London

Objective & content

This sheet on London teaches famous places, such as Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Thames, city words such as bridge, museum, palace, double-decker and the Underground, and things to see, such as guard, raven and the Crown Jewels. Pupils name pictures, read Amir's text about a day in London, then use the words. By the end, they can name famous places in London and the ways to go round the city, and say what visitors can see there.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 names twelve city words, then four famous places, from pictures; each word box holds two extra words, so pupils must choose. Page 2 is Amir's text: a twelve-year-old Londoner shows the city to his cousins from Wales, by Tube and double-decker bus, from Big Ben and the London Eye to Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace. The text explains that Big Ben is the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself. Eight multiple-choice questions follow. Page 3 has six words to match with their meaning, ten sentences where pupils unscramble the word in brackets (SROCS, ACELPA, WELSEJ), then a mystery word: six clues with no word list, whose shaded letters spell a word. It is the hardest task, because pupils recall and spell the words. Every task tests words only. The grammar stays on the present simple, can and there is / there are: there is no past tense on the sheet.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Ask pupils which places in London they know; write the names on the board.
2. (8 min) Page 1: pupils write the words and names under the pictures, then compare in pairs.
3. (10 min) Read Amir's text aloud; pupils answer the questions.
4. (5 min) Page 3: pupils match the words and their meanings.
5. (7 min) Pupils unscramble the words and complete the sentences.
6. (7 min) Pupils solve the mystery word.
7. (5 min) Check with the answer key on page 4.

Adaptations

[S] Before reading Amir's text, show a map of London and find the Thames, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace.

[A] Pupils say three things a visitor can see in London ("You can see Tower Bridge").

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 to 3 per pupil; a map of London helps. Page 4 is the answer key and teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need the present simple, can and there is / there are. To take it further, pupils plan a day in London for a visitor, with four places on a map.