Unit 7 — An Adventure Story

Learning objectives Link to heading

• I can read a short adventure story and identify setting, characters, plot.
• I can use past simple and past continuous together with while and when.
• I can write a 100-word continuation in past tense.

Bildungsplan alignment Link to heading

• 3.1.1 Soziokulturelles Orientierungswissen / Themen
• 3.1.3.2 Leseverstehen
• 3.1.3.5 Schreiben
• 3.1.3.8 Verfügen über sprachliche Mittel – Grammatik
• 3.1.4 Text- und Medienkompetenz

(Source: https://www.bildungsplaene-bw.de/,Lde/LS/BP2016BW/ALLG/SEK1/E1)

Lead-in story Link to heading

Sam found an old envelope behind the bookshelf. The paper was thick and yellow. Inside there was one page, half a map, and the signature Captain Cody — 1782. The map showed an island that did not appear on any modern atlas. Sam decided not to mention it to anyone. Yet.

1. Activate Link to heading

Story openers. Three first lines from three stories on the slide. With your partner, predict what kind of story will follow each.

2. Input Link to heading

Reading — Captain Cody’s Letter (extract 1) Link to heading

Dear traveller. If you are reading this, the envelope has waited a long time. The map is incomplete. The other half is hidden in a place where books and silence keep each other company. Bring courage. Bring biscuits. Don’t bring a phone — it spoils the mood. Yours, Cody.

Grammar — while / when + past simple/continuous Link to heading

While + past continuous (longer action):

• I was reading while Sam was walking home.

When + past simple (event):

• I was reading when Sam arrived.

Form: was/were + -ing.

3. Practise Link to heading

Niveau E — controlled Link to heading

1. Past continuous: I __________ (read). Sam __________ (walk) home. They __________ (look) at the map.
2. Choose while or when: ___ I was reading, the phone rang. ___ Sam was walking, it started to rain.

Niveau E — productive Link to heading

3. Build 4 sentences combining past continuous + past simple with when and while.

4. Produce Link to heading

Story continuation. Write 100 words continuing Captain Cody’s Letter. What happens next? Stay in past simple. Use one while and one when.

Sample Link to heading

Sam folded the half-map and put it under his pillow. While he was eating dinner, he kept thinking about the place ‘where books and silence keep each other company’. The library, of course. When he arrived the next afternoon, the librarian was placing a stack of books on a low shelf. “Are you looking for something old?” she asked. Sam swallowed. “Yes,” he said. “Very old.” The librarian nodded slowly, as if she had been waiting for this exact question for years.

5. Reflect Link to heading

• I can identify setting, characters, plot in a short story.
• I can use past simple and past continuous together.
• I can write a 100-word continuation.

One thing in your notebook: Write one sentence using something you learned in this Unit.

Exam example Link to heading

Task 1 — Listening (8 BE) Link to heading

Listen twice to the start of a story.

“Sam was reading in the library when the lights suddenly went out. While he was waiting in the dark, he heard a quiet sound. Someone was opening the door very slowly.”

1. Where was Sam: ___ . 2. What happened: ___ . 3. While waiting: ___ . 4. Door: ___ .

Task 2 — Reading (8 BE) Link to heading

Read.

“Lina found a small key in her grandmother’s drawer. While she was studying it, the light caught the metal in a strange way. When she turned the key in her hand, she noticed letters carved on the side.”

1. Where: ___ . 2. While studying: ___ . 3. When she turned: ___ . 4. The key was: ___ .

Task 3 — Use of English (8 BE) Link to heading

Past simple or past continuous?

1. While Lina __________ (study), the lights went out.
2. When the lights __________ (go) out, she screamed.
3. They __________ (read) when the bell rang.
4. He __________ (find) a key while he __________ (clean) his desk.

Task 4 — Writing (6 BE) Link to heading

Write 100 words continuing the story ‘Lina’s key’. Use while and when once each.

Downloads Link to heading

Common pitfalls Link to heading

• When I was read → ✗ / was reading → ✓.
• while + past simple feels off; prefer past continuous.
• Don’t switch tense mid-clause without reason.

Further reading / listening Link to heading

• Project Gutenberg — short adventure stories.
• BBC Learning English — Past continuous.

Downloads

Presentation

Download .pptx

Worksheet

Download .pdf