Lesson idea 4.

1
Lexical chunks: get
Type of activity Lexical chunking

Level Intermediate – CEFR Level B1/B2

Timing 40 minutes (+ extension activity)

Aim To learn the meaning of phrases with get

Preparation Making copies of worksheets

Resources Worksheets 1, 2 and 3

(Worksheets 1 and 2 printed back to back if

possible)

This activity focuses on lexical chunks, which are an important part of the Lexical Approach. These are
phrases that we teach as one whole to make sure students remember the whole phrase. This lesson uses a
short reading task to demonstrate the language.

Stage Aim Action Time Focus

1 To introduce the Ask students to tell their partner how 3 mins Teacher to
topic and to raise they spent their time during the last whole
interest long school holiday. class

Take feedback from a couple of

students. Ask them what they would
Students to
like to do this holiday.
class

2 Preparation for scan
reading
Explain that they are going to look at 2 mins Teacher to
some activities that a school has whole
organised for its students. They are class
going to read in more detail later but
first they are going to look for some
information very quickly.

Hand out Worksheet 1.

3 Scan reading Tell students that this is a race and 3 mins Teacher to
that you want them to find which whole
activity: class
• will be inside
• you need to be fit to do
• involves working in groups

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
 • will let you produce
something to take home
• will let you be with animals.

Read these out one at a time.

Students scan the texts to find the
answer and shout out when they Students to
have it. This encourages them to class

scan-read rather than focus on all of

the content.

4 Reading for Now ask the class to read the text 6 mins Students
meaning again. Reassure them that they will individually
look at any new vocabulary later.

Ask them to tell their partner which of

Students in
the activities they would like to do
pairs
most and which ones they wouldn’t
want to do. Why/why not?

Feed back some ideas to the class to

check understanding.

5 To introduce the Ask the students to look at the text 10 Students in

lexical task again with a partner. One of the pair mins pairs
should turn the page over to look at
the second page.

Now tell the students that there are a

number of phrases containing the
verb get. Ask them to find all of them
on the page and to underline them.
When they have found them all, ask
them to work together to match the
underlined phrases to the definitions
in the table. They can note where
they found the word for reference in
the final column.

Note: Some of the phrases are in the

introduction. There are 12 phrases.

6 Optional extension Ask pairs that finish quickly to take As Students in

task turns to cover up one of the columns. needed pairs
Can their partner remember the
phrases or the definitions? They can
work from the phrases and recall the
definitions or vice versa.

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
 7 Feedback Take feedback from the class to 4 mins Students to
check answers and clarify teacher
understanding.

Give students time to copy the

phrases onto Worksheet 1 if they
have not already done so.

8 Assessment of Now ask students to only look at 7 mins Students

learning Worksheet 2. They need to complete individually
the sentences with the missing words
and write their own sentences,
working individually first and then
checking with their partner.
Students in
Monitor and correct any issues with pairs
meaning.

9 Feedback Note good example sentences as you 5 mins Students to

monitor the class during the activity class
and ask for these to be shared as
feedback.

Finally elicit, or tell students, that a

key meaning of get is ‘a change of
state’.

Possible expansion activity

1 Pair writing Students write a short conversation 15 Students in

using three or four of the phrases. mins pairs

Students read their conversations to

the class.

Keep note of which phrases they

have chosen and which are most
popular.

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
Worksheet 1: Holiday activities
Hi! Have you seen these advertisements in the school magazine? The social club has
finally got around to organising some activities. Last summer I didn’t get up to much in
the holidays, but this summer let’s do something fun together! What do you think?

A B
Do you fancy spending some time outside this
summer?
Get together with people who have similar
interests to you. Come and meet our beautiful
horses and learn to ride! You don’t need any
experience – we’ll teach you everything you
need to know at our riding school. We get going
early in the morning, though, to make the most
of the day … so make sure you have a good
alarm clock!
Get into something new this summer!
If you have always wanted to make your own
film, we want to meet you. You’ll be working in
groups in our high-tech studio so it’s important
you get on with other people.
We’ll have all the equipment you need so bring
some ideas, share them and at the end of the day
we’ll go out into town and make our own short
film.
Watch out Hollywood!

C D
Can you get by without your phone? Without
social media?
Enjoy an afternoon in the wilderness hiking in
the peaceful countryside.
We’ll take you into the hills – it’s quite a climb
so you’ll have a good workout.
Remember to bring a water bottle. There are no
shops to pop into! If busy city life gets to you
then this is the activity for you.
A really practical way to spend your time
At our outdoor art studio we have everything
you need to get down to some pottery. You can
make a dish, a bowl or a mug. You’ll be amazed
at how easy it is and we guarantee you’ll get
carried away with it and won’t want to stop!
You’ll go home with something unique at the
end of the day.

E
A fascinating skill!
Okay – I’ll admit it … I always tried to get out of doing anything technical, but not anymore! If you are like
me and computers fascinate you now, then this is where you should head! It might be the start of a well-paid
career in the future.
Learn more about computers and learn to code. It’s exciting and cool. You might start with no knowledge of
coding – that doesn’t matter. You’ll get it really quickly. Come and join the coding club!

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
Worksheet 2
Work with a partner. Find all of the phrases that include the word get.

Underline them.

Now match them to the definitions below.

Phrase Definition Text

develop an interest in something

start to do something

find time to do something

concentrate on something

manage

meet

avoid doing something

be enthusiastic about something

do something

understand

be friendly with

annoy

Worksheet 3

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
Now look at the sentences below. Complete the sentences by choosing one of the phrases from the table
to fill in each gap. Remember to think about the tense you need to use.

1 I’ve never _________________________ my little sister. We are always arguing.

2 My mum always wants me to help around the house but I try to __________________ doing it.

3 I always find it hard to ___________________________ my homework. I don’t know why but I try
to find other things to do to avoid it!

4 I’m going to ________________________ with my best friend this weekend. We’re going shopping
together.

5 Have you seen the latest series of ‘Paris People’? I’m really ______________________ it.

6 I haven’t seen you for ages! It sounds like you have been busy. What have you been
____________________?

7 I am learning to dive. I just love it. I’m really _________________________ it.

For the phrases with get that weren’t used in this exercise, write your own example sentence to show the
meaning.

• ___________________________________________________________________
______
___________________________________________________________________
______
• ___________________________________________________________________
______
___________________________________________________________________
______
• ___________________________________________________________________
______
___________________________________________________________________
______
• ___________________________________________________________________
______
___________________________________________________________________
______
• ___________________________________________________________________
______
___________________________________________________________________
______

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
KEY

Hi! Have you seen these advertisements in the school magazine? The social club has
finally got around to organising some activities. Last summer I didn’t get up to much in
the holidays but this summer let’s do something fun together! What do you think?

A B
Do you fancy spending some time outside this
summer?
Get together with people who have similar
interests to you. Come and meet our beautiful
horses and learn to ride! You don’t need any
experience – we’ll teach you everything you
need to know at our riding school. We get going
early in the morning though to make the most of
the day …so make sure you have a good alarm
clock!
Get into something new this summer!
If you have always wanted to make your own
film, we want to meet you. You’ll be working in
groups in our high-tech studio so it’s important
you get on with other people.
We’ll have all the equipment you need so bring
some ideas, share them and at the end of the day
we’ll go out into town and make our own short
film.
Watch out Hollywood!

C D
Can you get by without your phone? Without
social media?
Enjoy an afternoon in the wilderness hiking in
the peaceful countryside.
We’ll take you into the hills – it’s quite a climb
so you’ll have a good workout.
Remember to bring a water bottle. There are no
shops to pop into! If busy city life gets to you
then this is the activity for you.
A really practical way to spend your time
At our outdoor art studio we have everything you
need to get down to some pottery. You can make
a dish, a bowl or a mug. You’ll be amazed at
how easy it is and we guarantee you’ll get
carried away with it and won’t want to stop!
You’ll go home with something unique at the
end of the day.

E
A fascinating skill!
Okay – I’ll admit it … I always tried to get out of doing anything technical but not anymore! If you are like
me and computers fascinate you now, then this is where you should head! It might be the start of a well-paid
career in the future.
Learn more about computers and learn to code. It’s exciting and cool. You might start with no knowledge of
coding – that doesn’t matter. You’ll get it really quickly. Come and join the coding club!

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get
 Phrase Definition Text

get into something develop an interest in something B

get going start to do something A

get around to something find time to do something Intro

get down to something concentrate on something D

get by manage C

get together meet A

get out of something avoid doing something E

get carried away with something be enthusiastic about something D

get up to something do something Intro

get it understand E

get on with someone be friendly with B

get to someone annoy C

1 I’ve never got on with my little sister. We are always arguing.

2 My mum always wants me to help around the house, but I try to get out of doing it.

3 I always find it hard to get down to my homework. I don’t know why, but I try to find other
things to do to avoid it!

4 I’m going to get together with my best friend this weekend. We’re going shopping together.

5 Have you seen the latest series of ‘Paris People’? I’m really getting into it.

6 I haven’t seen you for ages! It sounds like you have been busy. What have you been
getting up to ?

7 I am learning to dive. I just love it. I’m really getting carried away with it.

© Cambridge University Press 2017 Lesson idea 4.1 Lexical chunks: get