Lesson Plan: "Having Our Say"
Level: High-Intermediate to Advanced pre-university students
Class: Extensive Reading
Time: 50 minutes

Objectives:

• recall key points of introduction and first two chapters of the book
• place events referenced in introduction and first two chapters on a timeline
• show understanding of rules for verb form choice
• use context to deduct meanings of common English idioms

Materials:

• whiteboard and dry erase marker or blackboard and chalk
• timeline made of butcher paper and showing years from 1858 to present
• smaller timelines for each student (made by taping together two pieces of legal-size copy paper and folding to fit into notebook)
• marker
• computer with internet access for each student or pair of students

Procedures:

• Place students into pairs or triads to brainstorm and list the ideas and events they recall from the assigned reading. After 10 minutes, bring whole class back together. Ask one student to write ideas on the board as other students call them out. Prompt class if any important ideas are left out.
• Explain the purpose of using a timeline to visualize the chronology of events. State that we as a class, we will place events mentioned in each day's reading on a timeline. Pass out smaller timelines and point out large timeline posted on classroom wall. Ask students to look over the introduction and first two chapters. Have one student write events on large timeline as other students call them out. Let all students write these events on their own timelines.
• Remind students that they have just completed a unit on verb form meaning and use in their grammar class. Discuss the importance of this in understanding the meaning of the English sentences they see and hear everyday. Give a couple of sentences from the book – write them on the board and read them out loud. Ask students to orally identify the verb forms and tell why those forms are used in these particular sentences. Send students to computers to work alone or in pairs on a cloze activity requiring choice of correct verb form: http://clear.msu.edu/teaching/online/mimea/smile/smile.php?activityID=705. Circulate and be sure students are able to get to the activity and help them adjust font size on screen if text and answers overlap.
• As students finish grammar activity, direct them to an idiom meaning activity at http://uk1.hotpotatoes.net/ex/8961/AUKAIEWD.php. Remind them to look carefully at the context of each idiom from the book. Students should write down idioms they do not identify correctly the first time in their vocabulary notebooks.