Listen and note: a school garden talk, exam-style listening
Students learn how to take notes from a talk, then complete exam-style notes while listening for numbers, days, a spelled name and a date, with corrections in the script.
At a glance
- From
- Level 3, Bridge English: Week 31, Study skills
- Grammar
- phrasal verbs for study (look up, go over, catch up)
- Key language
- We planned... but... / We used to... but now... / That's K-O-W... / numbers, dates, times; abbreviations: approx, e.g., yrs, Thu, &
- Children make
- A completed set of notes (nine gaps) and a short note-taking exercise from a partner's mini-talk.
- Class size
- Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.
Objective
Students identify key information in a talk, avoid distractors, and write short notes that include numbers, times, dates and a spelled name.
Success criteria for children
- I can write key words, not whole sentences.
- I can listen for corrections ("but", "not", "used to").
- I can write numbers, times, dates and a spelled name correctly.
Timing: 60 minutes
| Minutes | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 | Warm-up: what do you write down? | A one-sentence dictation and a notes competition. |
| 6 to 14 | Teach: how to take notes | Key words, numbers as digits, abbreviations, listening for corrections. |
| 14 to 18 | Before listening | Read the gaps and predict. |
| 18 to 26 | First listening | Complete as much as you can. |
| 26 to 34 | Second listening and check | Check and complete; compare with a partner. |
| 34 to 42 | Practice: shorten into notes | Task 2: turn sentences into notes. |
| 42 to 56 | Pair mini-talks | One partner talks for 45 seconds; the other takes notes. |
| 56 to 60 | Exit ticket | Write notes for one sentence. |
Materials
- Worksheet, pencils
- A timer for the pair mini-talks
- Exam study tips (free, linked from Week 31)
- Mind maps (A2) (free, linked from Week 31)
- Taking notes (A2) (free, linked from Week 31)
Before the lesson: Read the script clearly at natural speed. Do not give out the script. This task is in the style of exam note completion (one or two words or a number per gap) and is practice only, not an official exam paper.
Step by step, with teacher talk
0 to 6 minWarm-up: what do you write down?
- Read: "The meeting is on Thursday 14 May at twelve forty-five in room 6." Students write the shortest note that keeps the facts (for example "Thu 14 May 12.45 rm 6"). Compare.
6 to 14 minTeach: how to take notes
- Show a model: write only the words that carry meaning (nouns, numbers, names). Show abbreviations: Thu, approx, m, &, yrs.
- Explain that a speaker may say one thing and then correct it ("six raised beds, but only four"). The answer is the correction.
- "We planned six beds, but built four." Which number is the answer? (Four.)
- Do you write "twelve forty-five" or "12.45"? (12.45.)
14 to 18 minBefore listening
- Students read the notes on task 1 and predict what kind of word goes in each gap: a year, a number, a day, a name, a thing.
18 to 26 minFirst listening
- Read or play the talk once. Students write what they hear. No stopping.
26 to 34 minSecond listening and check
- Read the talk again. Students complete the gaps and check spelling. Compare in pairs, then as a class.
- How do you write the name when it is spelled out? (All capitals, no hyphens: KOWALSKI.)
34 to 42 minPractice: shorten into notes
- Students write short notes for three sentences. Check aloud.
42 to 56 minPair mini-talks
- Pairs talk about their weekend plan or their favourite place, adding one number and one correction. The listener writes notes (task 3).
- Swap roles. Check notes against the speaker's memory.
56 to 60 minExit ticket
- See below.
Differentiation
Support
- Give the notes with the first letter of each answer.
- Play the talk three times, once per section.
Stretch
- Listen to a radio or school assembly item at home and note five key facts.
- Write three questions the talk does not answer.
- Create your own note-completion gaps for a short talk and test a partner.
Listening script
One speaker, about two minutes. The garden, Ms Rahman and Mr Kowalski are invented.
Ms Rahman: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for coming. I'm Ms Rahman, and I look after our school wildlife garden. I'd like to tell you what we do, and how you can join in.
Ms Rahman: First, a little history. The garden opened in 2019. At first we planned to build six raised beds, but there was only enough space for four, so that's what we have today.
Ms Rahman: The pond is everyone's favourite part. It's three metres long, and last spring we counted twelve frogs in it. We also see dragonflies in summer, but the frogs are the real stars. Please don't touch the pond without a teacher.
Ms Rahman: Now, how to join the garden club. We used to meet on Fridays, but from this term we meet on Thursdays, at a quarter to one. That's twelve forty-five, just after lunch. You don't need special boots, but do bring a pair of gloves, because some of our plants have thorns.
Ms Rahman: Our new helper, Mr Kowalski, will give out the tools. That's K-O-W-A-L-S-K-I. And finally, don't forget the spring plant sale on the fourteenth of May. All the money will buy seeds for next year. Thank you!
Questions
- When did the garden open?
- How many raised beds are there now?
- How long is the pond, and how many frogs did they count?
- When does the club meet now?
- What is the plant sale money for?
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.
School wildlife garden: notes
1. Listen and complete the notes. Write one or two words, or a number.
| Topic | Notes |
|---|---|
| Garden opened in | |
| Number of raised beds | |
| Pond length | metres |
| Frogs counted last spring | |
| Club day | |
| Club time | |
| Bring | a pair of |
| Helper's name | Mr |
| Plant sale date | May |
2. Write short notes (not full sentences).
- The club meets every Thursday at a quarter to one.
- We counted twelve frogs in the pond last spring.
- The plant sale is on the fourteenth of May.
3. Listen to your partner's mini-talk. Write notes.
| Topic | Notes |
|---|---|
Answer key
Listening script questions
- 2019.
- Four.
- Three metres; twelve frogs.
- Thursdays at 12.45.
- Seeds for next year.
Worksheet
- 1: 2019; 4 (four); 3 (three); 12 (twelve); Thursday; 12.45 (a quarter to one); gloves; Kowalski; 14.
- 2: Sample: club Thu 12.45 / 12 frogs in pond last spring / plant sale 14 May.
- 3: answers will vary. Check key words, numbers and abbreviations.
Exit ticket
Write short notes for this sentence: "Our next meeting is on Tuesday the third of June at ten past four in the library." (Next meeting: Tue 3 June, 4.10, library)
Homework
Listen to a short radio item or video with an adult (two minutes). Write five notes with at least two numbers. Share them next lesson.
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- Level 3, Week 31: Study skills (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
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