A task-based learning lesson plan

CLASS Third year of English, age 8/9

THEME Holidays

FINAL TASK Students prepare posters "promoting" holiday locations.

OBJECTIVES  To describe a holiday location using simple nouns and adjectives.

 To develop vocabulary in the area of adjectives.
 To develop language using 'can' to express 'it is possible to do'.

CONTENT/ The theme is new but concepts will be familiar. Some answers will be known to
SKILLS: fellow classmates. You can (able to do something) is a possible new concept.
There’s also a small possibility that some children don't have holidays

RECYCLED Geographical features (from year 1), some adjectives, favourite, is/has problems.
LANGUAGE:

NEW LANGUAGE: more adjectives; action verbs: play, do; possible new sports names. 'Resort'.

MATERIALS:  15 large pictures showing a variety of holiday locations (from travel

magazines, posters) .
 10 smaller pictures for each group of 4. These can all be the same.
 Worksheet for lesson 1 with outline picture (from coursebook or traced from
a magazine picture) (one per child)
 Worksheet for mingling survey - simple grid. (one per child)
 Worksheet with descriptions. (one per pair)
 A collections of holiday brochures and other pictures that children can cut
out.
 Scissors, A3 sheet of card, glue (one per pair) Selection of marker pens.

Teaching sequence

Lesson 1 - 60 minutes

 Recycle and introduce new vocabulary, including holiday vocabulary, using picture game. Put up
five pictures, describe one, students guess which one. (5 minutes)
 Children play game in groups of 4 (15 minutes)
 Children colour and label pictures showing a holiday area. 4 different pictures. Work in pairs to
complete the pictures then move to groups of 4 to share pictures. Choose labels to introduce the
vocabulary required (15 minutes)
 Review on board using the best pictures. (5 minutes)
 Pin up advertising pictures round the room, with names. Children go and stand by their favourite.
Teacher gives example then asks individual students ‘Why do you like ……..’ (5 minutes)

© The British Council, 2009

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.
 A task-based learning lesson plan

 Students collect questionnaire worksheet and mingle, ask each other ‘What’s your favourite holiday
resort?’ ‘Why do you like ……..’ using prompts on worksheet. (12 minutes)
 Sit down; collect favourite resort names on the board with show of hands. Declare the class'
favourite resort. (3 minutes)

Lesson 2 - 60 minutes

 Show new holiday resort picture. Teacher gives funny reasons for liking the resort. (3 minutes)
 Hand out worksheets with 5 written descriptions of what people like when they go on holiday (use a
variety: older child, baby, old person, dog, etc.). Pin up 8 pictures with a good variety of resorts. In
pairs, children match the description with the most suitable resort picture. (15 minutes)
 Report decisions in groups of 4 and discuss. ( 5 minutes)
 Report back to the class. (2 minutes)
 Explain final task - in pairs students prepare posters by sticking pictures on card and writing bullet
point descriptions about the advantages of their resort. If necessary, prompt with some adjective/
noun combinations (large swimming pool, warm climate, etc) and ‘you can do statements’(25
minutes)
 Select a few examples and have students give a ‘sales pitch’ for their resort in front of class. (10
minutes) Display all posters for two weeks.

Evaluation:

 Final task completed successfully by the majority of the class.

 Incorporate 'can' form in future lesson about school, incorporate adjectives and forms in descriptive
work on my town planned for next semester.
 Incorporate descriptive form in future teaching sequence : review role play planned in 4 weeks'
time.

© The British Council, 2009

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.