Introduce the first conditional to talk about events that are likely to happen

Assignment Brief

This assignment aims to develop and assess your ability to:

• Produce a 60-minute PPP grammar lesson plan to introduce the first conditional to talk about events that are likely to happen to the class below.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop a clear presentation stage, a board plan, time line, and controlled and freer practice tasks.
• Demonstrate the ability to give clear instructions and clarify meaning and understanding (concept checking questions).
• Grade teacher language appropriately for learners’ level.
• Explain the appropriate use of activities and resources.

Sample Answer

Designing a PPP Grammar Lesson Plan on the First Conditional

Teaching grammar effectively requires careful planning, a clear structure, and an awareness of how students understand and practise new language. One common approach to grammar teaching is the Presentation, Practice, Production (PPP) model, which allows learners to move from guided input to independent use. In this essay, I will outline how a sixty-minute lesson can be designed to introduce the first conditional, a key grammar structure used to discuss likely events in the future. The plan demonstrates the ability to present the target language, provide practice through controlled and freer tasks, and assess learners’ understanding through concept checking questions (CCQs). It also considers the importance of appropriate teacher language, board work, and resources.

The lesson begins with a presentation stage that activates learners’ existing knowledge and situates the grammar point in a meaningful context. For example, a teacher might begin by asking students to imagine possible situations in daily life: “What will you do if it rains tomorrow?” Such a question naturally elicits a first conditional structure, which allows the teacher to highlight the form: If + present simple, will + base verb. At this point, the board is used to demonstrate form and meaning visually. The timeline is a useful tool, as it shows that the ‘if’ clause relates to a present or future condition, while the result clause points to a future consequence. Learners are also introduced to contracted forms such as I’ll or we’ll, which are common in spoken English.

The controlled practice stage provides students with exercises that focus on accuracy. Gap-fill tasks, sentence matching, or multiple-choice questions allow learners to apply the form in a structured way. These activities encourage repetition and help consolidate the grammatical pattern before students move on to more open communication. The teacher monitors closely, giving clear instructions in graded language that matches the learners’ level, and offers guidance where necessary. CCQs are used to confirm meaning, for instance: “Does this talk about the past or the future?” or “Is this something certain or just possible?” Such questions encourage students to think critically about the use of the first conditional and reduce the likelihood of misunderstanding.

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