He said he was...: interview a classmate and report it
Students read an interview with a swimming coach, learn how tenses change in reported speech, then interview a classmate and report what they said.
At a glance
- From
- Level 3, Bridge English: Week 21, Passing it on
- Grammar
- reported speech: said, told, asked
- Key language
- He said (that) he lived... / She told me she was going to... / I asked where he lived. / I asked if he could swim. / present to past, will to would, can to could
- Children make
- Four sentences reporting a classmate's answers.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
Students report statements and questions with said, told and asked, changing tenses and pronouns correctly.
Success criteria for children
- I can change the tense when I report what someone said.
- I can report a question with ask and if or a question word.
- I can interview a classmate and report the answers.
Timing: 60 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 | Warm-up: whisper chain | A message is passed down a line; the last child reports it. |
| 6 to 14 | Read: the coach interview | Read the interview and answer questions. |
| 14 to 24 | Teach: reporting statements | Move the tense one step back; change pronouns. |
| 24 to 32 | Teach: reporting questions | asked + if or a question word, with normal word order. |
| 32 to 40 | Practice | Worksheet task 1: five sentences. |
| 40 to 56 | Interview and report | Pairs interview each other with four questions, then write the report. |
| 56 to 60 | Exit ticket | Report two sentences. |
Materials
- Worksheet, pencils
- Question cards (optional): hobbies, weekend, plans, abilities
- Reported speech (free, linked from Week 21)
- Breaking News English (free, linked from Week 21)
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 6 minWarm-up: whisper chain
- Whisper "I'm going to visit my cousin on Saturday" to the first child. The last child says "She said she was going to visit her cousin on Saturday." Discuss what changed.
6 to 14 minRead: the coach interview
- Pairs read the dialogue aloud and swap roles. Answer the comprehension questions.
14 to 24 minTeach: reporting statements
- Write on the board: "I live near the river." He said he lived near the river. Add: am going to to was going to; can to could; will to would.
- Compare said and told: "He said he lived..." / "He told me he lived..." (told needs a person).
- "I like swimming." Reported: "She said she ___ swimming." (Liked.)
- Do we say "He told he was tired"? (No: he told me he was tired.)
24 to 32 minTeach: reporting questions
- Write: "Where do you live?" I asked where he lived. and "Do you like it?" I asked if he liked it.
- Show that there is no do/does/did and no question mark.
- Is it "I asked where did he live" or "where he lived"? (Where he lived.)
32 to 40 minPractice
- Students complete task 1. Check aloud.
40 to 56 minInterview and report
- Students ask four questions (task 2) and write the answers in direct speech. Then they write four reported sentences.
- Pairs read their reports to each other and check the tenses.
56 to 60 minExit ticket
- See below.
Differentiation
Support
- Give a table of tense changes: live to lived, am to was, can to could, will to would.
- Provide the questions and ask students to report only statements.
Stretch
- Report a longer interview with said, told, asked and also added.
- Use reporting verbs: explained, admitted, promised.
- Report the past: "I went" becomes "He said he had gone."
Dialogue
An original interview between Zara (reporter) and Mr Fraser (the coach). Both are invented.
Zara: Where do you live, Mr Fraser?
Mr Fraser: I live near the river.
Zara: Do you enjoy teaching?
Mr Fraser: Yes, I love it.
Zara: What are you going to do this term?
Mr Fraser: I'm going to start a swimming club.
Zara: Can you swim a long way?
Mr Fraser: I can swim two kilometres.
Zara: What will the club do?
Mr Fraser: We will practise every Wednesday.
Questions
- Where does Mr Fraser live?
- Does he enjoy teaching?
- What is he going to start?
- How far can he swim?
- When will the club practise?
Printable worksheet
Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.
Reported speech
1. Report what was said.
- "I live near the river." He said...
- "I'm going to start a club." He said...
- "I can swim two kilometres." He said...
- "We will practise on Wednesdays." He said...
- "Do you like swimming?" She asked me...
2. Interview a classmate. Write the question and the answer, then report it.
| Question | Answer (direct) | Report |
|---|---|---|
| What do you do at weekends? | ||
| Where are you going to go this summer? | ||
| What can you do really well? | ||
| What will you do tomorrow? |
Answer key
Dialogue questions
- Near the river.
- Yes, he loves it.
- A swimming club.
- Two kilometres.
- Every Wednesday.
Worksheet
- 1: He said he lived near the river. / He said he was going to start a club. / He said he could swim two kilometres. / He said they would practise on Wednesdays. / She asked me if (whether) I liked swimming.
- 2: answers will vary. Check the tense moves back one step (do to did / present to past), pronouns change, and there is no question order in reported questions.
Exit ticket
Report these: "I'm hungry," said Ali. / "Can you help me?" asked Mia. (Ali said he was hungry. / Mia asked if I could help her.)
Homework
Interview someone at home with three questions. Write what they said in direct speech, then report it in three sentences.
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- Level 3, Week 21: Passing it on (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
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