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Vocabulary Reading Listening Grammar Speaking Writing

Section 1

Teacher's Lesson Plan

Confidential

Lesson Overview

Topic

Sports and Games — competitions, rules and sporting abilities

Level

A2–early B1

Learners

School students and young adults

Duration

90 minutes

Skills

Reading · Listening · Speaking · Writing (+ Vocabulary + Grammar)

Grammar

Can (rules · ability · permission) · Could (past ability · polite request) · Present Simple · Past Simple

Vocabulary

10 words (A2): referee · champion · tournament · opponent · spectator · beat · foul · strategy · pitch · trophy

Materials

Student Handouts 1–6 (printed); whiteboard; this plan

Learning Objectives

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

Understand and use 10 A2 words connected to sports, games and competitions

Use can / can't to describe game rules — what you are allowed and not allowed to do

Use can to express present sporting ability and general possibility

Use could / couldn't to describe past sporting ability and how skills have changed

Use could for polite requests in a sports context

Contrast Present Simple (routines / facts) and Past Simple (past events / experiences)

Read a short text about a young athlete and answer comprehension questions

Listen to a conversation about a sports match and complete listening tasks

Explain sports rules and describe sporting abilities in a role play

Write 80–110 words about a sport they play or watch using all target structures

Before the Lesson

Print one copy of Handouts 1–6 per student. Keep the Teacher Plan separate.

Write rules examples on the board: In basketball, you can bounce the ball but you can't hold it and walk.

Write the ability contrast: I couldn't run fast when I was young. → Now I can run 5km.

Write common errors: ~~He cans kick~~ / ~~you could to score~~ / ~~Can she runs?~~

Prepare lead-in: "What sport do you play or watch? Could you do it when you were young?"

Read the listening script once at home. Note: referee /ˌrefəˈriː/, strategy /ˈstrætədʒi/, tournament /ˈtʊənəmənt/.

Lesson Procedure

Time

Stage

Skill

Teacher does

Students do

0–5 min

Lead-in

Speaking

Ask: "What sport do you play or watch? What are one or two rules you know?" Elicit responses. Board: 2–3 rules using can/can't.

Tell a partner a rule of their favourite sport and one sporting ability they have.

5–15 min

Vocabulary

—

Present 10 words (Handout 1 Part A). Cover-and-test. Pronunciation: referee /ˌrefəˈriː/, strategy /ˈstrætədʒi/. Part B gap-fill. Part C optional.

Part A: read + self-test. Part B: gap-fill. Part C optional. Pair-check.

15–30 min

Reading

Gist: "What could Kai do as a child? What can he do now?" Tasks 1 and 2.

Read "Kai's Journey". Answer questions. True / False / Not Given.

30–45 min

Listening

Context: "Two friends talk after watching a school basketball match." Read TWICE. 1st: MCQ. 2nd: notes.

1st listen: MCQ. 2nd listen: note completion. Compare with partner.

45–65 min

Grammar

—

Handout 4: rules use of can → ability can/could → forms table → contrast table. Board: common errors. Exercises 1–5. Monitor.

Study grammar reference. Exercises 1–5. Pair-check before class feedback.

65–78 min

Speaking

A/B role-play cards. 2 min prep. Monitor for can rules / could past / PS/PS contrast. Delayed feedback. Discussion.

Role-play: explain a sport's rules + abilities interview. Swap. Group discussion.

78–90 min

Writing

Explain task: 80–110 words, all four structures, 4 vocab words. Helpful phrases box.

Write about a sport or game. Self-check. Finish as homework if needed.

Teaching Notes

Handout 1 — Vocabulary

The 10 words are all A2 competition/sport words — distinct from the general leisure vocabulary in the Free Time and Hobbies lesson. Pronunciation: referee /ˌrefəˈriː/ (stress on final syllable), strategy /ˈstrætədʒi/ (stress on first syllable), tournament /ˈtʊənəmənt/. Concept-checks: "Does a referee play in the match or control it?" / "Do you get a trophy before or after you win?" / "Is your opponent on your team or the other team?" Part C optional.

Handout 2 — Reading

The text (~130 words) uses can (rules and present ability), could (past ability), Present Simple and Past Simple. Gist: Kai is a young tennis player who couldn't return a serve at age nine but now can compete at regional level. T/F/NG answers: 1 T · 2 F (his coach, not his dad, showed him the strategy) · 3 T · 4 NG (no mention of his school) · 5 T ("He can now beat players who are older than him"). The text also uses can for game rules — "In tennis, the ball can only bounce once" — which activates the rules use introduced in Grammar.

Handout 3 — Listening

The script uses all four target structures — can for rules and present abilities, could for past ability and a polite request, Present Simple for facts about the sport, Past Simple for match events. Task 1: 1-C (the referee stopped the game because of a foul) · 2-B (he couldn't defend at all last year) · 3-A (she asks if he could explain the basketball rules). Task 2: (1) couldn't defend · (2) strategy · (3) beat · (4) trophy / tournament · (5) Could you explain.

Handout 4 — Grammar

Special focus: can for game rules. This is a use not typically taught at A2 but that students encounter immediately when talking about sports: "In football, the goalkeeper can use his hands. Outfield players can't." Teach this as a natural extension of the permission use.
Can — three uses in sport context: (1) Rules: "You can score with your head." (2) Ability now: "She can run 100m in 12 seconds." (3) Possibility: "Sport can be very competitive."
Could — two uses: (1) Past ability: "He couldn't serve at all last year." (2) Polite request: "Could you explain the offside rule?"
Same form errors as always: no to, no verb endings, no third-person s. Board all three before exercises.

Handout 5 — Speaking

The rules explanation role-play is the key productive task — it specifically targets the rules use of can/can't which is unique to this lesson. Student A explains a sport's rules; Student B asks questions using "Can you … ?" and "Could you explain … ?" Monitor for: correct rule use ("In this sport, you can …"), past ability ("I couldn't … when I started"), and no errors on form (no to, no third-person s). Discussion question 3 invites free use of could for polite requests.

Handout 6 — Writing

Students write about a sport or game they play or watch. Encourage: at least one rule sentence using can/can't, a past ability sentence with could/couldn't, a PS routine sentence, and a PS sentence about when they started. Self-check covers all four structures. Stronger students: "Sport can teach you … " (possibility use) or "Could you try this sport?" (polite invitation).

Listening Script — 'After the Match'

Read aloud twice at a clear A2–B1 pace. Do not show to students during the tasks.

Sam:

That was such an exciting match! Did you enjoy it?

Nina:

Yes! But why did the referee stop the game in the second half?

Sam:

Because of a foul — number 7 pushed an opponent. In basketball, you can't push or hold other players. The referee always stops the game when that happens.

Nina:

I see. Our team played really well. Did you see how Jake defended?

Sam:

Yes — he was incredible. He couldn't defend at all last year. He could only attack. But now he can do both really well. He worked on his strategy all summer.

Nina:

That's impressive. And we beat the best team in the league! I can't believe it.

Sam:

I know! And if we win next week, we go to the tournament. We could even win the trophy — I really think so.

Nina:

I want to watch more games. I love basketball now but I don't really know all the rules. Could you explain the basic rules to me?

Sam:

Of course! In basketball, each team can have five players on the court. You can score two or three points depending on where you shoot from. You can bounce the ball but you can't hold it and walk. That's called travelling.

Nina:

That makes sense! It's quite a simple game once you know the rules.

Grammar in the script:
· Can — rules: "you can't push or hold other players" / "each team can have five players" / "You can score two or three points" / "You can bounce the ball but you can't hold it and walk"
· Can — ability now: "now he can do both really well" / "I can't believe it"
· Could — past ability: "He couldn't defend at all last year" / "He could only attack"
· Could — polite request: "Could you explain the basic rules to me?"
· Present Simple: "The referee always stops the game" / "I love basketball now" / "I don't really know all the rules"
· Past Simple: "He worked on his strategy all summer" / "we beat the best team"

Answer Key

Handout 1 — Vocabulary

Part B (gap-fill):
1. referee 2. pitch 3. opponent 4. strategy 5. beat
6. spectators 7. tournament 8. foul 9. trophy 10. champion

Part C (matching — optional):
1-h 2-e 3-i 4-b 5-g 6-j 7-a 8-d 9-c 10-f

Handout 2 — Reading

Task 1:
1. He started playing tennis when he was nine years old.
2. He couldn't return a serve — the ball always hit the net.
3. He trains at the tennis club every day after school.
4. Because his coach taught him a strategy and he practised it every day.
5. He can beat players who are older than him.

Task 2 (T/F/NG): 1 T 2 F 3 T 4 NG 5 T

Handout 3 — Listening

Task 1: 1-C 2-B 3-A

Task 2:
(1) couldn't defend (2) strategy (3) beat (4) trophy / tournament (5) Could you explain

Handout 4 — Grammar

Exercise 1 (Game rules):
1. can't touch 2. can use 3. can score 4. can't hold · can bounce 5. can hit 6. can't cross

Exercise 2 (Can or Could?):
1. couldn't 2. can 3. Could 4. could 5. can 6. couldn't

Exercise 3 (Uses):
1. rule 2. past ability 3. polite request 4. present ability 5. rule 6. past ability

Exercise 4 (Error correction):
1. can kick (NOT cans) 2. couldn't score (NOT could to) 3. Can she run? (NOT runs) 4. can't hold (NOT can't to hold) 5. could defend (NOT could to defend)

Exercise 5 (Mixed):
1. couldn't 2. started 3. can 4. trains 5. can't 6. beat 7. could 8. Could

Sports and Games

Student Handouts

Name:

Date:

Class:

Handout 1

Vocabulary

Part A — Key Words

Read each word and its meaning. Then cover the right column and test yourself.

Word

What it means

referee

the person who controls a game and makes sure players follow the rules

champion

a person or team that has won a competition or league

tournament

a competition in which many teams or players play against each other

opponent

the person or team you are playing against in a game or sport

spectator

a person who watches a sport or game without taking part

beat

to defeat another team or player in a competition

foul

an action in a sport that breaks the rules

strategy

a plan that a player or team uses to try to win a game

pitch

the area of grass where a sport like football is played

trophy

a prize, usually a cup or medal, given to the winner of a competition

Part B — Fill in the Gaps

Use the words from Part A in the correct form.

1.The __________________ blew his whistle and stopped the game — it was a foul.

2.The players ran onto the __________________ and the match started immediately.

3.I always try to study my __________________ before a match. I like to know their weaknesses.

4.A good __________________ wins more than just games — it wins whole seasons.

5.We managed to __________________ the best team in the region. It was unbelievable!

6.There were thousands of __________________ in the stadium. The noise was incredible.

7.Our school is entering the national __________________ . We will play teams from all over the country.

8.He committed a __________________ and the referee gave the other team a free kick.

9.We won the __________________ ! It's a big silver cup and we're going to put it in the school entrance.

10.She became the national __________________ at the age of sixteen — the youngest ever.

Part C — Match ★ For fast finishers

Match each word (1–10) to the correct meaning (a–j).

Word

1.referee ___

2.champion ___

3.tournament ___

4.opponent ___

5.spectator ___

6.beat ___

7.foul ___

8.strategy ___

9.pitch ___

10.trophy ___

Meaning

a.an action that breaks the rules

b.the person you are playing against

c.the grass area where sport is played

d.a plan to try to win a game

e.a person or team that has won a competition

f.a cup or medal given to the winner

g.a person who watches a sport

h.the person who controls a game

i.a competition with many teams

j.to defeat another team or player

Handout 2

Reading

Kai's Journey

Paragraph 1

Kai is fifteen and he plays tennis competitively. He started when he was nine years old. At first, he couldn't return a serve — the ball always hit the net. He could run quickly, but he had no strategy and no technique.

Paragraph 2

His coach changed everything. He taught Kai the rules of the game in detail — in tennis, the ball can only bounce once on each side, and players can score points in different ways. More importantly, he taught Kai a clear strategy for every type of opponent.

Paragraph 3

Now Kai trains at the tennis club every day after school. He can serve powerfully, he can return almost anything, and he competes in regional tournaments. Last month he beat the defending regional champion. His opponents know he is serious.

Paragraph 4

Kai says: "I couldn't even hold the racket correctly at first. Now I can beat players who are older than me. Sport can teach you patience and strength. If you couldn't do something yesterday, that doesn't mean you can't do it tomorrow."

Task 1 — Answer the Questions

Write full sentences.

1.When did Kai start playing tennis?