Daily routines: telling the time and using prepositions

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for A2 learners explores Daily routines: telling the time and using prepositions through a real article. Across 10 interactive exercises, you'll develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, practical communication, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Grammar focus: Prepositions of time: at, in, on with examples and practice
• Real-world phrases for making plans with a friend
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings

Lesson activities (10 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
3. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the article, with definitions and usage notes.
4. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
5. Grammar — Study Prepositions of time: at, in, on — explanation, examples, and key rules.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Practical English — Learn phrases for making plans with a friend — ready to use in real conversations.
8. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the article:

• Get ready — to prepare yourself to go out, for example, by washing and putting on clothes.
• Take a break — to stop an activity for a short time to rest.
• Around [time] — used to talk about a time that is not exact, but close to it.
• How about...? — a friendly question used to make a suggestion.
• In a hurry — doing something quickly because you do not have much time.

Grammar

This lesson focuses on Prepositions of time: at, in, on.

We use prepositions like 'at', 'in', and 'on' to say when something happens. They are very important for talking about daily routines, schedules, and making plans.

Examples from the lesson:

• I start work at 9 o'clock. — Use 'at' for specific times on the clock.
• My English class is on Tuesday. — Use 'on' for days of the week and specific dates.
• She likes to read in the evening. — Use 'in' for longer periods like parts of the day, months, and years.

Key rules:

• Use 'at' for clock times (at 5 PM, at midnight, at lunchtime).
• Use 'on' for days and dates (on Monday, on my birthday, on October 31st).
• Use 'in' for parts of the day, months, seasons, and years (in the morning, in August, in summer, in 2025).
• A common mistake is saying 'in the night'. Always say 'at night'.

Practical English

Making plans with a friend

When you want to meet a friend, you need to suggest an activity and agree on a time. Here are some simple phrases to help you make plans.

Phrases you'll learn:

• "'Are you free on Saturday?'" — to ask if someone is available
• "'Is 7 PM okay for you?'" — to suggest a specific time
• "'That works for me.'" — to agree with a suggestion
• "'Sorry, I'm busy then. What about a bit later?'" — to say no politely and suggest another time
• "'What time is good for you?'" — to ask the other person for a good time