Lesson Plan

Used to…

By Silvia Bruno
Course: 2nd High School
Level of English: Elementary
Number of Students: 24
Learning Focus:
★ Form and use of the Simple past tense
★ Form and use of Used to to talk about past habits
★ Knowledge of lexicon related to Communication Now and then
★ Describe changes in Communication over time
★ To ask and give information about Past habits Before the Quarantine and in
Quarantine
Suitable Materials
★ Authentic materials where possible will be used. Students do not have to follow
a course book. The materials will be created by the teacher and taken from
Internet.

Attention to Diversity
★ The lessons combine written words with pictures and audio aids in order to
stimulate the different cognitive learning styles.
 On zoom

In the current days, we are living in a

particular context.
Many things have changed over time that
help us be in touch with our family and
friends. Can you mention some of these
things?
Brainstorming learners responses.

Encourage them to mention COMMUNICATION - EDUCATION- ETC.

On Zoom

Let’s see some technological advances

 On Zoom

In the video we can see how technological

advances have improved Communication.
Let’s see some means of Communication throughout history

Smoke signals
 On Zoom

Carrier Pigeon - Morse Code- Telegraph

On Zoom

Fax - Telephone -Wireless Radio-

 On Zoom

Mobile phones- Internet - Handheld device

This is the evolution of Communication

 On Zoom

Discuss
1. Which of the inventions above do you consider the most important one?
Why?

2. What do you think is coming after the Internet?

3. How do you see communication in 50 years from now?

(Learners can response in L1)

 On Zoom

Communication over time

...
 On Zoom

Complete the sentences

PIGEONS-PONY EXPRESS-MORSE CODE-SMOKE SIGNALS-RADIO-TELEGRAPH

1. The _____________________ the first long distance communication.

2. American Army __________________ for long distance communication in World
War 1
3. __________________ the first carrier service.
4. _____________ the most popular form of long distance communication.
5. Telegraphs __________-code.
6. __________________ transmites voice and music.
 On Zoom

Communication Then and Now

A few centuries ago, people could speak to each other, they could
send their messages from one place to another by smoke signals
Later, they had some newspaper.
The radio and television were The first expansions of media.
The second was communication satellite in 1960s.
Now Internet is the global system. It interconnects computer
networks.
 On Zoom

Communication then and now

In the Past In the Present

Primitive People could send their messages from We can send our messages from one place to
one place to another by Smoke signals. another by Communication satellite.

Later, they had newspaper, telephone, radio and We have Internet connection on our mobile
T.V. phones, computers and Smart TVs.

Let’s see how Communication has changed over time.

The most popular means of communication On Zoom

throughout the history until today

-Letters, messages (messenger on a horse delivered secrets
or very important messages)
-Sounds or visual signals (drums in Africa, smoke signal of
American Indians)
-Phone calls, fax, emails (emails allow you to send a lot of
data)
-Video-conferencing (By Facebook, Whatsapp, Zoom, etc.)
Grammar focus
We use Simple Past tense to talk about events that happened before now.

The simple past tense emphasizes that the action is finished.

Example: American army used Pigeons for long distance communication in

World War 1.

Past Simple Pattern

AFFIRMATIVE

SUBJECT + verb + ed
American Army used Pigeons for distance communication.
For regular verbs, add -ed to the base form of the verb (or just -d if the base form already ends in an -e)

Some verbs are irregular in the simple past. Can you guess which ones?

Complete the chart with examples from the text “Communication Then and Now”

Affirmative

Subject + Verb + -ed

+ Irregular verb
Interrogative & Negative in Simple Past Tense
There is a formula for making simple past verbs negative, and it’s the same for both regular and irregular verbs
(except for the verb to be). The formula is did not + [base form of verb]. You can also use the contraction didn’t
instead of did not. For example:

Some people didn’t have mobile phones in 1994.

For the negative and interrogative form of all verbs in the simple past, always use the auxiliary 'did''.

Did people have mobile phones in 1999?

For the verb to be, you don’t need the auxiliary did. When the subject of the sentence is singular, use was not or
wasn’t. When the subject is plural, use were not or weren’t.

The first mean of communication wasn’t the telephone.

Were people happy without Internet?

Homework 1

Work in pairs. Draw a

timeline that shows means of
communication. Begin with
the smoke signals.
Smoke signals
I------------------------------I-------------------------I---------------------I------------------I-----------------I
1300 2020
On Zoom
Mario: -Hi, Gustavo. How are you?
Listening
Listen to the Gustavo: -Hey! I’m fantastic! Did you remember the girl we

conversation between met at Romina’s Party?

friends.
Mario: -Yes, she was so beautiful! What happened?

Were they happy

Gustavo: I saw at the shopping this morning. She saw me
without Internet?
too, and gave me her address. We agreed on going to the
cinema next Saturday.

Mario: Oh my friend, good for you! But...Then, Aren’t you

coming to my birthday on Saturday?

Gustavo: Oops! I completely forgot your birthday. What

can I do now??
 On Zoom

Some Irregular verbs

Form & Example (Click on the link for further practice:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kI7zZtmqv6j0NA8oTlbaOe4dMiQ7-TrI/view?usp=sharing)

Base Example Past form Example

Form

Be I am a student. Was- were I was a student in 2017.

Go My mother often goes shopping. Went My mother went shopping yesterday.

Send All people send messages by Whatsapp now. Sent I sent you a message three days ago.
Write I write on a diary every night. Wrote I wrote on my diary last night.
Ride Juliet usually rides her bike. Rode Juliet rode her bike last Monday
have We have lunch at home every day. Had We had lunch at home yesterday.
Homework 2

With a partner write 2 or 3 things that

Gustavo did after he talked to Mario.
Remember, he didn’t have a mobile phone or
Internet connection in 1991.
Can you change the dialogue to the present days?

In pairs rewrite it with your own words,

Listen to the original version as many times as you need. Then record it

on voicethread. https://voicethread.com/myvoice/thread/15206304
Aims:
● To develop learners critical thinking by talking about the current events
● To help learners be aware about the importance of caring themselves from
viruses focusing particularly on Covid19
● To review present simple and present continuous by describing some pictures
and watching a video
● To develop learners’ awareness of the structure ...USED TO to express past
habits
● To enhance listening and reading skills by listening to and completing a text
● To encourage learners to work collaboratively by creating a comparative chart
with a partner on Google Docs
 Lesson 2
Reflection
Look at these pictures for a
First
few minutes.

Think!
Week
What do they do every day?

What did they do yesterday?

 Speaking On Zoom

They have lunch at home every day.

...What did they do for lunch yesterday?

Romina hangs out with friends after school.

...What did she do yesterday after school.?

Roman celebrates his birthday every year.

...What did he do for his birthday this year?

They go to school from Monday to Thursday.

...Where did they go last Thursday?

Pedro visits his grandma every week.

...What did he do last week?

Luisa goes to the cinema on Saturdays.

...What did she do last Saturday?

On Zoom

But now… we are in

QUARANTINE
 On Zoom
Coronavirus = Quarantine
What does Quarantine mean?

look it up in a dictionary:

QUARANTINE: (n) a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals

that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious
disease are placed.

Quarantine means “SOCIAL DISTANCING”

 On Zoom
Do you know what it is?
...
On Zoom

What is Coronavirus?
Coronaviruses are a type of virus. There are many
different kinds, and some cause disease. A newly
identified coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has caused a
worldwide pandemic of respiratory illness, called
COVID-19.
On Zoom

How do you feel?

...
On Zoom

Health-care in QUARANTINE
How to protect yourself against Coronavirus?
1 2 3

4
On Zoom

Let’s watch this video.

 Activity 1 On Zoom

Complete the sentences with a word

To protect yourself against COVID 19

1. ____________at home. 2. ___________ your hands. 3. ______________distance. 4. ____________a mask.

On Zoom

Now in Quarantine...
On Zoom
Can you tell me how your lives have changed ?
Now
We stay at home.
We attend classes online.
We don’t go to school.
We don’t go out for dinner.
We don’t go to the cinema.
We don’t hang out with friends.
We wear a mask.
Then
We used to go to school.
We used to go out for dinner.
We used to go to the cinema.
We used to hang out with
friends.
We did not use to wear a mask.
On Zoom

Watch Daphne's Routine. What did she use

to do after Coronavirus?
...
Activity 2 On Zoom
Her routine isn’t the same now. Match the
statements on the left with the statements on
the right.
a. She used to go to work early in the 1. But now she doesn’t attend classes at
morning.. the university.

b. She used to go out for lunch. 2. But now she joins with friends in Zoom.

c. She used to attend classes at the 3. But now she eats lunch at home.
University. 4. But now she works at home on her
d. She used to go out with her friends computer.
after classes.
Grammar: Used to...
We use USED TO to talk about PAST HABITS.
Let’s see some examples:

When I was a child, I used to ride

the carousel.
 When I was 6 years
old...
I used to make sandcastles.
...
 Before the
Quarantine...

I used to attend classes at

...
school but now I attend
classes online.
If we want to make questions about past
habits we need an auxiliary.
Check it out!
What did Daphne use to do early in the morning?

She used to go to work.

What did she use to do after classes?

She used to go out with friends.
 Activity 3 Homework 2
Before the Quarantine what did you use to do at the
weekdays?
Complete the text with Used to and the verbs below.
Attend - go - work - works - celebrate - get up - joins - get up -

Before the quarantine my life was quite different. I (1)_________

(2)___________early in the morning, but now My mom gets angry because I (3)

__________ too late. She works at home every day. She is a teacher, she
(4)________ (5)________ to the gym after work but now she (6)_______ her yoga

trainer in zoom. My dad (7)________ at home too. I like my family but I miss
my friends. Today is my birthday, we (8)______ (9)_________ it with family and
friends but now I am playing video games with my brother, he (10) ________
(11) ________ classes at College all day until now.
The slide above is adapted to Students with
Special Needs
Dyslexic students may be benefit because as they are working on a computer they
can type their answers. Moreover, they will have the opportunity to improve their
listening skills.

We can add pictures of the verbs. Like this:

Before the Quarantine what did you use to do at the
weekdays?
Listen to the boy and circle the
correct option
I like my family but I miss my
Before the quarantine my life was friends. Today is my birthday, we
quite different. I used to get up / get used to celebrate / celebrate it
up early in the morning, but now My with family and friends but now I
mom gets angry because I used to get am playing video games with my
up / get up too late. She works at home brother, he used to attend /
every day. She is a teacher, she used to attends classes at College all day
go / goes to the gym after work but until now.
now she used to join / joins her yoga
trainer in zoom. My dad used to work
/works at home now.
Activity 4 Homework 3

Work with a partner. Share a doc in Google

Drive and make a comparative chart with
this heading: “Our lives Then and Now”
Your name Your partner’s name

Before the Quarantine...

I used to...

But now I...

Speaking Activity

Tell the class what you learnt

about your classmate in our
next zoom meeting.
Let’s have fun! ...

Kahoot!
https://create.kahoot.it/kahoots/my-kahoots

I created a kahoot with the information seen in

the lesson but I’m not sure if the students can
play-connect with me being at their homes.
 Lesson 3- 2nd Week
Challenges of
Home learning
during a
Pandemic.
Can you tell me what you need to attend
classes nowadays?

Look at the word cloud below.

I will record the words so as to offer a better understanding for all
students.

Are there any words you don’t know?

Free online word cloud
generator and tag cloud
creator

What do you need to

attend classes now?
(Brainstorming)

Please, write your

responses on the chat in
zoom.
Look at this Venn Diagram https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_knIADyU=/

Can you
complete the
diagram with
words or
phrases from
the word
cloud?
Look at the video. What have they got to
study now?
 Activity 5

Tick the objects you use to study NOW.

A computer A pencil and copies
of the homework Internet Connection

A mobile phone A T.V.

A radio
Activity 6 Homework 4

How to Make a Venn Diagram

In a group of 4, discuss 1. The first step to creating a Venn

the changes you see in diagram is deciding what to compare.

education.
Take words and phrases from the
word cloud and make a Venn
diagram on Miro App.
https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_knIADyU=/
(Education Then vs Education Now)
Place a descriptive title at the top of the
page.
2. Create the diagram. Make a circle for
each of the subjects. ...
3. Label each circle. ...(One circle =
Education Then, and the other
=Education Now)
4. Enter the differences. ...
5. Enter the similarities.
Lesson 4
3rd Week
Aims:
● To develop learners critical thinking by analyzing Education now in quarantine.
● To help learners be aware of education in Argentina and around the world in
quarantine
● To revise the structure used to ….. but now…. by creating a presentation with a
brief description of their findings.
In Quarantine, you have to stay at and attend
classes from home.
What do you need?

Internet connection - a computer - a mobile phone -

What do teachers need?

Internet connection - a computer -

In Quarantine:
● How do children and teenagers without
Internet connectivity or without computers or
mobile phones continue their studies?

Let’s look at the case of Children from Chaco in

Argentina.
Read the text
In the Chaco, Argentina, teachers have to be extremely creative to
continue education in times of pandemic. Distance education is a
challenge in the Chaco, educators make an effort so that children and
adolescents from the Paraguayan Chaco can continue in school
during the coronavirus pandemic.
May 11, 2020. 702.
https://www.ip.gov.py/ip/la-educacion-en-el-chaco-en-tiempos-de-pandemia/
 Speaking Activity

Reflect on the following questions

1. Is Education important?
2. Can everybody study a Distance
course?
Click on the link and read the
article
https://www.ip.gov.py/ip/la-educacion-en-el-chaco-en-tiempos-de-pandemia/
I will read the article. The article is in Spanish because students’ level is
elementary
Read the article again and take notes of the
technological devices learners have for their
distance learning.
 Activity 7

Learning in
Quarantine
Before the Quarantine, children and
adolescents used to go to schools
but now they attend classes at home.
Can you complete these statements? They need an Internet connection, a
computer and a mobile phone. In
1. In Chaco, learners___________to their
teachers on the _________.
Chaco, Argentina, learners haven’t
got any technological devices but the
2. Some learners ___________ their classes on teachers make learning possible.
________ .
Assignment 8 Homework 5
Browse the Internet and find out
how children from other
provinces or countries (That you
choose) attend classes before
and after the QUARANTINE.
Make a group of 4 on Whatsapp
and on Genially App or on
Google Slide create a
Presentation with pictures and
a brief description of them.
The brief description example:
In _______(Country/Province) children used to go
to school but now they_______________
Students attend their classes (online- on T.V- on
the radio-)
Learners need a computer, an/a……….
And……………
They have got Internet connection, computers
and………..
They haven’t got any computers.
...4th Week
Students’ groups take turns to present their
productions

At the end of the Unit you have to complete

a Quiz on Google Forms. I will send you the
quiz next Monday. Please check your emails.
Here is the link for you to see the Quiz I prepared.
https://forms.gle/WcAJ5ZwaUL4TQMVV9