1 The Johnson family tree

A Look at the family tree of the Johnson family. Then ask and answer questions with your partner to see how many differences
you can find.

Don’t show your card to your partner.

Sarah Matthew
b.1925 b.1927

Pat m Robert Duncan Mary m Paul

b.1960 b.1955 b.1957 b.1950 Blackstock
b.1951

Emma James Michael Lucy Danny

b.1987 b.1989 b.1984 b.1978 b.1980

..................................................................................................................................

B Look at the family tree of the Johnson family. Then ask and answer questions with your partner to see how many differences
you can find.

Don’t show your card to your partner.

Sarah Matthew
b.1926 b.1927

Pat m Robert David Mary m Paul

b.1960 b.1959 b.1957 b.1950 Blackburn
b.1951

Emily Jane Michael Lucy Danny

b.1987 b.1989 b.1991 b.1978 b.1982

Photocopiable Learning Teaching Copyright © Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2011. This page may be photocopied for use in class.

Pre-Intermediate Teachers Notes.indd 2 11/16/10 1:05 PM

 1 The Johnson family tree
Activity
Pairwork. Find the differences.

Focus
Questions with to be. Family relationships.

Preparation
Photocopy one worksheet for each pair. Cut the worksheet
in half.

Procedure
• Ask the students if they know what a family tree is. Ask
someone to draw a (short) example on the board either
of their own family tree or that of a famous person they
know. Try to put some dates of birth. Put ‘b.’ for born.
• Elicit some questions about the example e.g. When was X
born? Who was born in 19..? What was X’s brother called?
• Tell the students that they are going to look at the family
tree of the Johnson family.
• Pairwork. There are eight differences between card A and
B. They must ask questions to find out the differences and
note them down on their cards. They must not show their
cards to their partner.
• Walk round, monitoring and advising.
• Feedback to the whole class.

Answers
1 Sarah b.1925/26
2 Robert b.1955/59
3 Duncan/David b.1957
4 Paul Blackstock/Blackburn b.1951
5 Emma/Emily b.1987
6 James/Jane b.1989
7 Michael b.1984/91
8 Danny b.1980/82

Pre-Intermediate Teachers Notes.indd 3 11/16/10 1:05 PM