When the Lights Went Out
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 past continuous and past simple in everyday English.
2. Vocabulary
Match the words with their meanings.
1. power
2. torch
3. suddenly
4. neighbour
5. instead
A. quickly and unexpectedly
B. in place of something else
C. electricity used in homes
D. a person who lives nearby
E. a small light you can carry
1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___
3. Reading
At seven last night, Noah and his family were at home. Noah was doing his homework at the kitchen table. His sister was drawing, and their parents were cooking dinner. Suddenly, the lights went out. Noah stopped writing and looked out of the window. The houses across the street were dark too. While his dad was finding a torch, his mum called their neighbour. The neighbour said that the power was off in the whole street. The family ate sandwiches instead of hot food. They were telling funny stories when the lights came back on at eight.
4. Comprehension
Answer using the reading.
- What was Noah doing at seven?
- What were his parents doing?
- What was his dad finding?
- When did the lights come back on?
5. Grammar focus
Past continuous: was/were + verb-ing. An activity was in progress in the past.
Noah was writing. His parents were cooking.
Past simple: a completed event.
He was writing when the lights went out.
While his dad was looking, his mum called the neighbour.
6. Guided practice
Complete each sentence. Use the forms in brackets where given.
- Noah ___ (do) his homework at seven.
- His parents ___ (cook) dinner.
- The lights ___ (go) out suddenly.
- Noah ___ (stop) writing.
- While Dad ___ (find) a torch, Mum called.
- They ___ (tell) stories when the lights came back.
When the Lights Went Out — continued
7. Listening
Your teacher will read a short text twice. Complete the notes.
- Time: ___
- Speaker’s activity: ___
- Friend’s activity: ___
- Weather change: ___
- Person who arrived: ___
8. Speaking
Ask a partner. Answer in full sentences.
- What were you doing at seven last night?
- What were you doing at lunchtime yesterday?
- What happened while you were travelling recently?
- What were people doing when your last class began?
Listen and ask one follow-up question.
9. Fun practice
Grammar detective: Correct one mistake in each sentence.
- He were doing homework.
- They was cooking dinner.
- I was walk home.
- She was reading when the phone ring.
10. Writing and reflection
Write a six-sentence story about an interruption. Describe two activities in progress and what happened next.
Exit check: I ___ reading when the phone ___ (ring).
□ I can use the grammar. □ I can ask or answer a question.
When the Lights Went Out — Teacher Answers
A2 · Past continuous and past simple · 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
- His homework.
- Cooking dinner.
- A torch.
- At eight.
5–6. Grammar and guided practice
- was doing
- were cooking
- went
- stopped
- was finding
- were telling
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.
At four yesterday, I was walking home. My friend was cycling beside me. We were talking about school when it started to rain. We ran to a bus shelter. While we were waiting, my mum arrived in her car. She drove us home.
- four / 4 pm
- walking home
- cycling
- it started to rain
- the speaker’s mum
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
- He was doing homework.
- They were cooking dinner.
- I was walking home.
- She was reading when the phone rang.
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: was; rang.
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.