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ESL Lesson Plan · CEFR A2

First Conditional ESL Lesson Plan (A2, 60 Minutes)

A complete 60-minute A2 lesson on First Conditional, built round the theme "Planning the Class Trip".

  • CEFR A2
  • 60 minutes
  • Teenagers and adults
  • Grammar
  • Conditionals
  • First Conditional

About this lesson

Who it is for. Elementary students who know the zero conditional and will for predictions. They put will in both clauses (If it will rain, we will stay home) and confuse the first conditional with the zero conditional.

Everything the lesson needs is on this page: the language analysis, the timed stages with the teacher's own words and instruction-checking questions, the differentiation, the printable handouts and the answer key.

At a glance

Level
CEFR A2 (Elementary)
Learners
Teenagers and adults
Length
60 minutes. For 45 minutes, run only "Chain story" of the two tasks in "Freer practice" and cut "Feedback and wrap-up" to board-based error correction.
Skills
Speaking and writing
Language focus
Grammar: First Conditional (If + present, will)
Framework
PPP (presentation, practice, production)
Materials
Handout 1 (class WhatsApp chat), Handout 2 (practice), Handout 3 (chain story cards), Handout 4 (trip planning sheet).
Preparation
About 10 minutes: print Handouts 1 to 4, one per learner, and read the language analysis. The answer key is for you, not the class.

Aims

Main aim. To present and practise the first conditional (If + present simple, will / won't + base verb) for real possibilities in the future.

Learning outcome. By the end of the lesson, students can discuss a plan and its possible problems, e.g. If it rains, we'll go to the museum. If we leave late, we might miss the train.

  • Subsidiary aim. To practise might for less certain results.
  • Subsidiary aim. To develop fluency in a planning discussion.
  • Subsidiary aim. To practise contracted 'll and won't.

Language analysis

What to know before the lesson: the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language, and the problems learners usually have with it.

Form

If clauseMain clause
If + present simplewill / won't + base verb
If it rains,we'll go to the museum.
If we leave at 6,we won't get stuck in traffic.
If you forget your hat,you'll get sunburnt.

Form: notes

  • Question: What will we do if it rains?
  • might for a less certain result: If we're late, we might miss the train.
  • The clauses can change places: We'll go to the museum if it rains.

Meaning and use

  • A real possibility in the future: it is possible and quite likely.
  • Compare: zero conditional = always true (If it rains, the roads get wet); first conditional = one future situation (If it rains on Saturday, we'll stay inside).

Pronunciation

  • Contracted 'll: we'll /wiːl/, you'll /juːl/, it'll /ˈɪtl/. won't /wəʊnt/.
  • Intonation: rise at the end of the if clause, fall at the end: If it rains ↗, we'll go to the museum ↘.

Concept-checking questions

  • If it rains on Saturday, we'll go to the museum. Do we know if it will rain? (No.) · Is it possible? (Yes.) · Is it about the past, now or the future? (The future, Saturday.) · What's the plan if it rains? (The museum.)

Anticipated problems and solutions

ProblemSolution
will in the if clause (If it will rain).Board the rule with will crossed out in the if clause.
Missing will in the main clause (If it rains, we go).Contrast with the zero conditional: one future day vs always.
Not hearing 'll.Drill contracted forms; minimal pairs We go / We'll go.
won't pronounced like want.Drill I won't /wəʊnt/ vs I want /wɒnt/.

Board plan

Left: vocabularyCentre: grammarRight: pronunciation
trip · leave · arrive · traffic · miss the train · sunburnt · picnic · museum · cancel · packed lunch
If + present, will / won't + verb · If it rains, we'll go to the museum. · not: If it will rain ✗ · less sure: might · Zero: always · First: one future situation
we'll /wiːl/ · won't /wəʊnt/ vs want /wɒnt/ · If it rains ↗, we'll ... ↘

CEFR A2 · 60 minutes · Teenagers and adults

Procedure: First Conditional, step by step

Warm-up5 minutes · Whole class, pairs

Aim: To introduce the context and generate interest.

Say: "Our class is going on a trip to Nuwara Eliya on Saturday!" Ask: "What can go wrong?" Pairs list three problems (2 minutes).

Take ideas and board key words: rain, late, traffic, sick, forget.

Presentation20 minutes · Individual, pairs, whole class

Aim: To present the first conditional in context and clarify meaning, form and pronunciation.

Part A: Reading (6 minutes)

Give out Handout 1. Say: "Read the class chat. What will the class do if it rains? Three minutes."

ICQs: "Do you read the whole chat?" (Yes.)

Pairs check. Students answer the four questions. Check as a class.

Part B: Noticing (4 minutes)

Say: "Underline every sentence with if. Circle the verbs." Pairs compare.

Ask: "Which tense comes after if? What comes in the other part?"

Part C: Clarification (10 minutes)

Meaning. Board If it rains on Saturday, we'll go to the museum. Ask the CCQs. Draw a timeline: NOW → Saturday with a question mark over a rain cloud.

Form. Elicit If + present simple, will / won't + base verb. Cross out will in If it will rain.

might. Board If we leave late, we might miss the train. Ask: "Are we sure we'll miss it?" (No, maybe.)

Zero vs first. Board If it rains, the roads get wet (always) and If it rains on Saturday, we'll stay inside (one future situation).

Pronunciation. Drill contractions and intonation: If it rains ↗, we'll go to the museum ↘. If you're late ↗, you'll miss the bus ↘.

Controlled practice10 minutes · Individual, then pairs, then whole class

Aim: To practise the form accurately.

Give out Handout 2. Say: "Exercise A: complete the sentences. Exercise B: match and write. Seven minutes."

Pairs check. Check as a class; ask students to say the sentences with contractions.

Freer practice18 minutes · Groups, then whole class

Aim: To use the first conditional fluently in a game and a planning task.

Chain story (6 minutes). Give each group a starter card from Handout 3. Student 1 reads it (If I don't go to school tomorrow, ...) and finishes it (I'll stay in bed). Student 2 uses the result to start a new sentence (If I stay in bed, I'll watch TV). Continue around the group as long as possible.

ICQs: "Where does your sentence start?" (With the end of the last sentence.)

Plan the trip (10 minutes). Give out Handout 4. Groups choose a destination and plan the day. For each problem on the sheet, they write a solution with If ..., we'll ... Then they present their plan to the class (1 minute each).

The class votes for the best-prepared group.

Monitor and note errors.

Feedback and wrap-up7 minutes · Whole class

Aim: To give feedback and consolidate.

Board four sentences heard in Stage 4 (two with errors). Students correct them.

Quick round: each student finishes If I have time this weekend, ...

Set the homework.

Homework Write a message (80 words) to a friend about your plans for the weekend. Include at least four first conditional sentences, one with might.

PPP (presentation, practice, production). Stage times add up to 60 minutes.

Differentiation

Support
Give weaker students a list of base verbs for the chain story. Provide the frame If ..., we'll ... on the planning sheet.
Stretch
Stronger students use unless and as soon as (preview): We'll leave as soon as the bus arrives. They add a second result: If it rains, we'll go to the museum and then we'll have tea.

Adapting the lesson

ForWhat to change
A large class (40 or more)Keep the pairwork in "Freer practice" in fixed pairs rather than a mingle, and take feedback from four or five pairs instead of the whole room. Run "Chain story" once, with two pairs reporting, rather than hearing every pair. Monitor one half of the room during "Controlled practice" and the other half during "Freer practice".
A class with no photocopierPut the exercises from Handout 2: Practice on the board for learners to copy into their notebooks, and read any text aloud twice instead of printing it. Handout 3: Chain Story Starters (cut up) works read out from the front: learners note what they need rather than holding a card. The board plan above is this lesson's minimum - with that on the board, it runs on no paper at all.
An online classSend Handouts 1 to 4 in the chat before the lesson and put the board plan on a shared slide. Use breakout rooms for "Chain story" and visit each room once. Have learners type the controlled answers in the chat, so you see every answer at once instead of nominating.
A different age groupWith young learners, cut the writing at the end and give that time to the speaking task; keep the drilling short, and let them draw or mime where the plan allows it. With adults, keep the writing and ask for a short spoken summary in place of anything drawn or mimed.

Checking learning

8 out of 10 or better on Handout 2, Exercise A. In the planning task, students use the present simple after if and will in the main clause. Students use contracted 'll in speech.

Teacher's reflection

How many students still used will after if? Did the chain story keep going? Was it fun?

Handout 1: The Class Chat

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Read the class WhatsApp chat about the trip.

Miss Fernando: Hi everyone! The trip to Nuwara Eliya is on Saturday. The bus leaves at 6 am. If you're late, the bus won't wait!

Dilan: What will we do if it rains, Miss?

Miss Fernando: If it rains, we'll visit the tea factory. If it's sunny, we'll have a picnic in Victoria Park.

Sanduni: It's cold there! If I don't take a jacket, I'll freeze!

Miss Fernando: Yes, bring a jacket. And bring a packed lunch. If we eat in a restaurant, it'll be expensive.

Ravi: If there's a lot of traffic, we might arrive late.

Miss Fernando: Don't worry. If we leave at 6, we won't get stuck in traffic. See you on Saturday!

Answer the questions.

  • What time does the bus leave? ______________________________
  • What will the class do if it's sunny? ______________________________
  • Why should students bring a packed lunch? ______________________________
  • What might happen if there's a lot of traffic? ______________________________

Handout 2: Practice

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

A. Complete with the correct form of the verbs.

B. Match and write the full sentence.

  • If it ______________ (be) sunny tomorrow, we ______________ (go) to the beach.
  • If you ______________ (not / study), you ______________ (fail) the test.
  • She ______________ (be) angry if you ______________ (forget) her birthday.
  • If they ______________ (miss) the bus, they ______________ (walk) to school.
  • What ______________ you ______________ (do) if the shop ______________ (be) closed?
If clauseMain clause
1. If you eat all the cake,a. you'll get wet.
2. If you don't take an umbrella,b. I'll lend you mine.
3. If you can't find your pen,c. you'll feel sick.
4. If we win the match,d. we'll have a party.

Handout 3: Chain Story Starters (cut up)

Example chain:

If I don't go to school tomorrow, I'll stay in bed. → If I stay in bed, I'll watch TV all day. → If I watch TV all day, my eyes will hurt. → If my eyes hurt, ...

If I don't go to school tomorrow, ...If I find 10,000 rupees in the street, ...
If it snows in Colombo, ...If my phone breaks, ...
If our teacher is sick tomorrow, ...If I meet a famous cricketer, ...
If I get up late tomorrow, ...If my dog runs away, ...

Handout 4: Plan the Trip

Our destination: ______________________________

Write a solution for each problem.

Our plan for the day (3 sentences):

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

ProblemOur solution: If ..., we'll ...
bad weatherIf it rains,
a student is late
the bus breaks down
somebody feels sick
we get lost
we finish early

Answer Key

Handout 1

Handout 2, Exercise A

Handout 2, Exercise B

1 c · 2 a · 3 b · 4 d

Common errors to watch for

  • At 6 am · 2. They'll have a picnic in Victoria Park. · 3. Because if they eat in a restaurant, it'll be expensive. · 4. They might arrive late.
  • is ... 'll go · 2. don't study ... 'll fail · 3. 'll be ... forget · 4. miss ... 'll walk · 5. will ... do ... is
  • If you eat all the cake, you'll feel sick. · 2. If you don't take an umbrella, you'll get wet. · 3. If you can't find your pen, I'll lend you mine. · 4. If we win the match, we'll have a party.
ErrorCorrection
If it will rain, we will stay home.If it rains, we'll stay home.
If you are late, the bus doesn't wait. (one future day)If you're late, the bus won't wait.
I want go if I have time. (meaning I'll)I'll go if I have time.
If she will come, I am happy.If she comes, I'll be happy.

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About this lesson plan

Written by RCF English to the RCF English international standard: levelled by the CEFR, original throughout, and suitable for classrooms in any country. Last reviewed 22 September 2026.

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