…watched a film last weekend"What did you watch?"
Name: ____________
Teacher Lesson Plan · CEFR A2 · Unit 8
Technology & Media
A complete two-session A2 lesson built around the past simple — so students can talk about the films, shows, and media they watched, read, and shared, with audio scripts, games, and answer keys.
Lesson Objectives
Can-Do Statements
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Talk about media and technology they used recently (films, shows, apps, games, news).
- Use the past simple of regular verbs (watched, played, downloaded) and common irregular verbs (saw, read, went).
- Form questions and negatives with did and didn't (Did you watch…? I didn't see…).
- Use past time expressions (yesterday, last night, last weekend, two days ago).
- Understand the key details in a short text and audio about people's screen time.
- Write a short review of a film, show, or game using the past simple.
Target Language
Vocabulary & Phrases
Vocabulary — Media
Tech, Media & Verbs
- a film / movie · a series / show · an episode
- the news · an article · a website · a podcast
- an app · a game · social media · a channel
- streaming · download · upload · post · share
- watch · read · listen to · play · scroll
- screen time · online · a review · a trailer
Useful Phrases
Talking About Media
- Last night I watched… / Yesterday I read…
- Did you see…? — Yes, I did. / No, I didn't.
- It was great / boring / funny / amazing.
- I'd give it five stars.
- Have you seen…? (recognition only)
- It's about…
Grammar Focus
The Engine of the Lesson
The past simple — how we talk about finished actions in the past.
1. Past Simple — Regular Verbs (-ed)
Most verbs add -ed for the past. Watch the spelling.
| most verbs: + ed | watch → watched, play → played, download → downloaded |
| ends in -e: + d | like → liked, use → used, share → shared |
| short vowel + consonant: double | stop → stopped, chat → chatted |
| consonant + y: y → ied | study → studied, try → tried |
2. Past Simple — Irregular Verbs
Many common verbs do not follow the rule. These must be learned.
| see → saw | go → went |
| read → read (same spelling, different sound) | have → had |
| make → made | take → took |
| send → sent | write → wrote |
| buy → bought | get → got |
3. Questions & Negatives — did / didn't
| question | Did you watch the news? — Yes, I did. |
| negative | I didn't (did not) see the film. |
| wh- question | What did you do last night? |
Key rule: after did / didn't, use the base verb — not the past form. (Did you watch? — not "Did you watched?")
Before You Start
Materials Needed
Whiteboard and markers · Images or posters of films, shows, and apps · The student workbook (digital, opens on any phone or laptop) · Audio files made from the scripts below. No printing required — the student workbook is self-grading and mobile-friendly.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Timed Lesson Stages
Each stage lists timing, teacher instructions, and the interaction pattern.
Session 1 — Vocabulary, Grammar & Speaking (45 min)
5 min
1. Warm-Up — Last Night's Screen
Ask: "What did you watch or read last night?" Collect answers and write the past verbs on the board (watched, read, played) to surface the past simple naturally.
Interaction: Teacher → whole class.
10 min
2. Vocabulary — Media Words
Present media vocabulary with images. Drill pronunciation. Match each noun to a verb ("a film → watch", "an article → read", "a game → play").
Interaction: Teacher → class.
12 min
3. Grammar — Past Simple
Guided discovery: write "I watch a film every week" and "Last night I watched a film." Ask what changed and why. Build the -ed rule and spelling, then introduce key irregular verbs, then questions/negatives with did/didn't.
- Concept check: "Is it now or finished? Do we say 'Did you watched'?"
- Controlled drill: students change present sentences to the past ("I play → I played").
Interaction: Guided discovery → class.
13 min
4. Speaking — "Find Someone Who" Mingle
The centerpiece speaking activity. Give each student the Find Someone Who grid (in the Mingle & Games section below, also built into the student workbook with a shuffle button).
- Students mingle and ask past questions: "Did you watch…?", "What did you…?"
- Rule: a full question and one follow-up before writing a name.
- Report back: "Petra watched a horror film last night. She didn't like it!"
Interaction: Whole-class mingle → reporting back.
5 min
5. Wrap-Up
Volunteers report one thing a classmate did last night using the past simple. Note any irregular-verb errors to revisit in Session 2.
Session 2 — Reading, Listening & Writing (45 min)
5 min
1. Review Game — Past Verb Race
Call out a base verb (watch, see, go, read, play). Teams race to shout the past form and say if it's regular or irregular. Fast consolidation of the core grammar.
Interaction: Teams.
10 min
2. Reading — "A Night In"
Students open the Student Workbook and read the text. They answer the comprehension and multiple-choice questions, which grade instantly.
- First read for gist: "Was it a busy weekend?" Then read for detail.
- Pairs find and circle every past-simple verb.
Interaction: Individual → pairs.
10 min
3. Listening — What Did You Do Last Night?
Play Audio 2 (script below). Students complete the fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice listening task in the workbook. Play twice.
Interaction: Individual → class check.
15 min
4. Writing — A Mini Review
Students complete the workbook's grammar, word-order, and the regular/irregular sorter, then write their own short review.
Model: "Last weekend I watched a film called The Journey. It was an adventure film. I really liked it because the story was exciting. The actors were great and the music was beautiful. I gave it five stars!"
- Target: a title, what they watched/read, at least four past-simple verbs, and an opinion.
- Students self-check against the writing checklist in the workbook.
Interaction: Individual.
5 min
5. Share, Score & Reflect
Students read their review to a partner, who asks one follow-up question. Then they tap Show My Score in the workbook and show you the result on their phone.
Classroom Activities
Mingle & Game Bank
Ready-to-run speaking activities to keep all 90 minutes active and student-centered. The same mingle is built into the student workbook with a shuffle button.
"Find Someone Who…" Mingle Grid
Students walk around and ask past-simple questions to find one classmate for each square.
…read a book this month"Did you read a book?"
Name: ____________
…played a video game yesterday"What game did you play?"
Name: ____________
…listened to a podcast"Did you listen to a podcast?"
Name: ____________
…watched the news this morning"Did you see the news?"
Name: ____________
…downloaded a new app"What app did you download?"
Name: ____________
…posted a photo online"Did you post anything?"
Name: ____________
…saw a funny video"What did you see?"
Name: ____________
…didn't use a phone yesterday"Did you use your phone?"
Name: ____________
More Activities
8 min · pairs
My Weekend in Media
Students tell a partner three things they watched, read, or played last weekend — two true, one false. The partner asks past-simple questions to find the false one. Strong question-form and irregular-verb practice.
7 min · teams
Irregular Verb Tennis
One team says a base verb ("see"), the other "returns" the past form ("saw"). Miss or hesitate and the point goes over. Fast, competitive drilling of irregular pasts.
8 min · groups
Story Chain (Last Night)
Build a story one sentence at a time, all in the past: "Last night I turned on the TV. I watched a film. The film was scary…" Each student adds a past-simple sentence. Great for fluency and connectors.
8 min · whole class
Review Roulette
Each student gives a 20-second spoken review of something they watched recently, using the past simple and one opinion word. Classmates rate it with a thumbs up/down. Builds confidence and speaking fluency.
Listening Resources
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 1A Quiet Weekend (model)+
Narrator: Listen to Tom talk about his weekend.
Tom: Last weekend I stayed at home. On Friday night, I watched a film on my laptop. It was a comedy, and I laughed a lot. On Saturday, I didn't go out. I read a book in the morning and listened to music in the afternoon. In the evening, I played video games with my friends online. On Sunday, I watched the news and then I wrote a message to my sister. It was a quiet but nice weekend!
How to use: Play once with books closed and ask students to count the activities. Play again to catch every past-simple verb — both regular (watched, played) and irregular (read, wrote). A clear, natural pace works best.
Audio 2What Did You Do Last Night? (listening task)+
Lara: Hi Sam! What did you do last night?
Sam: I watched a great series on TV. What about you?
Lara: I didn't watch TV. I read a book and then I listened to a podcast.
Sam: Nice! Did you go to bed late?
Lara: Yes, I went to bed at midnight.
Sam: Me too! I played a video game after the series.
Lara: Did you like the series?
Sam: Yes, it was amazing. I watched three episodes!
How to use: This is the source audio for the workbook's Listening task. The mix of regular and irregular pasts plus did/didn't questions makes the detail items clear. Play for gist first, then for detail.
Audio 3Pronunciation — the -ed ending (optional)+
Listen-and-repeat drill for the three sounds of -ed. Pause after each group.
/t/ sound: watched, liked, stopped, laughed.
/d/ sound: played, listened, shared, used, called.
/ɪd/ sound: downloaded, started, wanted, needed.
How to use: A2 students often add an extra syllable to every -ed. Show that only verbs ending in t/d sounds get the extra /ɪd/ syllable; the rest are just /t/ or /d/. Two minutes makes their past simple sound natural.
Answer Keys
Workbook Answers
These match the self-grading student workbook. The workbook grades automatically; keys are here for your reference and board correction.
Reading — Comprehension ("A Night In")
- What did Tom watch on Friday night? — a film (a comedy)
- What did he do on Saturday morning? — he read a book
- Who did he play video games with? — his friends (online)
Reading — Multiple Choice
- Did Tom go out on Saturday? — b) No, he didn't
- On Sunday, Tom watched the news and then… — c) wrote a message to his sister
Listening — Fill in the Blank (Audio 2)
- Sam watched a great series on TV.
- Lara read a book and listened to a podcast.
- Sam watched three episodes.
Listening — Multiple Choice (Audio 2)
- What time did Lara go to bed? — b) midnight
- Did Lara watch TV last night? — c) No, she didn't
Grammar — Past Simple (correct verb form)
- Last night I watched a film. (watch)
- She read a book yesterday. (read)
- We went to the cinema last week. (go)
- They sent a message this morning. (send)
Word Order
- I watched a film last night.
- Did you see the news?
Sorter — Regular vs Irregular past verbs
- Regular: watched, played, downloaded
- Irregular: saw, went, bought
Teacher Notes
Common Student Errors
Watch for these at A2 and correct gently in the moment.
| Typical Error | Correct Form | Why & How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Did you watched the film?" | "Did you watch the film?" | After did, use the base verb. Drill the question frame. |
| "I didn't watched it." | "I didn't watch it." | After didn't, use the base verb too. |
| "I goed / I readed" | "I went / I read" | Irregular verbs don't take -ed. Build an irregular verb list. |
| "Yesterday I have watched a film." | "Yesterday I watched a film." | With a finished past time (yesterday), use the past simple, not present perfect. |
| "I watch a film last night." | "I watched a film last night." | Missing the past form. "Last night" signals the past. |
| "I studyed / stoped" | "I studied / stopped" | Spelling: y → ied; double the consonant after a short vowel. |
Going Further
Extension & Homework
Extension (Fast Finishers)
In-Class Options
- Write a five-sentence diary of yesterday, all in the past simple.
- Interview a partner about their last holiday and report three things they did.
- Turn a present-tense paragraph into the past.
Homework
At-Home Practice
- Write a short review of something you watched or read this week (past simple).
- Make a list of ten irregular verbs and their past forms.
- Finish any workbook tasks and bring your score to the next class.
Assessment
How to Measure Success
Speaking: accurate past simple and did/didn't questions in the mingle and games. · Reading: correct answers in the workbook tasks. · Listening: accuracy on the Audio 2 fill-in-the-blank task. · Grammar: the past-simple, word-order, and regular/irregular sorter exercises. · Writing: a clear mini-review using the past simple. Students tap Show My Score so you can verify results instantly on their phones.
Ready to run the lesson?
Open the student workbook on any phone or laptop — no login, fully self-grading.
Open the Student WorkbookA2 Level Lesson Plan – Unit 8: Technology and Media
Lesson Objective:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Discuss technology trends and social media habits
- Use key vocabulary related to gadgets, media platforms, and entertainment
- Understand simple articles and reviews
- Express opinions about technology and media
- Write and share a review of a movie, book, or digital media content
Lesson Duration: 90 minutes (can be delivered in two 45-minute sessions)
Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Handouts with sample articles and reviews
- Audio recordings of conversations about technology
- Writing materials for students
Session 1: Speaking, Listening, and Reading (45 minutes)
Warm-Up: Tech Talk Starters (5–7 minutes)
Prompt: “What’s your favorite piece of technology, and why?”
- Write a few categories on the board: gadgets, apps, websites, games, social media.
- Students work in pairs and choose one to talk about for 2 minutes each.
- Whole class: Share a few interesting answers.
Vocabulary Focus: Tech and Media Words (10 minutes)
- Present vocabulary: smartphone, tablet, streaming, app, upload, download, social media, post, gaming, screen time.
- Use pictures or real items if possible.
- Drill pronunciation + mini matching or sorting activity (word → definition or picture).
- Extra tip: Include some fun example sentences with a gap-fill quiz or mini “tech bingo.”
Discussion Activity: Trends & Habits (15 minutes)
- Prompt questions (on board or printed):
- How much time do you spend online?
- What do you do most—watch videos, play games, read news, chat with friends?
- Is social media good or bad? Why?
- Group students in pairs/small groups with discussion task cards.
- After discussion, students report one key idea from their group to the class.
Reading Task: What’s New in Tech? (10 minutes)
- Give students a short, simplified article or a tech blog/review (e.g., “Top 3 New Apps” or “A Review of a New Streaming Series”).
- Task:
- Highlight technology words
- Find the main idea
- Answer 3–4 simple comprehension questions
- Brief class feedback
Listening Practice: Real Tech Talk (3–5 minutes)
- Play a short audio clip or video: e.g., “Talking about my new phone” or “Which app do you like best?”
- Students match phrases from the audio to vocabulary on a worksheet or write down 3 expressions they heard.
- Quick peer-check, then whole-class review.
Session 2: Writing, Sharing, and Reflection (45 minutes)
Vocabulary Recap Game (5–10 minutes)
- Play a team game: “Tech Taboo” or “Find Someone Who…” with tech-related prompts.
- Review key vocabulary interactively.
Writing Task: Review a Movie, Book, or Game (20 minutes)
- Model a short review on the board (with structure: Title, Summary, Opinion, Rating).
- Students choose one: a movie, a book, a YouTube channel, or a game.
- Scaffold with a simple outline or writing template.
- Encourage use of at least 5 tech/media vocabulary words.
Sharing and Peer Feedback (10 minutes)
- Pair students: Read each other’s reviews and give simple feedback:
- Is it clear?
- What did you like about it?
- Can you suggest one improvement?
- Optional: Create a “Student Review Wall” in the classroom or online platform.
Wrap-Up and Class Reflection (5 minutes)
- Whole-class discussion:
- “How has technology changed your life?”
- “What was the most useful phrase or word today?”
- End with a quick “tech word quiz” or exit ticket: each student writes one word or sentence they remember.
Homework Extension
Write a short paragraph: “The advantages and disadvantages of technology today.”
(Optional extension: Record a short voice message or video summary for speaking practice.)
Assessment Suggestions
- Informal observation during discussions
- Vocabulary quizzes/games
- Review of written work
- Peer feedback
- Exit tickets/reflection responses