Word that end with -tionFollow-up activities - Have students think of more words that end with -tion in English.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - possessive pronounsFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - vocabulary for describing peopleFollow-up activities - (1) Have students write descriptions of the people in the "More Practice" activity. (2) Students write a description of an unidentified student in the classroom. The students take turns reading their description and guessing who it is. (I first tell them that certain words are off-limits such as "fat" and "lazy.")
Grammar
Language Focus - adverbs of frequencyFollow-up activities - (1) Have students use questions from first practice exercise on the Grammar page to interview a classmate (activity described in the "More Practice" section). (2) Have students select a topic (food, movies, family, etc.) and make survey of questions with how often (eg. How often do you eat pizza?). Then have them use their survey questions to interview their classmates and present survey results to the class.
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - A man describes a robber to the police.Follow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Wanted posterFollow-up activities - Have students make a wanted poster for an imaginary criminal (activity described in the "More Practice" section on the Reading page).
Spelling
Language Focus - I before E except after CFollow-up activities - Draw three columns on the board with headings "ie", "ei (before c)", "ei with long a sound", and "irregulars." Have students think of more "ie" or "ei" words. Put them in the column of the rule they follow.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Identify the criminalFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - miscellaneous vocabulary from lessonFollow-up activities - Have students pick ten words and write sentences using them.
Grammar
Language Focus - indefinitesFollow-up activities - Have students change the following sentences to negative and a question (possible answers in red).
There is something on the table.
There isn't anything on the table. OR There is nothing on the table.
Is there anything on the table? OR Is there something on the table?They know someone who works there.
They don't know anyone who works there. OR They know no one who works there.
Do they know anyone who works there? OR Do they know someone who works there?He's going somewhere on vacation.
He isn't going anywhere on vacation. OR He's going nowhere on vacation.
Is he going anywhere on vacation? OR Is he going somewhere on vacation?Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - A man has a terrible job interview.Follow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Interviewing AdviceFollow-up activities - Students write a thank you note for an imaginary interview (activity described in More Practice section in lesson)
Spelling
Language Focus - sp- and st- wordsFollow-up activities - Have a spelling bee with the words from the lesson.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - crossword with clues which use indefinite wordsFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - miscellaneous vocabulary from lessonFollow-up activities - Have students pick ten words and write sentences using them.
Grammar
Language Focus - Past TenseFollow-up activities - Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list. Then have them change the sentences to negative and a question.
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - vacation picturesFollow-up activities - (1) Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out. (2) In small groups have students talk about a vacation that they took. Name at least five things (in the past tense) that you did on your vacation. (3) Have students bring in their own vacation pictures and talk about them.
Reading
Language Focus - a postcard from the vacation from the dialogFollow-up activities - Imagine you are on a vacation (anywhere in the world). Write a postcard to your family or friends telling them what you did on your vacation (activity in the More Practice section on the Reading page).
Spelling
Language Focus - Words that end in -oughFollow-up activities - Read some of the words from the table of -ough words. Have the students write them on a piece of paper.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Match the fronts and backs of postcardsFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - Housing ad vocabulary and abbreviations, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - both/either/neitherFollow-up activities - Have students write sentences using "both," "either," and "neither."
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Calling landlord for info.Follow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Read housing adsFollow-up activities - Have the students write a housing ad using some of the abbreviations from the vocabulary lesson
Spelling
Language Focus - Words with silent lettersFollow-up activities - Have a spelling bee with words with silent letters (You could also add words from previous spelling lessons to the spelling bee.).
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Match the house with the house adFollow-up activities - None
Vocabulary
Language Focus - food vocabulary, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - (1) Stop - Have students make a piece of paper with four columns. At the top of the first column they will write the heading "Food," at the top of the second "House," at the top of the third "Job," at the top of the fourth, "Place." The teacher will call out a letter. The students need to quickly write down a food word that starts with the letter the teacher said, something you find in the house with that letter, a job which starts with that letter, and the name of a place (city, state, etc.) that starts with that letter. When one student finishes all columns, they yell out "Stop." (2) Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - Count/Non-Count expressionsFollow-up activities - Bring in a bag full of groceries and have students describe what you have. ("There are a lot of apples.", "There are a few onions.", etc.)
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - A married couple goes over their grocery listFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - The Food Pyramid - USDA recommendations for a healthy dietFollow-up activities - (1) Discuss what foods would be in each category. (2) Discuss whether or not the students' diets meet these guidelines (Activity discussed further in More Practice section on Reading page).
Spelling
Language Focus - two/to/tooFollow-up activities - Write sentences with each word.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Determine which foods belong in which section of the pyramid.Follow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - Accessories, Materials, Review of Clothes vocabulary, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - (1) Have students write a description of one student's clothing (Tell them not to name the student). The other students guess who is being described. (2) For homework, have students cut a picture out of a fashion magazine and write a description of their clothes. (3) Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - very vs. tooFollow-up activities - none
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Shopping dialogFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Shopping AdviceFollow-up activities - (1) Have students write their own shopping advice. They could write about how to save money when shopping, where to find the best clothes, furniture, etc., or any other topic relating to shopping. (2) Have students write or discuss about the last time they went shopping. What stores did they go to? Who did they go shopping with? What did they buy?
Spelling
Language Focus - double consonantsFollow-up activities - Do a class spelling bee with the words from the list.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Scrambled clothes vocabularyFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - sports equipment, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - (1) Pictionary - Have students select a sport and draw equipment from that sport on the board. The other students guess what the sport is. (2) Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - adverbs, canFollow-up activities - Adverb Interview - Have students use the following questions as an interview in pairs. The student answering the question should use an adverb to answer the question.
Adverb Interview
1) How do you drive? (e.g. dangerously, fast, slowly, carefully, etc)
2) How do you cook?
3) How do you sing?
4) How do you dance?
5) How do you sew?Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Two women discuss their husbands' sports equipmentFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Article with advice on starting an exercise routineFollow-up activities - Have students discuss (or write about) what they do for exercise or what they would like to do.
Spelling
Language Focus - CognatesFollow-up activities - Have students think of five more cognates
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Sports equipment concentrationFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - big numbers, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - (1) Have students bring in sale ads from the newspaper and discuss in small groups the prices of the items in the ads. Are they good prices for those items? If not, what would be a more appropriate price? (2) Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - present perfectFollow-up activities - What were your goals for the future when you were younger? Which things have you already done? What things haven't you done yet? Make sentences. (e.g.. I've already gotten married. I haven't had children yet. etc.)
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Bargaining dialogFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - BargainingFollow-up activities - Have students discuss if people bargain over prices in their country. How is bargaining different in your country?
Spelling
Language Focus - False cognatesFollow-up activities - See if the class can think of more false cognates.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Listen for pricesFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - car parts, irregular verbsFollow-up activities - (1) In small groups have students describe a car part. The other students in the group guess which part is being described. (2) Have students write one past tense sentence with each of the irregular past tense verbs in the list.
Grammar
Language Focus - Past ProgressiveFollow-up activities - Past Progressive Interview - Have make past progressive questions like the following example and discuss them in pairs?
What were you doing (day) at (time)?
eg. What were you doing Sunday at 3:00 PM?
I was washing my car.Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Police discuss witness accounts of an accidentFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Newspaper report about car accidentFollow-up activities - Bring in small toy cars. Students draw an intersection on a piece of paper. They use the cars to act out a car accident. The other students describe the accident that was acted out as if they were witnesses.
Spelling
Language Focus - The letters "ph" in EnglishFollow-up activities - See if the students can think of any more "ph" words.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Student read descriptions of an accident and decide which is correct.Follow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - More body parts vocabularyFollow-up activities - Have students describe a body part. The other students guess what part is being described.
Grammar
Language Focus - ReflexivesFollow-up activities - Write out different subjects on index cards (I, You, He, They, Mr. Jones, Susan, etc.) and the verbs "burn", "cut", and "hurt" on other cards. In small groups students put a subject card and then a verb card. They need to make a reflexive sentence (eg. "He cut himself.")
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - A couple discusses recent accidents.Follow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Home Safety TipsFollow-up activities - Have students discuss what they do in their home to keep it safe.
Spelling
Language Focus - The Silent "e"Follow-up activities - Have students think of more words that end with a silent "e".
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Match safety signs with descriptionsFollow-up activities - Have students draw a safety sign. The other students guess what the sign means.
Vocabulary
Language Focus - Adjectives to describe a cityFollow-up activities - Have students use the adjectives to describe their hometown.
Grammar
Language Focus - comparativesFollow-up activities - Write pairs of words on the board (eg. Elephant/Mouse, Doctor/Lawyer, Banana/Orange). Make comparative sentences comparing the two (eg. An elephant is bigger than a mouse.).
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Comparison of Los Angeles and San DiegoFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Reading from A Tale of Two CitiesFollow-up activities - Have students compare two cities from their country
Spelling
Language Focus - Words spelled with two vowels togetherFollow-up activities - Have students think of more words spelled with two vowels together.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Students read descriptions of cities and guess the city.Follow-up activities - Have each student write a description of a major world city. They read their description to the class and the other students guess what city is being described.
Vocabulary
Language Focus - adjectives for describing animals, animal partsFollow-up activities - Have students write a description of an animal (without mentioning the name of the animal). Have students read their description and the other students guess what the animal is.
Grammar
Language Focus - superlativesFollow-up activities - Write superlative discussion questions on the board.
Sample superlative discussion questions
1. What's the best restaurant in town? Why do you like it?
2. What is the most interesting movie you've ever seen? What's it about?
3. Who is the nicest person you know? Why are they nice? (What do they do?)
4. Who is the most beautiful woman in the world? What does that person do (eg. actress, model, etc.)?Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Animal QuizFollow-up activities - (1) Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out. (2) Have student write their own superlative quiz about another topic. (eg. What's the longest river in the world?)
Reading
Language Focus - Buying a PetFollow-up activities - Have students discuss (or write about) what they think is the best pet and why.
Spelling
Language Focus - The consonant-vowel-consonant ruleFollow-up activities - Have students think of more examples of verbs in which the final consonant would be doubled before adding an ending.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Animal QuizFollow-up activities - Have students think of more animal questions.
Vocabulary
Language Focus - weather vocabulary, compass directionsFollow-up activities - Have students work in small groups to draw a weather map on a poster board or a transparency for the overhead projector. The groups of students take turns showing their weather map and giving their imaginary forecast.
Grammar
Language Focus - mightFollow-up activities - Have students make speculations of what life might be like in the future or what might happen to individual students (or the teacher!) in the future.
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - weather forecastFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - Read the weather page from a newspaperFollow-up activities - Have students bring in the real weather page from the local newspaper and tell what the weather will be like in the area.
Spelling
Language Focus - irregular plural formsFollow-up activities - none
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Listen to weather forecasts and match with mapsFollow-up activities - none
Vocabulary
Language Focus - computer and technology vocabularyFollow-up activities - Have students take turns describing one of the computer and technology words. The other students guess what the word being described is.
Grammar
Language Focus - the conditional, making speculationsFollow-up activities - (1) Conditional interview - Make interview questions in the condition and have students discuss them in pairs. (ej. If you could be any animal, what animal would you like to be? Why? What would you do if you were invisible?) (2) Bring in pictures cut out of magazines. The students work in groups to make speculations about the picture or the people in the picture.
Listening/Dialog
Language Focus - Discussion of future technologyFollow-up activities - Have students read the dialog in pairs and/or act it out.
Reading
Language Focus - NanotechnologyFollow-up activities - (1) Have students research nanotechnology in the Internet. (2) Have students discuss their opinions about nanotechnology. What benefits could it have? What dangers are there to this kind of technology?
Spelling
Language Focus - Commonly misspelled words by Spanish-speakersFollow-up activities - Spelling Bee - Do a spelling bee with words from all of the Spelling lessons in Intermediate level.
Dictation
Language Focus - spellingFollow-up activities - Have students write any words they misspelled in the dictation in their notebook five times to practice spelling it.
Game
Language Focus - Making speculationsFollow-up activities - none
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