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Lesson 16
Module 04 · Reading for Meaning
A2

Module 04 —Weather and Seasons

First conditional · Reading Part 1 notices · Listening note completion

60 min Mixed skill · Weather and seasons

A2 Key parts in this lesson

GrammarSpeaking 4Writing 2 article

Why this lesson now? Practises the conditionals from Lesson 04 again.

Your level · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

discussion
Favourite season

Tell your partner: which season do you like best, and why?

activity
Weather plans

Finish this sentence: 'If it rains this weekend, I...'

reflection
Today's weather

Describe today's weather in three words.

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

First conditional: talking about weather plans

Grammar Bank: First conditional: talking about weather plansJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice
Quick rule

If + present simple, will + infinitive. Use it for real, possible future situations.

How it works
  1. 1We use the first conditional to talk about things that are genuinely likely to happen and their results — this is very common when we plan around the weather, because we usually don't know for sure what it will be like.
  2. 2The if clause uses the present simple even though we are talking about the future: If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay inside.
  3. 3The result clause uses will + infinitive.
  4. 4The two clauses can go in either order: We'll stay inside if it rains tomorrow (no comma needed when if comes second).
  5. 5We often use this pattern to make weather-based plans and give simple advice: If it's cold, wear a coat.
Examples
  • If it rains tomorrow, we'll cancel the picnic.

  • If the sun shines this afternoon, I'll go for a walk.

  • We won't go to the beach if it's windy.

  • If it snows tonight, the roads will be dangerous in the morning.

Question 1.Which sentence is correct?

Question 2.Complete: 'If it's sunny tomorrow, I ____ go for a run.'

Question 3.Complete: 'If it ____ cold tonight, take a jacket.'

Question 4.Which sentence needs no comma?

Question 5.Complete: 'We won't go out if it ____ too windy.'

Answer all items, then check.

Quick check 1.In the first conditional, which tense follows 'if'?

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Vocabulary · 03

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Open Vocabulary BankTap any word below to jump straight to its entry
1

forecast

a prediction of what the weather will be like

Use it

Have you checked the weather forecast for tomorrow?

2

sunny / cloudy / rainy / windy / snowy

words describing types of weather

Use it

What's the weather like today?

3

temperature

how hot or cold something is, measured in degrees

Use it

What's a comfortable temperature for you?

4

to pour (with rain)

to rain very heavily

Use it

Has it ever poured with rain on an important day for you?

5

a storm

very bad weather with strong wind, rain or thunder

Use it

Have you ever been outside during a storm?

6

season

one of the four parts of the year: spring, summer, autumn, winter

Use it

Which season has the best weather where you live?

7

to wrap up warm

to wear a lot of warm clothes

Use it

When do you usually wrap up warm?

Matching

What to do

Match each weather word with its meaning.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.
Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Use the weather vocabulary in first conditional sentences.

Ask your partner
Task 1

Ask your partner

  • If the forecast says rain tomorrow, what will you do?
  • What do you do if there's a storm?
Useforecaststorm
Complete it
Task 2

"If it's very cold tomorrow, I..."wrap up warm

Your opinion
Task 3

Which season is best for outdoor activities? Give a reason.

Give your answer + one reason.

Useseason
Quick write
Task 4

Write 30 words about your plans for the weekend, depending on the weather.

Useforecastifwill

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Weak form of 'will' ('ll) in the first conditional

Say it like this

will is almost always contracted to 'll after a pronoun in natural speech: I'll, we'll, it'll.

  • If it rains, I'll stay home.
  • We'll go to the beach if it's sunny.
  • It'll be cold tonight if the wind continues.
  • She'll bring an umbrella if it looks like rain.

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

Reading — a city with four very different seasons

Read along — listen to the text

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

My city has four clear seasons, and I love how different life feels in each one. In spring, the weather is mild and a little unpredictable — if it's sunny, everyone goes to the parks, but if it rains, the cafés fill up instead. I always carry a small umbrella in my bag from March onwards, just in case.

Summer here can get very hot, sometimes over thirty degrees. If the temperature rises too much, the local pools get extremely busy, and many people prefer to stay indoors during the hottest part of the afternoon. Evenings are the best time to be outside in summer, when it's finally a bit cooler.

Autumn is my favourite season. The air becomes fresh and cool, and the leaves change colour beautifully. If it's a clear day, I'll go for a long walk in the countryside nearby. Winter, on the other hand, brings a lot of snow, and if there's heavy snow overnight, schools sometimes close for the day. Despite the cold, I enjoy watching the first snowfall of the year — it always feels a little magical.

Question 1.What does the writer do from March onwards?

Question 2.What happens if the summer temperature rises too much?

Question 3.What is the writer's favourite season?

Question 4.What does the writer do on a clear autumn day?

Question 5.What sometimes happens after heavy snow overnight?

Answer all items, then check.
PET Reading Part 1

What to do

  1. 1.Read the notices.
  2. 2.Choose the correct meaning, A, B or C.
Weather warning on a local news website

Weather warning

WEATHER WARNING Heavy snow is expected tonight and tomorrow morning. Drivers are advised to avoid unnecessary journeys before 10am.

1.What does the warning tell drivers?

Text message from a friend
Priya09:15
Hey! The forecast says it'll rain all afternoon, so let's move our walk to tomorrow morning instead. It should be sunny then. Let me know if that works!

2.Why does the friend want to change the plan?

Sign outside a park

Park closed

PARK CLOSED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE Several trees have fallen. The park will reopen once it is safe. Sorry for any inconvenience.

3.Why is the park closed?

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

Listening — the weekend weather forecast

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Presenter:Good morning! Here's your weekend weather forecast.

Presenter:On Saturday, it will be mostly cloudy with a temperature of around fifteen degrees — sorry, I mean sixteen degrees.

Presenter:There might be some light rain in the morning, but it should clear up by the afternoon.

Presenter:On Sunday, expect sunny weather all day, with a top temperature of twenty degrees.

Presenter:If you're planning to go outside on Sunday, it will be a good day for a picnic or a walk.

Presenter:Winds will be light both days, and there is no warning of storms this weekend.

Presenter:Remember, if you're heading to the coast on Sunday, take some sun cream — it's going to be a warm one!

Question 1.What is Saturday's temperature, after the correction?

Question 2.What weather is expected on Saturday morning?

Question 3.What is Sunday's top temperature?

Question 4.What does the presenter suggest doing on Sunday?

Question 5.What does the presenter advise for people going to the coast on Sunday?

Answer all items, then check.
PET Listening Part 3

What to do

Listen again and complete the notes with ONE or TWO words or a number.

Part 3 audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Weekend Weather Forecast

Notes

Notes taken from a weather forecast broadcast

  • Saturday weather:
  • Saturday temperature:
  • Saturday morning:
  • Sunday weather:
  • Sunday temperature:
  • Bring to the coast:
Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

Reading Part 1 and Listening note completion

Strategy

Read/listen for the whole meaning, and always take the corrected answer.

Task

  1. 1Reading Part 1: match short weather notices, warnings and messages to their correct meaning (A, B or C).
  2. 2Listening: complete notes with a word or number from a longer forecast, listened to twice, watching for corrections.

Example

Forecast: fifteen degrees — sorry, I mean sixteen degrees. The correct note answer is sixteen, not fifteen.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation
Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Complete: 'If it ____ (rain), we'll stay home.'

Q2.Which tense follows 'will' in the result clause of the first conditional?

Answer all items, then check.
Writing Part 2Write an article
≈100 words

Write a short message to a friend (25–35 words) about weekend plans that depend on the weather. Use at least one first conditional sentence.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved
Show model answer & examiner comment

Hi! If it's sunny on Saturday, let's go for a picnic in the park. If it rains, we could watch a film at my place instead. Let me know what you'd prefer — see you soon!

EX

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.
Mark scheme extract
5All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length.

Speaking Task · 09

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open Expressions BankConversation phrases and functional language from across the course

Talk with a partner about weather and seasons. Ask and answer using the first conditional and weather vocabulary.

Speaking · Part 3
Discussion task
2–3 min · pair

Examiner

"Now talk together about which season is best for free time activities."

Candidate booklet
Part 3 · Discussion task

Discuss together

Which season is the best for free time activities?

ASpring
BSummer
CAutumn
DWinter

Now decide together

Together, choose the best season for outdoor activities and give two reasons.

Useful discussion language

"What do you think about…?""I agree, but…""That's a good idea because…""I'm not sure about that.""How about you?""Shall we choose…?""Let's decide on…""So we both think…"

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Use if the class finishes early. ~14 min total

Homework · 10

Take-home

Take it home

Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.

WritingProductive

Write five first conditional sentences about your plans for next week, depending on the weather.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Example

If it's sunny on Saturday, I'll go cycling.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

ReadingReceptive

Reread the three weather notices and write one sentence explaining each in your own words.

Your response

0 words Saved

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

ListeningReceptive

Listen to (or reread) the weekend forecast again and complete the notes from memory.

Your response

0 words Saved

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Use the first conditional (if + present simple, will + infinitive) to talk about real, possible weather plans.
  • The two clauses can go in either order; no comma is needed when 'if' comes second.
  • In Reading Part 1, read the whole notice for the reason or advice, not just the topic.
  • In listening notes, always write the corrected answer if the speaker corrects themselves.
Extra Practice

Need more practice?

Optional · your lesson progress stays the same
All Extra Practice