Environment & Sustainability
A complete two-session B1 lesson built around the second conditional — the grammar of imagining a better world — using the environment as the theme. Includes a featured interactive reading, audio scripts, answer keys, and a self-grading workbook.
Can-Do Statements
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Talk about environmental issues and eco-friendly actions.
- Use the second conditional to imagine results (If + past simple, would + base verb).
- Suggest and discuss solutions to environmental problems.
- Use key vocabulary — pollution, recycling, renewable energy, carbon footprint, sustainable.
- Read and understand an article about protecting the planet and answer comprehension questions.
- Write about an environmental problem and its solution using conditionals.
Vocabulary & Phrases
This vocabulary set is shared across the lesson plan, the workbook flashcards, and the reading article.
Issues & Solutions
- pollution · climate change · greenhouse gases
- recycling · to recycle · to reduce waste
- renewable energy · solar / wind power
- carbon footprint · sustainable · sustainability
- eco-friendly · single-use plastic · to conserve
- deforestation · ecosystem · to protect
Talking About Solutions
- If we…, we would…
- We should / could…
- One way to help is to…
- It's bad / good for the planet.
- We need to cut down on…
- If everyone did their part…
The Engine of the Lesson
The second conditional — for imagining results that are unreal or unlikely now.
1. Form — If + past simple, would + base verb
We use the second conditional to imagine a different present or an unlikely future.
| positive | If everyone recycled, there would be less waste. |
| negative | If we didn't use cars, the air wouldn't be so dirty. |
| question | What would you do if you were the mayor? |
2. First vs second conditional
Use the first conditional for real, likely situations; the second for imaginary or unlikely ones.
| 1st (real) | If I have time tomorrow, I will recycle. (likely) |
| 2nd (imaginary) | If I were rich, I would buy an electric car. (unreal now) |
3. "Were" for everybody
In the second conditional, we often use were for all subjects, especially in "If I were you…".
Trap: don't use "would" in the if-clause — "If we used less plastic…" (not "If we would use"). And the past form here is not really about the past — it signals "imaginary".
Small Changes, Big Planet
A fresh, interactive, self-grading article built for this unit. It carries the lesson's vocabulary and conditional language, so it fits perfectly into Session 2 — or set it as homework.
What's inside
- A hopeful, fact-based article on plastic, food waste, clean energy, and the power of small actions.
- Self-grading comprehension questions with instant feedback and a score.
- A "helps the planet vs harms the planet" sorting task and a vocabulary flashcard deck.
- A discussion box to extend the topic into speaking.
How to use it: project it for shared reading, or assign it for homework before the discussion. Students read, then tap Show My Score on the comprehension quiz and bring the result to class.
Open the Reading →Timed Lesson Stages
Each stage lists timing, teacher instructions, and the interaction pattern.
1. Warm-Up — Biggest Problem
Show images (plastic, traffic, a forest, wind turbines). Ask: "Which environmental problem worries you most? Why?" Quick pair-share, then collect ideas.
Interaction: Pairs → whole class.
2. Vocabulary — Environment
Present the shared vocabulary (pollution, recycling, renewable energy, carbon footprint, sustainable). Drill collocations: reduce waste, save energy, single-use plastic.
Interaction: Teacher → class.
3. Grammar — Second Conditional
Write "If everyone recycled, …" and elicit imaginary results. Build the rule (if + past simple, would + base). Contrast with the first conditional and drill "If I were you…".
- Concept check: "Is this real now or imaginary? Which part has 'would'?"
- Controlled practice: students do the workbook's second-conditional and word-order tasks.
Interaction: Guided discovery → individual.
4. Speaking — If I Ran the World
The centerpiece (full instructions in the Activities section). Groups imagine they can make three green laws and explain the results with second conditionals.
Interaction: Small groups.
5. Wrap-Up
Each group shares their best "law" and its imagined result. Set the reading article for homework if you'll discuss it next session.
1. Review — Conditional Chain
Start a chain: "If we used less plastic, the oceans would be cleaner. If the oceans were cleaner, fish would…" Students continue. Fast second-conditional fluency.
Interaction: Whole class.
2. Reading — Small Changes, Big Planet
Use the interactive reading page (linked above). Students read the article and complete the self-grading comprehension and the "helps vs harms" sorter.
- Pre-reading: students predict three ways to help the planet.
- While reading: underline one fact that surprised them.
- After: compare, then tap Show My Score.
Interaction: Individual → pairs.
3. Listening — A School Eco Project
Play Audio 2 (script below). Students complete the workbook's listening task. Play twice.
Interaction: Individual → class check.
4. Writing — A Problem & a Solution
Students write about one environmental problem and how to solve it (80–100 words), using second conditionals.
Model: "One big problem in my town is plastic waste. People use too many plastic bags and bottles. If shops charged money for plastic bags, people would bring their own. If our school had more recycling bins, we would recycle more. I think small changes would make a big difference. If everyone helped, our town would be much cleaner."
- Target: 3+ second conditionals, shared vocabulary.
- Students self-check against the workbook checklist, then review the flashcards.
Interaction: Individual.
5. Share, Score & Reflect
Students read their solution to a partner, who adds one idea. Then they tap Show My Score in the workbook and show you the result.
Speaking Activities
The centerpiece is If I Ran the World. Rotate the games below across lessons.
If I Ran the World
Groups of 3–4. Goal: imagine green laws and explain their results with second conditionals.
- Tell groups: "Your group is in charge of the planet. You can make three new green laws."
- For each law, they must explain the imagined result: "If we banned single-use plastic, the oceans would be cleaner."
- Groups present their three laws. Encourage follow-up questions and challenges from the class.
- The class votes for the most powerful (and realistic) set of laws.
More Activities (rotate these)
Conditional Chain
One student starts ("If we planted more trees, the air would be cleaner"). The next uses that result as a new condition ("If the air were cleaner, people would…"). Keep the chain going. Fast fluency with the target grammar.
Eco Dilemmas
Give each group a "what would you do if…?" card ("…your town banned cars?", "…you could only use one plastic item a week?"). They discuss and report back, practicing imaginary results.
Invention Pitch
Pairs invent a green product or app and pitch it in 60 seconds: what problem it solves and what would happen if everyone used it. Persuasive speaking + vocabulary.
Eco Taboo
Describe a word (carbon footprint, renewable, deforestation, recycle) without saying it or three taboo words. Teammates guess. Fast vocabulary recall through paraphrasing.
Going Further: A Sustainability Project
Audio & Transcripts
Tap a transcript to open it. Add your recording in the player, and use the same file in the student workbook's Listening task.
Audio 1My Green Habits (model)+
Speaker: I try to do small things for the environment every day. I always carry a reusable bottle, and I recycle paper and plastic at home. I think we could all do more, though. If everyone used public transport, the air would be cleaner. If shops sold less plastic, there would be less waste. I'm not perfect, but if we all made small changes, they would add up to something big.
How to use: Play once as a model before the speaking activity. Ask students to catch the second conditionals ("If everyone used…, the air would be…") and copy the pattern.
Audio 2A School Eco Project (listening task)+
Lena: Hey, did you hear about the new recycling project at school?
Max: No, what is it?
Lena: They're putting recycling bins in every classroom — for paper, plastic, and cans.
Max: That's great. Our school throws away so much plastic.
Lena: I know. If everyone used a reusable bottle, we wouldn't need all those plastic ones.
Max: True. I always bring my own bottle now. What else can we do?
Lena: We could turn off the lights when we leave a room. And the school wants to plant trees in the spring.
Max: Nice! If I had more time, I would join the gardening club.
Lena: You should! Small actions really add up.
Max: You're right. I'll start with the reusable bottle and turning off lights.
How to use: This is the source audio for the workbook's Listening task. Two voices work best. Play for gist first ("What's the project?"), then for detail. Notice the second conditionals about bottles and the gardening club.
Audio 3Pronunciation — "would" & "wouldn't" (optional)+
Listen-and-repeat. "would" is often contracted to 'd, and "wouldn't" is /ˈwʊdnt/.
If I had time, I'd help. — If we recycled, we'd save energy. — If we didn't waste food, we wouldn't need so much.
How to use: B1 students often over-pronounce "would". Drill the contracted 'd and the weak forms so their conditionals sound natural and fluent.
Workbook & Reading Answers
These match the self-grading workbook and reading page. Both grade automatically; keys are here for board correction.
Workbook Reading — Teaser
- How many tonnes of plastic waste does the world produce each year? — around 350 million
- What is "single-use" plastic? — plastic used once and thrown away
- What would happen if everyone carried a reusable bottle? — we would throw away less plastic
Listening — Fill in the Blank (Audio 2)
- The school is putting recycling bins in every classroom.
- Max always brings his own (reusable) bottle now.
- The school wants to plant trees in the spring.
Listening — Multiple Choice (Audio 2)
- What can they do when they leave a room? — b) turn off the lights
- What will Max start with? — c) a reusable bottle and turning off lights
Grammar — Second Conditional
- If everyone recycled, there would be less waste.
- If we used less plastic, the oceans would be cleaner.
- If I had a bike, I would cycle to school.
- The air would be cleaner if we drove less.
- If people planted more trees, they would absorb more CO2.
Word Order
- If we recycled more, we would save energy.
- The planet would be healthier if we used clean energy.
Reading Page — Comprehension
- How many tonnes of plastic waste each year? — around 350 million
- How many meals are wasted every day? — more than 1 billion
- In 2024, what share of electricity came from clean sources? — more than 40%
- Which energy is growing fastest? — solar (power)
- Food waste creates… — b) 8–10% of greenhouse gases
- The article's main message is… — c) millions of small actions are powerful
Reading Page — Helps vs Harms (sorter)
- Helps the planet: recycling, planting trees, using solar power
- Harms the planet: single-use plastic, wasting food, air pollution
Common Student Errors
Watch for these at B1 and correct gently in the moment.
| Typical Error | Correct Form | Why & How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "If we would recycle, there would be less waste." | "If we recycled, there would be less waste." | No "would" in the if-clause. Use the past simple. |
| "If everyone recycled, there will be less waste." | "…there would be less waste." | Second conditional needs "would" in the result, not "will". |
| "If I would be you…" | "If I were you…" | Use "were" (not "would be") in the if-clause. |
| "The air would be cleaner if we will drive less." | "…if we drove less." | Past simple in the if-clause, even when it comes second. |
| "We would to save energy." | "We would save energy." | No "to" after would — use the base verb. |
| "pollution are a big problem" | "pollution is a big problem" | Pollution is uncountable → singular verb. |
Extension & Homework
In-Class Options
- Design a poster for a green campaign using second conditionals.
- Write five "If the world…" predictions for the year 2100.
- Use the workbook flashcards to quiz a partner on the vocabulary.
At-Home Practice
- Read the interactive article and complete the comprehension quiz; bring your score.
- Research an environmental organization and write a short report on what it does.
- Finish any workbook tasks and review the flashcards.
How to Measure Success
Ready to run the lesson?
Open the student workbook (self-grading, with flashcards) and the interactive reading article. No login.
Open the Student Workbook Open the Reading