So vs Because, and Sequencing Words ESL Lesson Plan (A2, 60 Minutes)

Who it is for. Elementary students who use and, but and because accurately and the past simple for stories. They confuse cause and result (I was hungry because I ate a sandwich), don't use so, and tell stories as lists with and then and then.

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.

Main aim. To clarify and practise because (reason) vs so (result), and sequencing words (first, then, next, after that, finally) to organise a short past narrative.

Learning outcome. By the end of the lesson, students can tell and write a short story in order with reasons and results, e.g. First, my alarm didn't ring, so I woke up late. Then I missed the bus because I couldn't find my shoes. Finally, I got to school at 9.

• Subsidiary aim. To practise the past simple in stories.
• Subsidiary aim. To practise punctuation with so and sequencers.
• Subsidiary aim. To develop speaking and writing through a picture story.

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

• Same situation, opposite order: the reason comes after because and before so.
• A comma usually goes before so.

• Don't repeat and then in every sentence; vary the words.

• Pause after sequencers: First, | my alarm didn't ring.
• so is stressed when it introduces an important result: ..., SO I was late.

• I missed the bus, so I was late. What happened first: I missed the bus or I was late? (I missed the bus.) What was the result? (I was late.)
• I was late because I missed the bus. Why was I late? (Because I missed the bus.) Is this the same situation? (Yes.)

10 out of 12 or better on Handout 2, Exercises A and B. In their stories, students use so for results and because for reasons. Students use at least four different sequencing words.

Did the arrow diagram help with so and because? Were the stories more organised than in Stage 1?

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Last Monday was a terrible day for Kavindu.

First, his alarm didn't ring, so he woke up late. Then he couldn't find his shoes because his little sister hid them! After that, he ran to the bus stop, but the bus left without him, so he took a tuk-tuk.

At school, the teacher was angry because Kavindu was 30 minutes late. Next, he had a maths test, and he didn't do well because he was very tired.

Finally, he got home and his mother said, "Surprise! It's pizza for dinner!" So the day ended well after all.

Answer the questions.

• Why did Kavindu wake up late? ______________________________
• Why couldn't he find his shoes? ______________________________
• How did he get to school? ______________________________
• Why didn't he do well in the test? ______________________________

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

A. Write so or because.

B. Rewrite the sentences. Use the other word.

C. Put the story in order (1–4).

___ Then I put the flour, sugar and eggs in a bowl. ___ Finally, we ate the cake with my family. ___ First, I went to the shop and bought eggs. ___ After that, I baked it for 40 minutes.

• It was raining, ______ we stayed at home.
• I went to bed early ______ I was tired.
• The shop was closed, ______ I didn't buy any bread.
• She was happy ______ she passed the exam.
• I was hungry, ______ I made a sandwich.
• We took a taxi ______ we were late.
• I didn't go to school because I was ill. → I was ill, so ______________________________
• It was hot, so we went swimming. → We went swimming because ______________________________
• He missed the train because he got up late. → ______________________________
• The film was boring, so I fell asleep. → ______________________________
• I called my friend because I needed help. → ______________________________
• There was no milk, so I drank black tea. → ______________________________

Look at the pictures and tell the story.

Use: First, · Then · Next, · After that, · Finally, · so · because

Example start: First, Malsha packed a bag, but she forgot her sun cream ...

Handout 1

Handout 2, Exercise A

Handout 2, Exercise B

Handout 2, Exercise C

2 · 4 · 1 · 3

Handout 3 (model)

First, Malsha packed a bag, but she forgot her sun cream. Then she took the train to Unawatuna. Next, she swam for two hours, so her back got red and painful because she didn't have any sun cream. After that, a storm started, so she ran to a café. Finally, she met an old school friend there, so the day ended happily.

Common errors to watch for

• Because his alarm didn't ring. · 2. Because his little sister hid them. · 3. By tuk-tuk. · 4. Because he was very tired.
• so · 2. because · 3. so · 4. because · 5. so · 6. because
• ... so I didn't go to school. · 2. ... because it was hot. · 3. He got up late, so he missed the train. · 4. I fell asleep because the film was boring. · 5. I needed help, so I called my friend. · 6. I drank black tea because there was no milk.