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The Beauty of Autumn

A complete A2 classroom lesson with the EnglishDrills nine-colour lesson sequence.

A250–60 minutesSeasons & naturePrintable

Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.

Teacher Answers

1 Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

understand the main ideas and key details in The Beauty of Autumn.
learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
use the lesson language in speaking or writing.

Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.

2 Reading

Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas.

Autumn is a season of change. The days become shorter and the weather becomes cooler. Leaves on many trees change from green to red, orange, yellow and brown before they fall. In farming areas, autumn is often an important harvest season. Apples, grapes, pumpkins and other crops may be collected at this time. People also enjoy seasonal activities such as walking through parks, taking photographs and preparing warmer foods. Autumn is not the same everywhere in the world. In New Zealand, autumn falls between March and May, while countries in the Northern Hemisphere experience it later in the year. For many people, the changing colours and cooler air make autumn a memorable season.

3 Vocabulary

Words: harvest · seasonal · cooler · colourful · hemisphere

Write a short meaning or example for each word.

harvest –

seasonal –

cooler –

colourful –

hemisphere –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What changes happen to the weather in autumn?

2. What happens to many leaves?

3. Name two foods that may be harvested in autumn.

4. When is autumn in New Zealand?

5. Why do some people enjoy autumn?

5 Language Focus

Complete with the correct comparative or superlative form.

1. Autumn is (cool) than summer.

2. The days are (short) than in summer.

3. For some people, autumn is the (beautiful) season.

4. A cold autumn day can be (chilly) than a spring day.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. What happens to the days?

2. What happens to many leaves?

3. Name one crop in the listening.

4. When is autumn in New Zealand?

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• What do you like about autumn?
• How is autumn different from summer?
• What seasonal foods do you enjoy?

The Beauty of Autumn — Continued

7 Use Your English

Something New

In pairs, list one thing autumn looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes like. Compare your list with another pair.

Write

Write a 70–90 word description of autumn using at least two comparatives or superlatives.

8 Puzzle or Game

60-Second Word Race

In one minute, write as many English words as you can that connect with The Beauty of Autumn. Compare your list with a partner.

Circle three words you think are especially useful.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
I can use at least three new words correctly.
I can complete the language task.
I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do

My final challenge: The Beauty of Autumn

Plan: Write 5 useful words or ideas from the lesson, or make a quick labelled sketch.

Write: Write 5–7 sentences that show what you learned. Try to use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary panel.

Share: Explain your work to a partner for about 30 seconds.