New lesson plan: Murphy's Law and The First Conditional

Fatemeh

Murphy's Law and The First Conditional - Pre-Intermediate level

Murphy's Law and The First Conditional
Pre-Intermediate level

Description

In this lesson, we will explore Murphy's Law and learn about how to use the first conditional to make predictions about every day situations. This lesson includes a short reading, a grammar focus, and a fun speaking activity where students create their own Murphy's Law sentences.

Materials

American English File2 students book

Board

Pictures

Videos

American English File2 students book

Board

Pictures

Videos

Main Aims

To provide clarification of First Conditional in the context of everyday life

Subsidiary Aims

To provide gist reading practice using a text about Murphy's law in the context of everyday life

Procedure (16-25 minutes)

Warmer/Lead-in (2-3 minutes) • To set lesson context and engage students

I'll show some funny pictures about Murphy's law, and ask the students a few questions (e.g. "Has this ever happened to you?" or "What do you think Murphy's Law is?"). Then I'll use the questions from the book on page 64 to have a brief Q&A with my students.

Exposure (3-5 minutes) • To provide context for the target language through a text or situation

I'll ask the students to skim the paragraph. Then, I'll ask quick comprehension questions.

Highlighting (3-4 minutes) • To draw students' attention to the target language

In this stage I'll read the text myself, and focus on some new vocabulary items. I'll use a few slides to explain the meaning of each word in more detail.

Clarification (4-6 minutes) • To clarify the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language

After the students have completed exercises C and D, I'll then fully explain the structure and uses of the First Conditional. Finally I'll give them some general tips with the help of further examples and CCQ.

Controlled Practice (2-3 minutes) • To concept check and prepare students for more meaningful practice

Here, I'll ask my students to go to page 65 and complete the exercises. Then, we will check the answers together.

Free Practice (2-4 minutes) • To provide students with free practice of the target language

I'll show my students some short videos where everything goes wrong. I'll ask them to describe what is happening, and then we'll have a discussion about whether Murphy's Law is true.