Competency: Read and Use Schedules

Lesson Overview:
Students will learn vocabulary associated with television and transportation schedules while learning how to read and use them.
This lesson plan includes:
  1. Read and Use Schedules Vocabulary
  2. Read and Use Schedules Fill-in-the-Blanks
  3. Reading a Bus Schedule
  4. Reading a Train Schedule
  5. Reading an Airline Schedule
  6. Reading a Television Schedule
  7. Read and Use Schedules Vocabulary Flash Cards (optional)
  8. Referenced websites

Approximate Time: 2 hours
Prerequisite Skills: Students should have had some experience with addition, subtraction, and reading charts. Students should also be able to read and write simple sentences, and follow directions in English.
Prerequisite Vocabulary:
airline
A.M.
bus(es)
from
movie(s)
news
P.M.
time(s)
to
train(s)
Vocabulary:
arrival time(s)
arrive(s)
channel(s)
connect/connection
depart(s)
departure time(s)
flight(s)
originating point(s)
schedule(s)
terminating point(s)
Materials Needed: Whiteboard or flip chart, erasable markers, and handouts
Equipment Needed: Multi-media computer with Internet access
Activities:
  1. Explain the purpose of the lesson.
  1. Ask students about their experiences with schedules (train, bus, flight, television).
  1. Briefly review the prerequisite vocabulary. Go over the new vocabulary. You may want to write the words on the board.
  1. Make sure that each student can correctly pronounce the new words by having them pronounce the words aloud as a group and then individually.
  1. Give the students Read and Use Schedules Vocabulary. Carefully explain each word and make sure that students understand the meanings.
  1. For vocabulary practice, use Read and Use Schedules Fill-in-the-Blanks. Students should complete this activity independently. Review answers orally.
  1. For practice reading a simple transportation schedule, use Reading a Bus Schedule. Tell students to look at the schedule. Ask what information is given across and down the schedule. Answer any questions the students may have. Have students to answer the questions that follow. Review answers orally.
  1. For practice reading a more difficult transportation schedule, use Reading a Train Schedule. Have students to answer the questions about this schedule independently. Review answers orally.
  1. For practice with a more complex transportation schedule, useReading an Airline Schedule. Allow students to complete this activity in pairs. Review and discuss answers orally.
  1. To give students practice with a television schedule, use Reading a Television Schedule. Tell students to look at the schedule. Ask what information is given across and down the schedule. Answer any questions the students may have. Have students to answer the questions that follow. Review answers orally.

Assessment/Evaluation of Learning:
  1. Instructor evaluation of students’ participation.
  1. Evaluation of student worksheets

Optional Activities:
  1. Visit the following websites for online schedules:
  1. Bring in a various printed schedules, such as your town’s bus schedule or a TV Guide. Have each student develop a set of questions about one schedule. Tell students to trade their schedule and questions with another student. They will answer each other’s questions and discuss the answers in pairs. (Other examples of schedules may be class schedules, movie schedules, and itineraries.)
  1. Have students look for schedules in newspapers and magazines or bring in a schedule they’re having trouble reading. Discuss the various schedules.
  1. Use Read and Use Schedules Vocabulary Flash Cards for further vocabulary development.

2002-2003 ESL Special Project

CaldwellCommunity College and Technical Institute

Basic Skills Department

Competency: Read and Use SchedulesPage1