What Is Happening?
Original English Drills lesson. Listening uses a teacher-read script. Student print format: two A4 landscape sides.
1. Warmer
Look at the illustration. What can you see? Tell a partner two ideas.
Goal: Use present continuous in everyday English.
2. Vocabulary
Match the words with their meanings.
1. path
2. bench
3. pond
4. picnic
5. pour
A. a small area of water
B. make liquid flow from a container
C. a track for walking
D. a meal eaten outdoors
E. a long seat
1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___
3. Reading
It is Saturday afternoon, and the park is busy. A boy is riding his bike along the path. Two friends are playing football on the grass. Their teacher is sitting on a bench and reading a book. Near the pond, a woman is taking photos of the ducks. Her dog is waiting beside her. A family is having a picnic under a tree. The children are eating sandwiches, and their dad is pouring water. I am walking through the park with my sister. We are enjoying the sunshine. We are not playing football today.
4. Comprehension
Answer using the reading.
- What is the boy doing?
- Where is the teacher sitting?
- What is the woman taking photos of?
- Is the writer playing football?
5. Grammar focus
Use am/is/are + verb-ing for actions happening now.
I am walking. She is reading. They are playing.
Negative: He isn’t running.
Question: Are you listening?
Spelling: ride → riding; run → running.
Use is for one person and are for more than one.
6. Guided practice
Complete each sentence. Use the forms in brackets where given.
- The boy ___ (ride) a bike.
- The friends ___ (play) football.
- I ___ (walk) with my sister.
- The dog ___ (not / run).
- ___ the woman ___ (take) photos?
- The children ___ (eat) sandwiches.
What Is Happening? — continued
7. Listening
Your teacher will read a short text twice. Complete the notes.
- Brother: ___
- Mother: reading a ___
- Father: making ___
- Children: building a ___
- Speaker: taking ___
8. Speaking
Ask a partner. Answer in full sentences.
- What are you doing now?
- What is your partner wearing?
- What is the teacher doing?
- What are two classmates doing?
Listen and ask one follow-up question.
9. Fun practice
Grammar detective: Correct one mistake in each sentence.
- She reading a book.
- They is playing football.
- I am ride a bike.
- Are he swimming?
10. Writing and reflection
Write six sentences describing a busy park or classroom now. Include one negative and one question.
Exit check: She ___ reading. They are ___ (run).
□ I can use the grammar. □ I can ask or answer a question.
What Is Happening? — Teacher Answers
A1 · Present continuous · 50–60 minutes
1. Warmer
Invite observations and connect the picture to the lesson topic. Answers vary. Introduce the target pattern before expecting independent use.
2. Vocabulary
1–C; 2–E; 3–A; 4–D; 5–B.
3–4. Reading and comprehension
- He is riding his bike.
- On a bench.
- The ducks.
- No, the writer is not.
5–6. Grammar and guided practice
- is riding
- are playing
- am walking
- is not running / isn’t running
- Is / taking
- are eating
Accept equivalent full and contracted negative forms. Ask learners to explain their choices using the grammar panel.
7. Teacher-read listening script
Read twice at a natural, clear pace, with a pause between readings. Clarify vocabulary first if needed.
I am at the beach with my family. My brother is swimming. My mother is reading a magazine. My father is making sandwiches. Two children are building a sandcastle. I am taking photos. We are not playing volleyball.
- swimming
- magazine
- sandwiches
- sandcastle
- photos
8. Speaking
Personal answers vary. Allow pairs to rehearse. Monitor the target grammar and support follow-up questions with What, Where, When or Why as appropriate.
9. Grammar detective
- She is reading a book.
- They are playing football.
- I am riding a bike.
- Is he swimming?
10. Writing and reflection
Check that learners follow the writing task, use the target forms accurately and make complete sentences. Personal examples vary.
Exit answers: is; running.
Suggested timing and support
Warmer/vocabulary: 8 minutes; reading/comprehension: 10; grammar/practice: 12; listening: 7; speaking/game: 10; writing/reflection: 8. Give a word bank or sentence frames for support. For extension, ask pairs to create two more questions. All texts and activities are original English Drills material.