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When you were a child
FIND OUT FIND OUT
How many people were allowed to watch How many people were allowed to go out
TV until late? alone?

FIND OUT FIND OUT

How many people had to sometimes look How many people had to wear a uniform to
after a younger brother or sister? school?

FIND OUT FIND OUT

How many people had to be home by a How many people had to go to bed at a
certain time? certain time?

FIND OUT FIND OUT

How many people were allowed to go out How many people will allow their children
with friends in the evening? to do some of the things they weren’t
allowed to do?

FIND OUT FIND OUT

How many people had to help with the How many people were allowed to eat
housework? sweets?

FIND OUT FIND OUT

How many people were allowed to choose How many people think their parents were
their own clothes? too strict?

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When you were a child
In this interesting speaking activity, students ask and answer questions about what they
were and weren’t allowed to do when they were a child. This teaching activity gives students
practice at talking about permission, obligation and prohibition in the past.

Before class, make one copy of the worksheet for each group of 12 students and cut the
cards as indicated.

Procedure

Tell the class that they are going to ask and answer questions about what they were and
weren’t allowed to do when they were a child.

Give one card to each student. If there are more than 12 students in the class, divide them
into groups.

Explain that each student is responsible for finding the answer to the question on their card
by speaking to everybody in the class or group.

Give each student a piece of paper for making notes and then let the students go round the
class or group, asking and answering their questions.

When everyone has finished, the students take it in turns to report back to the class on what
they found out during the activity.

As an extension, students can write about the information they have gathered.

Example:

In our group, nobody was allowed to buy their own clothes. Most people weren't allowed to
go out with their friends in the evening, but Darren and Tony were allowed to sometimes,
etc.

Teach-This.com ©20I3 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.