Level 2Daily Life

From Wood to Screens: 100 Years of Toys

Grammar: Past Simple

A Level 2 English lesson exploring daily life.

daily lifepast simple

What's in this lesson

A Level 2 (elementary) ESL lesson on daily life, practising past simple. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.

From the reading: From Wood to Screens: 100 Years of Toys

Here is a strange fact. In 1920, the most popular toy in the world was a wooden spinning top. Children used to spin it on the floor and watch it go around and around. That was the game. No batteries. No sound. No screen. And children loved it.

Vocabulary

  • wooden
  • simple
  • screen
  • outside
  • imagine
  • invent

Grammar: Past Simple

Used to — positive
Children used to play outside. — a habit in the past that stopped.
Used to — negative
They didn't use to have screens. — something that did not happen in the past.

Discussion questions

  1. Have you noticed how different children's toys look today?
  2. Did you play outside more than children do now?
  3. Why do you think simple toys are still popular?

From Wood to Screens: 100 Years of Toys

Grammar: Past Simple

What's in this lesson:

Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.

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