| Last updated: Dec 18, 2025
LESSON OVERVIEW
The main objectives of this lesson are to:
- talk about past times and childhood;
- learn and practise used to and would for past situations;
- watch part of a video about a person’s childhood in the 1970s in the US.
Students talk about their childhood, compare past and present habits, and practise using ‘used to’ and ‘would’ to describe repeated actions or states in the past. They watch part of a video (02:25-04:31) about a person’s childhood and explore grammar points on how to use the structures. Students also work in pairs and discuss life changes using the target structures.
B2 / Upper Intermediate60 minStandard LessonPremium Plan
WARM-UP AND GRAMMAR
This lesson begins with a warm-up. Students look at different categories (e.g. a film, a food, a game) and give an example from their childhood for each. They explain their choice. Moving on, students look at leisure activities (e.g. play outside with friends, jump over obstacles on a bike) and discuss questions about their childhood. Afterwards, they watch part of a video (02:25-04:31) where a speaker talks about his childhood in the 1970s in the US. Students match statements with the activties from the previous task. Next, they complete gaps in sentences from the video. Students then watch the video again to check their answers. After that, they look at examples of used to and would in sentences and complete a table with √ or X to show the use of each structure.
GRAMMAR PRACTICE AND DISCUSSION
In this part of the lesson, students read sentences about past situations and choose the correct option between used to and would. After that, they read statements and complete gaps with the correct form of used to and would (e.g. People didn’t use to stress as much about their children in the past. Now there are too many worries to consider). Afterwards, students look at the statements from the previous task again and discuss whether they agree or disagree with them. They give reasons. Finally, students work in pairs. They choose a situation (e.g. before you had your first pet) and share how their life was different before it happened. Students use different forms of used to and would. Their partner asks them follow-up questions using used to. Students then swap roles.
HOMEWORK/REVISION
This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students find and correct mistakes in sentences. They then make one of the sentences true for them. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.
WORKSHEETS
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This is a good grammar point and the video is challenging. However, I don’t seem to be able to download the student’s version or the teacher’s version. I could download the e-lesson plan. Can you check the tech on this? Thanks!
Apologies for that! There was some issue with the files but we’ve fixed it so you should be able to download them now!
Thanks Stan!
Hi, same issue. Lesson seem very interesting but i’m unable to download the SV/TV files
Fixed! Check it now!
The PDF lessons will not download.
Should work now!
Thanks, Stan, for your help!!
I’ll sometimes show my (adult) students the video from Pretty Woman where Vivian’s speaking about her childhood, where she uses “used to” once and “would” a lot
https://youtu.be/k-cOWuVutcE?si=9uOQvRYrJyMDjN-0
This is a fantastic idea and a great use of authentic material. Thanks for sharing!
Very good lesson- thanks!
Thanks for the feedback – glad you enjoyed it!
Oh no! Video is unavailable/private now 🙁
Hi! Thanks for letting us know. The lesson has been updated.
the video says to be privat 🙁
Hi! Thanks for letting us know. The lesson has been updated.