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  2. Intermediate

Using used to for past habits

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Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Intermediate/B1
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 intermediate lesson, students will explore the use of used to to discuss past habits and states in English. They will learn how this construction helps to talk about actions and behaviours that were regular in the past, but no longer occur in the present. This understanding is key for students to describe past routines and changes over time, adding depth and context to their storytelling.

The lesson plan begins with a boardwork example that shows one way to present the target language. Following this, students will engage in several low-resource classroom activities. These activities include interviewing each other about how their preferences and habits have changed over the years. We have included a fun classroom game to end the lesson, reinforcing the concepts learned and ensuring a lively end to the session.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1Changes
2Now tell me
3The modern day
Games
1It's all in the past
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Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

The students look at how we talk about past habits in English.

Add the heading along with the purpose of the construction used to. After you have explained it, add the first three words of the sentence and ask the students to complete it. Prompt them with a verb or noun if necessary. Add the timeline if you feel it needs further explaining. Finally, discuss how the grammar changes for questions and negatives.

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
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Low-resource ESL activity

Changes

The students will interview each other about how their preferences have changed through the years.

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.
Low-resource ESL activity

Now tell me

A follow-on activity where students answer questions about what they learned from their partner during the previous exercise.

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.
Low-resource ESL activity

The modern day

Students use the target grammar to compare and contrast life before and after the invention of some common but essential items.

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.

Classroom games

Low-resource ESL activity

It's all in the past

Teams have to create as many sentences that use the target language as they can in a set time.

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.