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School Series · Lesson 2 of 5

Teacher's Lesson Plan

Lesson Overview

Topic

The Worst Best School Camp Ever. A three-day school camp in the forest where absolutely everything goes wrong — and it turns out to be the best trip of their lives. Three returning characters: Sam, Maya and Leo (returning from Lesson 1). They tell the story on a school podcast after coming back.

Series

School Series · Lesson 2 of 5 · A2–B1

Level

A2–B1

Duration

90 minutes

Grammar ★

★ G1 Past Simple — the narrative tense · events that happened · G2 Past Progressive — background actions in progress · G3 when / while — connectors that link the two tenses

Key contrast

Past Progressive = longer background action (was/were + -ing) · Past Simple = shorter interrupting event · "While Sam was putting up the tent, it started to rain."

Vocabulary

12 words (A2–B1): tent · camp · forest · path · stream · map · soaking · exhausted · panic · shelter · adventure · unfortunately

Writing

80–100 words (A2–B1 standard)

The Camp Story — Full Sequence of Events

Seven disasters (and one happy ending)

1. The arrival: The camp looked beautiful — green forest, blue sky, a stream nearby.
2. The tent disaster: While Sam was putting up the tent, the rain started. By the time they finished, they were soaking wet.
3. The fox: While Maya was cooking sausages on the camp fire, a fox ran out of the bushes and took them. All of them.
4. The map: They decided to explore the forest. When they finally checked the map, they realised they were holding it upside down. They were completely lost.
5. The stream: While Leo was trying to cross the stream on some rocks, he slipped and fell in. He was not hurt, but he was soaking and his shoe floated away.
6. The view: While they were looking for Leo's shoe, they suddenly found a clearing with the most beautiful view — rolling hills and the sunset. They all stopped and looked.
7. The return: When they finally got back to camp, Miss Carter was standing at the entrance with hot chocolate and biscuits. Nobody said anything. They just drank the hot chocolate.
8. The verdict: That night, sitting in the tent, Sam said: "That was the worst day of my life." Leo said: "Me too." Maya said: "Shall we do it again next year?" They all laughed.

Key Grammar — Teaching Notes

The core visual — draw this on the board

Draw a long horizontal line (the background action) and a short vertical arrow cutting through it (the interrupting event).

"While Sam was putting up the tent," ————————→ (long action, in progress)
"it started to rain." ↓ (short sudden event, interrupts)

This one image explains 80% of the grammar. Students can always come back to it.

when vs while — the key distinction at A2–B1

while + Past Progressive (action in progress):
"While Maya was cooking, a fox appeared."

when + Past Simple (event happened, then another):
"When we arrived, it was already raining."

Both are also possible with Past Simple + Past Simple (sequence):
"When the fox ran out, Maya screamed." (one thing, then another)

Key error: ✗ "While Sam put up the tent, the rain started." → This is possible but loses the "in the middle of doing" meaning. ✓ "While Sam was putting up the tent…" is more precise and at a higher level.

Past Progressive — forms

Positive: was/were + verb + -ing · Negative: wasn't/weren't + verb + -ing
"I was walking." · "They were cooking." · "She wasn't listening."
Question: Was/Were + subject + verb + -ing?
"Was it raining when you arrived?" · "Were they looking at the map?"

Common errors:
✗ "I was walk." → ✓ "I was walking."
✗ "They was cooking." → ✓ "They were cooking."
✗ "While Maya cooked, the fox appeared." → better: "While Maya was cooking…"

Lesson Procedure

Time

Stage

Skill

Teacher does

Students do

0–8 min

Lead-in

Speaking

Board: "Have you ever been on a school trip or camp? What happened?" Take 4–5 answers. Then: "Has anything ever gone wrong?" — build anticipation. Introduce: "Today we meet Sam, Maya and Leo — they went to a school camp. EVERYTHING went wrong."

Share school trip memories. Predict what might go wrong on a camp.

8–18 min

Vocabulary

—

12 A2–B1 camp/outdoor words. Story strip matching (Part B). Part C gap-fill.

Read vocabulary. Match. Gap-fill.

18–45 min

Grammar

—

★ Past Simple review (irregular forms from the story). Past Progressive: the timeline diagram on the board. when/while distinction. Exercises 1–6. Focus on Exercises 4–5 (combining the two tenses).

Study cards. Exercises 1–6. Pair-check.

45–57 min

Reading

Three diary entries — Sam's, Maya's, Leo's — each telling their own version of the same day. Students notice how the same events sound different. Tasks 1–3.

Read. T/F/NG. Answer questions. Find grammar.

57–69 min

Listening

Sam, Maya and Leo on the school podcast. Read TWICE at a clear A2–B1 pace. Dramatic and funny — read with expression!

MCQ. Notes. Grammar hunt.

69–80 min

Speaking

Task A (tell the story from pictures) / Task B (discussion) / Task C (your worst best day).

Retell. Discuss. Tell own story.

80–90 min

Writing

80–100 words. Three options. G1 + G2 + G3 + 5 vocabulary words.

Write. Self-check.

Listening Script — 'Can You Believe It? School Podcast'

Read with expression and energy — this is a funny, dramatic story. Read twice. Sam is the host. Maya tells it dramatically. Leo is embarrassed about the stream.

Sam:

Welcome to Can You Believe It — the podcast where we tell you stories that are absolutely, one hundred percent true. I'm Sam. Today, Maya and Leo are here. We are going to tell you about our school camp. Maya, where do we start?

Maya:

We start at the beginning! So — we arrived at the camp on Friday morning. The forest was beautiful, the sun was shining, there was a stream nearby. It was perfect. And then…

Sam:

And then the rain started.

Maya:

While Sam was putting up the tent, it started to rain. Not a little rain — a LOT of rain. Within ten minutes, we were completely soaking. The tent was on the ground. Sam was sitting in a puddle.

Sam:

Thank you for that image. Anyway — we finished the tent. We changed our clothes. We decided to make dinner. Maya was cooking sausages on the camp fire.

Maya:

I was cooking beautiful sausages. The smell was amazing. And then — while I was cooking — a fox ran out of the bushes. A big, fast, very confident fox. It grabbed all six sausages and disappeared back into the forest.

Leo:

It happened so fast. One second the sausages were there. The next second — gone. We ate biscuits for dinner.

Sam:

The next morning, we decided to explore the forest. We were walking for about an hour. The problem was — while we were walking — nobody was looking at the map.

Leo:

When we finally checked the map, we realised something terrible. We were holding it upside down. We were completely lost.

Maya:

We didn't panic. OK, we panicked a little bit. Leo tried to cross the stream on some rocks. He was trying to see where we were from the other side.

Leo:

While I was crossing the stream — I slipped. I fell into the water. I wasn't hurt, but I was very, very wet. And my shoe floated away down the stream.

Sam:

He walked back to camp with one shoe. But — while we were looking for Leo's shoe — something amazing happened. We came out of the trees into a clearing. There were hills as far as you could see. The sun was setting. It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw in my life.

Maya:

We all just stood there. Nobody said anything. We forgot about the rain. We forgot about the fox. We forgot about Leo's shoe. For about five minutes, everything was perfect.

Leo:

When we got back to camp, our teacher was standing at the entrance. She had hot chocolate. She didn't ask any questions. We drank the hot chocolate and went to sleep.

Sam:

And that's the story of our worst best school camp ever. Would we do it again?

All:

One hundred percent YES.

All 3 structures in the listening:
· ★ G1 Past Simple: we arrived / the rain started / we finished the tent / a fox ran out / it grabbed the sausages / we realised / we panicked / Leo slipped / he fell into the water / we came out of the trees / we forgot / our teacher was standing / she didn't ask
· G2 Past Progressive: the sun was shining / Sam was putting up the tent / Maya was cooking / we were walking / nobody was looking at the map / Leo was trying to cross / I was crossing / we were looking for Leo's shoe
· G3 when/while: While Sam was putting up the tent… / while I was cooking… / While we were walking… / When we finally checked the map… / While I was crossing the stream… / while we were looking… / When we got back to camp…

Answer Key

Handout 1 — Vocabulary Part C

1. camp 2. tent 3. forest 4. path 5. map 6. stream 7. soaking 8. exhausted 9. panicked 10. shelter 11. unfortunately 12. adventure

Handout 2 — Grammar

Ex 1 (Past Simple irregular): 1. arrived / was 2. started 3. ran / grabbed / disappeared 4. fell 5. realised / were 6. got / stood 7. said / forgot

Ex 2 (Past Progressive): 1. was putting up 2. were walking 3. was cooking 4. was trying / were looking 5. were sitting 6. was shining / was getting

Ex 3 (negative + question): 1. wasn't raining / Was it raining? 2. weren't looking / Were they looking? 3. wasn't sleeping / Was Leo sleeping? 4. weren't running / Were they running?

Ex 4 (combine with when/while): 1. While Sam was putting up the tent, it started to rain. / It started to rain while Sam was putting up the tent. 2. When Leo checked the map, he realised they were lost. 3. While Maya was cooking, a fox appeared. 4. When we got back to camp, the teacher was waiting with hot chocolate. 5. While they were looking for Leo's shoe, they found an amazing view.

Ex 5 (PS or PP): 1. was shining (PP — in progress) 2. started (PS — sudden event) 3. were walking (PP — in progress) 4. slipped (PS — sudden event) 5. was cooking (PP — in progress) 6. grabbed (PS — sudden event) 7. were standing (PP — in progress when she arrived) 8. got (PS — arrived/reached)

Ex 6 (error correction): 1. Sam WAS PUTTING UP (not 'put up' — ongoing action, needs PP) 2. They WERE WALKING (not 'was walking' — plural subject) 3. While Leo WAS CROSSING (not 'crossed' — needs PP for ongoing background action) 4. it STARTED to rain (not 'was starting' — sudden event interrupting = PS) 5. WERE you LOOKING (not 'Was you') 6. The sun WAS SHINING (not 'shone' — background state)

Reading + Listening

Reading T/F/NG: 1 T 2 F (it was Maya who was cooking — Sam was dealing with the tent) 3 T 4 NG (the diary doesn't say how far the view was) 5 T

Listening Task 1: 1-b 2-c 3-a

Task 2 notes: Friday morning / sun shining / rain started / tent / soaking / puddle / changed clothes / Maya cooking / fox / grabbed sausages / biscuits / exploring forest / map upside down / lost / panicked / stream / slipped / fell / one shoe / clearing / hills / sunset / beautiful / hot chocolate / teacher / didn't ask questions

The Worst Best School Camp Ever

School Series · Lesson 2 · Student Handouts · A2–B1

Name:

Date:

Class:

Handout 1

Vocabulary

Part A — Key Words

Word

What it means / example

tentA2

a structure made of cloth that you sleep in when camping — We put up the tent in the rain. It took one hour and we were soaking wet.

campA2

a place where you stay outside, often in tents — or the activity itself — We went to a school camp in the forest for three days. It was an adventure!

forestA2

a large area with many trees — While we were walking through the forest, we got completely lost. Every tree looked the same.

pathA2

a narrow way to walk through a forest or field — When we finally found the path, it was already getting dark.

streamA2

a small river — Leo tried to cross the stream on some rocks. Unfortunately, he fell in.

mapA2

a drawing that shows where places are — When we checked the map, we realised we were holding it upside down. We were completely lost.

soakingB1

completely wet — While Sam was putting up the tent, the rain started. Within ten minutes, we were soaking wet.

exhaustedB1

extremely tired — When we got back to camp, we were completely exhausted. We fell asleep immediately.

panicB1

to feel sudden strong fear and not know what to do — When we realised we were lost, we started to panic. But then Maya said: "Stay calm. We have a map."

shelterB1

a place that protects you from rain or cold — When the rain started, we ran to find shelter under the trees.

adventureA2

an exciting and sometimes dangerous experience — It was the worst camp ever — but also the biggest adventure of our lives!

unfortunatelyB1

used to say that something bad or disappointing happened — Unfortunately, the fox ate all our sausages. We ate biscuits for dinner.

Part B — Match the Disaster!

Match each situation to the correct vocabulary word.

💧 You are completely wet from the rain.
→ _______________

🗺️ You look at this to find where you are.
→ _______________

😱 You don't know what to do — you are very scared.
→ _______________

😴 You are too tired to move — you need sleep now.
→ _______________

🏕️ You sleep here on a school trip.
→ _______________

😬 You introduce bad news with this word.
→ _______________

Part C — Fill in the Gaps

Use the words from Part A. Each word is used once.

1.We went to a school __________________ in the forest. We stayed for three days.

2.We put up our __________________ in the rain. It took a very long time.

3.While we were walking through the __________________ , we got completely lost.

4.When we finally found the __________________ , we were very happy. We knew where we were!

5.We checked the __________________ . Unfortunately, we were holding it upside down.

6.Leo tried to cross the __________________ . He slipped on a rock and fell into the water.

7.While Sam was putting up the tent, the rain started. We were completely __________________ .

8.When we finally got back to camp, we were __________________ . We had been walking for four hours.

9.When we realised we were lost, we started to __________________ . But then Maya said: "Stay calm!"

10.When it started raining very hard, we ran to find __________________ under the trees.

11.__________________ , the fox ate all our sausages. We ate biscuits for dinner.

12.It was an amazing __________________ — the best three days of our school lives.

Answer key

1. camp 2. tent 3. forest 4. path 5. map 6. stream 7. soaking 8. exhausted 9. panicked 10. shelter 11. unfortunately 12. adventure

Handout 2

Grammar

Three Grammar Structures — Telling a Story About the Past

★ G1 — PAST SIMPLE — THE STORY TENSE
For completed events in the past — things that happened and finished.
The rain started. · A fox ran out of the bushes. · Leo fell into the stream.
We didn't panic — well, maybe a little. · Did you find Leo's shoe?
Key irregular verbs in this lesson:
run → ran · fall → fell · grab → grabbed · find → found · get → got
slip → slipped · realise → realised · forget → forgot · say → said · sit → sat

G2 — PAST PROGRESSIVE
For actions that were IN PROGRESS at a moment in the past — the background action.
Sam was putting up the tent. · Maya was cooking the sausages.
We were walking through the forest. · Nobody was looking at the map.
It wasn't raining when we arrived. · Were you looking for the path?
Form: was/were + verb + -ing
✗ "They was cooking." ✓ "They were cooking." (plural → were)

The Key Visual — How the Two Tenses Work Together

Past Progressive — background

"While Sam was putting up the tent"
(longer action, in progress)

Past Simple — event

"the rain started"
(sudden, shorter event)

Past Progressive — background

"While Leo was crossing the stream"

Past Simple — event

"he slipped and fell in"

G3 — WHEN / WHILE
Connectors that link the two tenses.

WHILE + Past Progressive (action in progress):
"While Maya was cooking, a fox appeared."
"While we were walking, nobody was looking at the map."

WHEN + Past Simple (one event, then another):
"When we checked the map, we realised we were lost."
"When the fox ran out, Maya screamed."

WHEN + Past Simple / Past Progressive (arrived during an action):
"When we arrived, it was raining."
The clause with when/while can come first or second: "It started to rain while Sam was putting up the tent." ✓

Exercise 1 — ★ Past Simple: Tell the Story

Complete using the Past Simple of the verb in brackets. Some are irregular!

1.We __________________ (arrive) at the camp on Friday morning. The forest __________________ (be) beautiful.

2.While Sam was putting up the tent, the rain __________________ (start) .

3.A fox __________________ (run) out of the bushes. It __________________ (grab) all the sausages and __________________ (disappear) into the forest.

4.Leo __________________ (slip) on a wet rock and __________________ (fall) into the stream.

5.When we checked the map, we __________________ (realise) something terrible. We __________________ (be) completely lost.

6.We __________________ (get) back to camp at 7 pm. Our teacher __________________ (stand) at the entrance with hot chocolate.

7.That night, Sam __________________ (say) it was the worst day of his life. Then Maya __________________ (forget) about everything and __________________ (laugh) .

Exercise 2 — Past Progressive: What Was Happening?

Complete using the Past Progressive (was/were + -ing).

1.Sam __________________ (put up) the tent when the rain started.

2.We __________________ (walk) through the forest when we got lost.

3.While Maya __________________ (cook) the sausages, a fox appeared.

4.Leo __________________ (try) to cross the stream when he slipped. The others __________________ (look) at him from the bank.

5.We __________________ (sit) in the tent and __________________ (drink) hot chocolate when the teacher arrived.

6.When we left the camp, the sun __________________ (shine) and the birds __________________ (sing) . It __________________ (get) warmer.

Exercise 3 — Negative and Question: Past Progressive

Write the negative form and a question for each sentence.

1."It was raining when we arrived." Negative: __________________ Question: __________________

2."They were looking at the map." Negative: __________________ Question: __________________

3."Leo was sleeping in the tent." Negative: __________________ Question: __________________

4."They were running through the forest." Negative: __________________ Question: __________________

Exercise 4 — Combine the Two Sentences — Use when or while

Join the two actions into one sentence using when or while.

1. "Sam was putting up the tent." + "The rain started."

→ ___________________________________________________________________

2. "Leo checked the map." + "He realised they were lost."

→ ___________________________________________________________________

3. "Maya was cooking the sausages." + "A fox appeared."

→ ___________________________________________________________________

4. "We got back to camp." + "The teacher was waiting with hot chocolate."

→ ___________________________________________________________________

5. "They were looking for Leo's shoe." + "They found an amazing view."

→ ___________________________________________________________________

Exercise 5 — Past Simple or Past Progressive?

Choose the correct tense. Think: is this a background action (PP) or a sudden event (PS)?

1.When we arrived at the camp, the sun __________________ (shine). It was beautiful.

2.While Maya was cooking, the rain suddenly __________________ (start) again.

3.We __________________ (walk) through the forest for about an hour.

4.Leo __________________ (slip) on a wet rock and fell into the stream.

5.While we were looking for the path, Maya __________________ (cook) on the camp fire.

6.The fox __________________ (grab) the sausages and ran back into the forest.

7.When the teacher arrived, we __________________ (stand) outside in the rain.

8.We __________________ (get) back to camp at seven o'clock in the evening.

Exercise 6 — Error Correction

Each sentence has one grammar mistake. Find it and correct it.

1. "While Sam put up the tent, the rain started." (the action was in progress — needs PP)