Teaching Past Simple

Warmer: Back writing (line the students up then the first student needs to read the sentence then write the sentence on his/her friend's back, continue until the last student at the front)

1. I worked in a department store.
2. We invited them to our party, but they decided not to come.
3. It was cold, I shut the window.
4. Mozart wrote more than 600 pieces of music.
5. We saw Rose in town a few days ago.

Lead-in: Pair Work Speaking Activity
What did you do yesterday starting from the time you woke up until you went to bed?

Present: Arranging sentences (Pair work)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian musician and composer.

He lived from 1756 to 1791.

He started composing at the age of five and wrote more than 600 pieces of music.

He was only 35 years old when he died.

After the students finish arranging the sentences, tell them to tell their partner about the story, they do it in turn.

Study: Chair race (read the questions one by one, the student who knows the answer need to race to the front of the class)

1. When did Mozart live?
2. How many pieces of music did he write?
3. How old was he when he died?

Drill: Mingle activity ( Stick the paper on the wall inside the classroom, give each student a blank piece of paper to write the sentences)

Laura / pass / her examination / because / she / study / very hard

The police / stop / me / on my way home / last night.

I / go / to the cinema / three times / this week.

? / you /go / out  last night

When / Mr Thomas / die / ?

I / not / enjoy / the movie / at the cinema

I / angry / because / you / late

They / not / able / to come / because / they / so busy

Controlled Practice:

Read what Laura says about a typical working day:
"I usually get up at 7 o'clock and have a big breakfast. I walk to work, which takes me about half an hour. I start working at 8.45. I never have lunch. I finish work at 5 o'clock. I'm always tired when I get home. I usually cook a meal in the evening. I don't usually go out. I go to bed at about 11 o'clock, and I always sleep well."

Yesterday was a typical working day for Laura.
Write what she did or didn't do yesterday.
1. She __________________ at 7 o'clock.
2. She _________________ a big breakfast.
3. She _______________________________.
4. It _____________ to get to work.
5. ________________ at 8.45.
6. _____________________ lunch.
7. ______________________ at 5 o'clock.
8. ______________________tired when _______________ home.
9. ________________________ a meal yesterday evening.
10. ______________________ out yesterday evening.
11. ____________________ at 11 o'clock.
12. __________________ well last night.

Communicative Controlled Practice:

 Holiday Survey

Names	Where	How / go	How long	Where / stay

Freer Practice:

Think about:
1. A city went
2. Food you ate
3. Places you visited
4. Things you did

Ask the students to find partners then have them to tell about their holiday. After 3 minutes, clap your hands and students need to find another partners. Do this in about three or four times.