Free Time ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 3 · Unit 4Elementary · Ages 8–11

Free Time

This hobbies ESL lesson gets students talking about what they do in their free time. Learners mime and identify leisure activities, answer present continuous questions and complete a Find Someone Who survey. They create a Hobby Mini-Book and finish with a movement-based relay that reviews the target vocabulary.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Elementary

Age group

Ages 8–11

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Describe hobbies using present continuous
• Ask and answer 'What do you do in your free time?'
• Recognise common leisure activities
• Build vocabulary through video and games
• Make a Hobby Mini-Book craft
• Practise a Find Someone Who survey activity

Lesson flow

Children mime hobbies for classmates to guess, watch a free-time activities song pausing to answer 'What's he doing?', and drill flashcards with follow-up 'Do you like painting?'. The second lesson surveys classmates asking 'Do you ride a bike?', makes a Hobby Mini-Book describing a favourite activity, and races in a hobby relay performing and naming each one.

Target language

  • • 'What do you do in your free time?'
  • • 'What is he doing?'
  • • 'Do you ___?' Yes/No
  • • Present continuous hobbies

Key vocabulary

  • reading
  • drawing
  • painting
  • singing
  • dancing
  • cooking
  • gardening
  • cycling
  • hobby
  • weekend

Speaking questions students answer

  • • What do you do in your free time?
  • • What's he doing?
  • • Is he reading?
  • • Do you play football?
  • • Do you paint?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Elementary ESL and EFL classes• Ages 8–11• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching hobbies vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Mime and guess hobbies, find classmates who share a hobby, make a Hobby Mini-Book and race in a hobby relay. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.

This lesson includes

• Interactive lesson slides
• Teacher guide
• Printable worksheets
• Speaking practice: "What do you do in your free time?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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