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What Should They Do?

A1–A2 ESL Speaking & Problem-Solving Lesson for 10-Year-Olds

Look at the problem. Build sentences. Give advice. Then speak.

should / shouldn’tcouldproblem solvingroleplaytranslation support

Lesson Flow

This lesson follows “What’s Happening?” and upgrades students from describing actions to giving advice and solving small problems.

1. Look

Students describe the picture first.

2. Build

Students click words from the sticky top word bank.

3. Advise

Students practise should, shouldn’t, and could.

4. Speak

Students explain what they would do and why.

Scene Activities

Scene 1 — Lost Puppy in the Park
12–14 minutes
Scene 1 — Lost Puppy in the Park

A. Look and Answer

Answer in short sentences first. Then make longer answers with because, so, and should.

1. Who is in the picture?
There are two children, a puppy, and a worried woman.
2. Where are they?
They are in a sunny park.
3. What is the puppy wearing?
The puppy is wearing a red collar.
4. Why does the puppy look nervous?
It looks nervous because it is lost.
5. What is the girl pointing at?
The girl is pointing at a Lost Dog poster.
6. What is the woman doing in the background?
The woman is searching for her dog.
7. What should the children do?
They should call the number on the poster.
8. What will happen next?
I think the woman will find her puppy.

B. Click-to-Build Sentences

Click Use This Box, then click words from the sticky word bank at the top.

1. Make a sentence about the puppy.
2. Make a sentence about the poster.
3. Make a sentence with should.
4. Make a sentence with because.
5. Make a longer sentence with then.

Saved Sentences

C. Tenses Practice — 4 Points

1. The children ___ a lost puppy.
2. The puppy ___ nervous.
3. The woman ___ for her dog.
4. Yesterday, the dog ___ away.

D. Prepositions Practice — 4 Points

1. The poster is ___ the tree.
2. The puppy is sitting ___ the boy.
3. The woman is ___ the background.
4. The children are ___ the park.

E. Advice Practice — should / shouldn’t / could

1. They should ___ the number on the poster.
2. They shouldn’t ___ the puppy alone.
3. They could ask ___ for help.

F. Free Speaking

Describe the whole picture using 5–6 sentences. Use should and because.

There are two children, a puppy, and a worried woman. They are in a sunny park. They should call the number on the poster. I think the woman will find her puppy.

G. Mini Roleplay

Student A: You are one child in the picture.
Student B / Teacher: You are an adult helper.

Useful phrases: Excuse me. Can you help us? We should... I think... Please be careful.

Scene 2 — Juice on the Homework
12–14 minutes
Scene 2 — Juice on the Homework

A. Look and Answer

Answer in short sentences first. Then make longer answers with because, so, and should.

1. Who is in the picture?
There are two children in the kitchen.
2. Where are they?
They are at the kitchen table.
3. What happened to the juice?
The juice spilled onto the homework.
4. What happened to the homework?
The homework is wet and messy.
5. How does the boy feel?
He feels shocked and worried.
6. How does his sister feel?
She feels surprised.
7. What should he do before school?
He should dry the paper and tell the teacher.
8. What would you say to him?
I would say, “Don’t panic. Ask for help.”

B. Click-to-Build Sentences

Click Use This Box, then click words from the sticky word bank at the top.

1. Make a sentence about the juice.
2. Make a sentence about the boy.
3. Make a sentence with should.
4. Make a sentence with shouldn’t.
5. Make a longer sentence with because.

Saved Sentences

C. Tenses Practice — 4 Points

1. The boy ___ his homework.
2. The juice ___ on the table.
3. His sister ___ shocked.
4. Tomorrow, he ___ be more careful.

D. Prepositions Practice — 4 Points

1. The juice is ___ the homework.
2. The children are ___ the kitchen.
3. The backpack is ___ the table.
4. The sunlight is coming ___ the window.

E. Advice Practice — should / shouldn’t / could

1. He should ___ the wet paper.
2. He shouldn’t ___ to the teacher.
3. He could ask his ___ for help.

F. Free Speaking

Describe the whole picture using 5–6 sentences. Use should and because.

There are two children in the kitchen. They are at the kitchen table. He should dry the paper and tell the teacher. I would say, “Don’t panic. Ask for help.”

G. Mini Roleplay

Student A: You are one child in the picture.
Student B / Teacher: You are an adult helper.

Useful phrases: Excuse me. Can you help us? We should... I think... Please be careful.

Scene 3 — Flat Bicycle Tire
12–14 minutes
Scene 3 — Flat Bicycle Tire

A. Look and Answer

Answer in short sentences first. Then make longer answers with because, so, and should.

1. Who is in the picture?
There are two children with a bicycle.
2. Where are the children?
They are on a bike path near a park.
3. What is wrong with the bicycle?
The tire is flat.
4. What is the boy doing?
The boy is checking the tire.
5. What is the girl pointing at?
The girl is pointing at the road ahead.
6. Why do they look worried?
They look worried because they are far from home.
7. What should they do now?
They should call an adult or walk home.
8. What could happen next?
Maybe someone will help them fix the tire.

B. Click-to-Build Sentences

Click Use This Box, then click words from the sticky word bank at the top.

1. Make a sentence about the bike.
2. Make a sentence about the boy.
3. Make a sentence with should.
4. Make a sentence with could.
5. Make a longer sentence with but.

Saved Sentences

C. Tenses Practice — 4 Points

1. The boy ___ the tire.
2. The tire ___ flat.
3. The girl ___ at the road.
4. Yesterday, they ___ their bikes.

D. Prepositions Practice — 4 Points

1. The helmet is ___ the ground.
2. The children are ___ the bike path.
3. The boy is crouching ___ the bicycle.
4. The sun is ___ the road.

E. Advice Practice — should / shouldn’t / could

1. They should ___ an adult.
2. They shouldn’t ride with a ___ tire.
3. They could ___ the bike home.

F. Free Speaking

Describe the whole picture using 5–6 sentences. Use should and because.

There are two children with a bicycle. They are on a bike path near a park. They should call an adult or walk home. Maybe someone will help them fix the tire.

G. Mini Roleplay

Student A: You are one child in the picture.
Student B / Teacher: You are an adult helper.

Useful phrases: Excuse me. Can you help us? We should... I think... Please be careful.

Scene 4 — Cat in the Tree
12–14 minutes
Scene 4 — Cat in the Tree

A. Look and Answer

Answer in short sentences first. Then make longer answers with because, so, and should.

1. Who is in the picture?
There are three children, a cat, and an elderly woman.
2. Where is the cat?
The cat is in a tree.
3. How does the cat feel?
The cat feels frightened.
4. What is one child holding?
One child is holding a ladder.
5. What is another child doing?
Another child is calling for help.
6. Why is the elderly woman worried?
She is worried because the cat is high in the tree.
7. What should the children do?
They should call an adult or firefighter.
8. What shouldn’t they do?
They shouldn’t climb too high.

B. Click-to-Build Sentences

Click Use This Box, then click words from the sticky word bank at the top.

1. Make a sentence about the cat.
2. Make a sentence about the children.
3. Make a sentence with should.
4. Make a sentence with shouldn’t.
5. Make a longer sentence with because.

Saved Sentences

C. Tenses Practice — 4 Points

1. The cat ___ in the tree.
2. The children ___ looking up.
3. One child ___ a ladder.
4. Tomorrow, the cat ___ stay inside.

D. Prepositions Practice — 4 Points

1. The cat is ___ the tree.
2. The children are standing ___ the tree.
3. The ladder is ___ the trunk.
4. The woman is ___ the children.

E. Advice Practice — should / shouldn’t / could

1. They should call ___ for help.
2. They shouldn’t climb too ___.
3. They could wait ___ the tree.

F. Free Speaking

Describe the whole picture using 5–6 sentences. Use should and because.

There are three children, a cat, and an elderly woman. The cat is in a tree. They should call an adult or firefighter. They shouldn’t climb too high.

G. Mini Roleplay

Student A: You are one child in the picture.
Student B / Teacher: You are an adult helper.

Useful phrases: Excuse me. Can you help us? We should... I think... Please be careful.

Final Challenge

Choose One Problem

Choose your favorite scene. Describe the problem and give three pieces of advice.

Useful Final Sentences

I think they should...

They shouldn’t...

They could...

because...

If I were there, I would...

ESL Studio | What Should They Do?