Hobbies and Free Time

Curriculum Area and Level

• Curriculum Area: World Languages (Aligned with ACTFL Standards)
• Level: Novice Mid (aligns with introductory-level proficiency for Year 7 students)

Lesson Duration

45 minutes

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Lesson Objective

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify and talk about common hobbies and leisure activities.
2. Use the present continuous tense to describe ongoing activities.
3. Use appropriate prepositions of place when describing where activities occur.
4. Practice making plans with a partner using learned vocabulary and structures.

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Lesson Outline

1. Warm-Up Activity — Ice-Breaker (5 minutes)

• Purpose: To activate prior knowledge and generate interest/engagement in the topic.
• Activity: Teacher writes the question "What do you do in your free time?" on the board (or screen if using digital tools). Students take 1 minute to create a quick list of their favorite hobbies.
• Teacher then shows 4-6 pictures (e.g., someone reading, biking, playing an instrument) and asks students, "What is happening in these pictures?" Elicit answers to introduce the present continuous tense (e.g., "She is reading.").

2. Vocabulary Introduction — Hobbies and Places (10 minutes)

Step 1: Hobbies Vocabulary (4 minutes)

• Introduce 10-12 common hobbies relevant to Year 7 students (e.g., playing video games, watching TV, playing soccer, swimming, drawing, listening to music). Write each word on the board and provide visual aids to match. For example:
  • Drawing 🖍
  • Playing soccer ⚽

Step 2: Locations Vocabulary (3 minutes)

• Add 6-8 common places related to those hobbies (e.g., park, gym, library, cinema, home). Show how prepositions of place could be used, e.g., "at the park," "in the gym."

Step 3: Transportation Vocabulary (3 minutes)

• Briefly review ways to get to these places (e.g., by bike, by bus, by train). Model usage:
  • "I go to the park by bike."
  • "They go to the cinema by car."

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3. Language Focus — Present Continuous and Prepositions (10 minutes)

Step 1: Present Continuous (5 minutes)

1. Write a simple sentence structure on the board:
   Subject + "to be" (am/is/are) + verb-ing

   • Provide examples tied to hobbies:
     • "I am reading a book."
     • "She is playing soccer."
     • "They are playing video games."
   • Encourage students to try their own sentences aloud.

2. Include a quick substitution drill:

   • Teacher says: “You are…”
   • Students complete: “playing basketball.” (or any hobby).

Step 2: Prepositions of Place (5 minutes)

• Use a simple visual such as a map of a park with activities (e.g., "The kids are playing soccer in the park," "Someone is sitting on the bench"). Highlight correct usage of "in/on/at."

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4. Speaking Activity — Role-Play (12 minutes)

Activity Objective

Encourage pair practice to consolidate vocabulary and grammar while introducing conversational skills.

Steps

1. Provide a visual prompt with 3 steps:
   Step 1: Ask what hobby someone likes.

   • "What do you like doing in your free time?"
   • Model answer: "I like swimming."

   Step 2: Ask what they're doing now.

   • "What are you doing this weekend?"
   • Model answer: "I am going to the park with my friends."

   Step 3: Suggest plans.

   • "Would you like to go to the park with me?"
   • Model answer: "Yes, I would love to!" or "Sorry, I can't."

2. Assign roles: One student asks questions, the other answers. Then, they switch.

3. Rotate pairs every 4 minutes to increase exposure and practice.

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5. Cultural Spotlight — Leisure in the US (5 minutes)

Discussion:

• Briefly highlight 2-3 popular free-time activities in the US (e.g., watching sports, going to movie theaters, attending cultural festivals).
• Ask students if they’ve ever done these activities or if they would like to.

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6. Wrap-Up and Reflection (3 minutes)

• Quick reflection: Ask the student, "What was your favorite activity today?"
• As an exit card, have students write one sentence about their favorite hobby using the present continuous tense (e.g., "I am drawing in my free time").

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Homework

• Option 1: Create a short comic strip (stick figures are fine!) showing themselves doing their favorite activity. Include one or two sentences using the present continuous to describe what they are doing.
• Option 2: Write three sentences about plans they would like to make with a friend this weekend.

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Additional Notes for Teachers

• Differentiation:

  • For advanced learners: Include a more detailed map in the map-reading exercises and ask them to give detailed directions (e.g., "Go straight, then turn left").
  • For struggling learners: Focus on the most essential vocabulary (5-6 hobbies and 2-3 places) and provide sentence starters during the role-play.

• Classroom Setup: Arrange desks to facilitate pair work during the role-play section. Ensure that a visual aid (e.g., a digital screen or printed pictures) is readily available for the activities.

• Assessment: Informal checks for understanding during speaking activities; review of students’ exit cards to gauge comprehension of the lesson.