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  2. Elementary

Obligation: Using must and have to

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Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Elementary/A2
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Grammar
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
45-60 min
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Low-Resource
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Overview

In this elementary ESL lesson plan, we will focus on the modal verbs of obligation, namely must and have to. Students will learn how to use these to construct sentences that express necessity and obligation. The lesson aims to clarify these constructions so that students can effectively communicate responsibilities and requirements.

The lesson plan includes a boardwork example that shows teachers one way to present the target language. After this, the students participate in several low-resource classroom activities. As usual, we finish with an engaging classroom game, providing a lively way for students to apply what they've learned and end the session on a high note.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1My obligations
2Swap
3Jobs and responsibilities
Games
120 Questions
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Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

The students review the grammar of using must and have to for obligation.

Step through each of the constructions and elicit examples from the students using mime or the L1. Once you have stepped through everything in the affirmative, explain how the negatives are constructed and have the students convert the examples on the board into their negative forms.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

My obligations

A writing activity where the students use the target language to make statements about their life.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

Swap

For this speaking activity, the students will talk about another student's obligations.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

Jobs and responsibilities

Students have to write about the obligations and routines related to different occupations.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Classroom games

Low-resource ESL activity

20 Questions: Obligations

Players have to ask yes/no questions to determine which occupation their classmate is thinking about. 

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
This lesson plan is exclusive to TEFLHandbook members. Join today and get instant access to our expanding library of teaching resources.