TEACHER'S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Five-in-a-row

Activity Type Introduction

Reading and speaking In this fun teaching activity, students play a game of noughts
activity, pairwork and crosses by completing 'if' and 'result' clauses to make first
conditional sentences.

Language Focus Procedure

First conditional
Explain that the students are going to practice the first conditional
by playing two games of noughts and crosses.
Aim
Divide the students into pairs and give each pair a copy of the first
To complete 'if' and game board.
'result' clauses to
make first conditional Tell the students that each square on the grid contains an 'If'
sentences. clause and that their task is to make a first conditional sentence
by adding an appropriate 'result' clause to complete the sentence.

Preparation Pairs decide which student will be noughts and which student will
be crosses.
Make one copy of the
worksheet for each pair
Students then take it in turns to choose a square and make a first
of students and cut as
conditional sentence by adding a suitable result clause.
indicated.
If a student does this successfully, they draw their O or X symbol
Level in the square.

Pre-intermediate If not, play passes to the other student.

If students are unsure about a sentence, they can ask you.

Time
30 minutes The aim of the game is to be the first student to get five squares in
a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The first student
to do this is the winner.

If neither student manages to get five squares in a row, the

student with the most squares wins.

Pairs then repeat the process with the second game board, but
this time the squares contain result clauses.

The students' task this time is to make a first conditional sentence

by adding an appropriate 'if' clause to complete the sentence.

When everyone has finished, elicit some of the students' sentences

from the two games.

For lower-level classes, students can play in small teams or in

competing pairs.

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 FIRST CONDITIONAL

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Five-in-a-row

Game Board 1

If you If you don't do

If it’s sunny this If I get a If you don’t take
practice English your homework,
weekend, ... new job, ... an umbrella, ...
every day, ... ...

If my friends
If you’re late If you stay up
If I'm bored, ... go on holiday If I work hard, ...
to class, ... late, ...
without me, ...

If I have free
If I buy a If you invite me If I have enough
If I’m tired, ... time tomorrow,
new bicycle, ... to your house, ... money, ...
...

If your car runs If you don't If you visit If you exercise If I get a
out of petrol, ... hurry up, ... my country, ... every day, ... headache, ...

If there’s nothing
If you eat too If I go shopping, If you drink too If we go to the
interesting on TV
much, ... ... much coffee, ... beach, ...
tonight, ...

Game Board 2

I'll go to the You'll get I'll be very My mum will be I'll come with
party if ... fat if ... happy if ... angry if ... you if ...

I'll wake up We’ll be You'll miss the I'll phone You’ll be very
late if ... lucky if ... train if ... you if ... healthy if ...

I’ll cook dinner You’ll be I’ll take my dog I’ll never talk to I’ll buy you a
for you if ... cold if ... to the vet if ... you again if ... new car if ...

You’ll be in big We’ll go to the I’ll answer the You won’t have I’ll lock the
trouble if ... park if ... phone if ... any money if ... door if ...

The teacher will You’ll pass I’ll go to the You’ll feel I’ll be
be angry if ... the test if ... bank if ... better if ... lonely if ...

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