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School Life in New Zealand

A lively, paper-free extension lesson for A2 learners. Use it after your School Life in New Zealand lesson when you want extra speaking, movement and confidence-building practice.

A260–90 minutesNew Zealand & School LifePaper-free
Teacher lesson: No worksheets are needed. Read the prompts aloud or put only the key words on the board. Choose all ten activities for a longer lesson, or pick the panels you need. Most activities work best with students standing, moving, speaking and changing partners.
Open New Zealand Collection
1 Lesson Goals
Students talking together outside a modern New Zealand secondary school

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

  • understand and use common school vocabulary.
  • follow and give simple classroom instructions.
  • compare school life in New Zealand with school life in my country.
  • use English to solve simple school problems.
Start here: Tell a partner one thing you remember about schools in New Zealand.
2 Teacher Says

Movement warm-up. Students stand. They only follow the instruction when the teacher begins with “Teacher says…”.

Use: raise your hand · open your book · close your book · turn around · sit down · stand up · work in pairs · point to the door · listen carefully

After two rounds, let confident students become the teacher.

Challenge: Speed up gradually. Students who make a mistake stay in and keep playing.
3 School Vocabulary Charades

One student acts. The class guesses the school word or phrase in English.

Ideas: homework · science experiment · school bus · music lesson · lunchtime · library · PE · exam · computer class · school club · raise your hand · work in a group

Useful language:
“Are you doing homework?”
“Is it a science lesson?”
“I think it is …”

Team version: Give one point for the correct word and one bonus point for a full sentence.
4 Agree or Disagree

Choose one side of the room for Agree and the other for Disagree. Read one statement at a time. Students move, then explain their choice.

  • School uniforms are a good idea.
  • Homework helps students learn.
  • Phones should be allowed in class.
  • Students should have more sport at school.
  • School should start later in the morning.
  • Group work is better than working alone.

Sentence frame: “I agree/disagree because …”

5 Guess the Subject

One student describes a subject without saying its name. The class guesses.

  • “We learn about numbers and equations.”
  • “We learn about countries, maps and places.”
  • “We do experiments.”
  • “We draw, paint and design.”
  • “We learn about the past.”
  • “We exercise and play sport.”
Subjects: Mathematics · Geography · Science · Art · History · PE · Music · English · Computing · Biology · Chemistry
Extension: Students make their own clue for a new subject.
6 New Zealand School Role-Plays

Pairs choose or receive one situation. Give them 1–2 minutes to prepare, then act it out.

  1. You are late for class. Speak to the teacher.
  2. You do not understand an instruction. Ask for help.
  3. You forgot your book. Explain the problem.
  4. You want to join a school sports club. Ask how.
  5. You are lost. Ask where the science room is.
  6. You missed some homework. Ask what you need to do.

Useful phrases: “Excuse me …” · “Could you please …?” · “I’m sorry …” · “Where is …?” · “Can you help me?”

School Life in New Zealand — Continued
7 My School vs New Zealand

Students work with a partner. Compare the two school systems orally.

Topics: uniform · school times · lunch · subjects · homework · clubs · sport · teachers · classroom behaviour · transport

Sentence starters:

  • “In my school, …”
  • “In New Zealand, …”
  • “Both schools …”
  • “One difference is …”
  • “I would prefer … because …”
Partner change: After three minutes, change partners and share one new difference.
8 Solve the School Problem

Put students in small groups. Read one problem aloud. Groups must agree on three pieces of advice.

  • A new student is too shy to speak.
  • A student misses the school bus.
  • A student does not understand the homework.
  • A student wants to make new friends.
  • A student keeps forgetting school supplies.
  • A student is nervous about joining a club.

Language: “You should …” · “You could …” · “Why don’t you …?”

9 Success Criteria ✓

Students show thumbs up, sideways or down.

  • I can follow common classroom instructions.
  • I can name and describe school subjects.
  • I can ask for help politely at school.
  • I can compare two schools.
  • I can give simple advice about a school problem.

Tell a partner: “One thing I can do better now is …”

10 Final Team Quiz
Finish with a fast whole-class review.

Ask:

  1. Name three school subjects.
  2. Give one classroom instruction.
  3. What can you say if you do not understand?
  4. Name two school clubs or activities.
  5. Give one piece of advice to a new student.

Bonus challenges:

  1. Act out a school word for your team.
  2. Make a sentence with should.
  3. Say one difference between your school and a New Zealand school.
  4. Give a polite question a student could ask a teacher.

Teacher tip: Teams earn one point for a correct answer and a bonus point for a complete English sentence. Finish by asking each student to say one useful phrase they will remember.