It’s summer and we want our students to have fun while they practise their English. We have designed some activities for our B2 First students. Hopefully, these activities will help them take a more active role in the classroom and reflect on assessment. The B1 Preliminary activity will encourage our learners to talk about summer activities while becoming more aware of what they can do to improve their speaking skills. Finally, our youngest learners will learn new vocabulary that will certainly be useful in the summer time. Happy teaching!

1. 1
July
It’s summer and we want our students to have fun while they practise their English. We have
designed some activities for our B2 First students. Hopefully, these activities will help them
take a more active role in the classroom and reflect on assessment. The B1 Preliminary activity
will encourage our learners to talk about summer activities while becoming more aware of
what they can do to improve their speaking skills. Finally, our youngest learners will learn new
vocabulary that will certainly be useful in the summer time. Happy teaching!
1. Summer activities.............................................................................................................................2
2. Summer holidays .............................................................................................................................5
3. The world around us: summer.......................................................................................................9
4. References......................................................................................................................................10

2. 2
1. Summer activities
Level: B2 First
Skills: speaking, writing, listening
Content: vocabulary related to activities, suggestions,
giving reasons, understanding assessment
Interaction: in groups, in pairs, individual activity
Classroom equipment: digital board and computer / cardboard
Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Brainstorming (40’) – in groups of four
Your school is going to offer a programme of summer activities for Secondary school students.
Your class have been asked to make suggestions about what activities they would be
interested in.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of having summer activities in your
school from the students’ point of view?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of having summer activities in your
school from the parents’ point of view?
• What activities would you be interested in? Why?
• What resources would be necessary for these activities to be organised?
Prepare a five-minute presentation to explain the three activities you consider most
appropriate and explain what resources would be necessary.
Mind map (15’) – in groups of four
Create your own mind map for the B2 First speaking test. Include the three activities you came
up with and add two more that you consider suitable after listening to your classmates’
presentations. You should also write a question related to the topic for a short discussion.

3. 3
Speaking (30’) – in groups of four
The original groups will be divided into two pairs. Each pair will join another pair of students
from a different group. They will take turns to become speaking examiners. Student A will
become the interlocutor, who will explain the task to the other pair and will interact with them
while student B will be the assessor. Although the assessor does not take notes during the
test, in this case student B will be allowed to write down positive aspects and aspects that
could be improved to provide their classmates with feedback. Once the speaking task is
finished, the examiners can share their ideas with their classmates and then they can agree
on a mark together for the different marking criteria using the B2 First Handbook for Teachers.
Once the activity is over, they will swap roles.
Student
Grammar and
Vocabulary
Discourse
Management
Pronunciation
Interactive
Communication
Global
Achievement
What activities should be
organised by your school?

4. 4
Writing (45’) – individual or in pairs activity
Write a report to the head of your school, suggesting two ideas that could be organised in your
school. In your report you should:
• suggest two activities
• justify your choice
• explain what resources will be necessary
Write your report in 140-190 words.

5. 5
2. Summer holidays
Level: B1 Preliminary
Skills: speaking
Interaction: whole class activity, in pairs
Content: vocabulary related to summer activities, picture description, prepositions
Time: 30 minutes
Warm up! (10’) – whole class activity
• What do you usually do in summer?
• Do you have any plans for this summer?
• What sports do you play over the summer?
• What is the best part of the holidays?
• What is the worst part of the holidays?
• What would you like to do in the summer if you could do anything?
Speaking activity (20’) – in groups of four
Your group will be divided into two pairs – two examiners and two candidates. Student A will
become the interlocutor, who will explain the task to the other pair and will interact with them
while student B will be the assessor. Although the assessor does not take notes during the
test, in this case student B will be allowed to write down positive aspects and aspects that
could be improved to provide their classmates with feedback. Once the speaking task is
finished, the examiners can share their ideas with their classmates and then they can agree
on a mark together for the different marking criteria using the B1 Preliminary Handbook for
Teachers. Once the activity is over, they will swap roles.

6. 6
Student A
Student B

7. 7
Student C
Student D

8. 8
Student
Grammar and
Vocabulary
Discourse
Management
Pronunciation
Interactive
Communication
Global
Achievement

9. 9
3. The world around us: summer
Level: A1 Movers / A2 Flyers
Skills: reading and writing
Interaction: individual or in pairs activity
Time: 20 minutes
Warm up! (10’) – whole class activity
• What activities can you do during summer holidays?
• Where do you usually go in the summer?
• Listen to this and tell me what words come to mind.
Crossword (10’) – in pairs or individually
Click here to access the crossword

10. 10
4. References
Beliaikin, A. (2019).Woman Wearing Black and White Blouse and White Short Standing on
Forest. [image/jpeg]. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-
black-and-white-blouse-and-white-short-standing-on-forest-2106776/ [Accessed
12th June 2019].
Bertelli, M. (2019). Camping Tent on Grass Lawn. [image/jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/camping-tent-on-grass-lawn-2376989/ [Accessed
11th June 2019].
Binamira, A. (2018). Man Wearing White Shirt, Brown Shorts, and Green Backpack Standing
on a Hill. [image/jpeg]. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-wearing-
white-shirt-brown-shorts-and-green-backpack-standing-on-hill-672358/ [Accessed
11th June 2019].
Crossword (2011). Flippity: M. Johnson. Available at:
Emerald Island Relaxation (2013). Calming Seas #1 - 11 Hours Ocean Waves, Nature
Sounds, Relaxation, Meditation, Reading, Sleep. Avaliable at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f77SKdyn-1Y [Accessed 11th June 2019].
https://www.flippity.net/cw.asp?k=1SPfwNS6GnMRCh2HnbykVAaSGC1mpcV6Abd-
zpMSYjNo
Pixabay (2018). Group of Sports Player Kneeling on Field. [image/jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/action-activity-adult-athletes-262524/ [Accessed 11th
June 2019].
Pixabay (2019). Selective Focus of Starfish Between Shells on Seashore. [image/jpeg].
Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/animal-beach-coast-coastline-414105/
[Accessed 11th June 2019].
Rawpixel (2018). Photo of Beach Chairs on Seashore. [image/jpeg]. Available at:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-beach-chairs-on-seashore-1484256/
[Accessed 11th June 2019].
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. 2016a. “Cambridge English First. A
Handbook for teachers.” Accessed April 1, 2019.
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/167791-cambridge-english-first-
handbook.pdf
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. 2016c. “Cambridge English
Preliminary. A Handbook for teachers.” Accessed April 1, 2019.
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/168150-cambridge-english-preliminary-
teachers-handbook.pdf

11. 11
Zun Zun (2018). People Sitting on Green Lawn Grass While Doing Hands Up at Daytime.
[image/jpeg]. Available at https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-sitting-on-green-
lawn-grass-while-doing-hands-up-at-daytime-1164572/ [Accessed 11th June 2019].