Describing Schedules

Describing Schedules

  • Post category:Speaking

Topic: Time

Mode: Interpersonal 

Level: Novice

Students will describe various daily routines.

NOTE: There are three versions of this activity below. In Version 1 and Version 2, students describe existing schedules. In Version 3, students present their own schedules. Version 1 and 2 can be used to prepare students for Version 3.

Version 1: Mary’s Schedule

Instruction to the teacher

  • Show students Mary’s schedule.
  • Model how to describe Mary’s schedule. For example, 

    Mary eats breakfast at 8:30 am.

    Mary has dinner at 6:30 pm.

  • Ask students to present Mary’s schedule orally. 
MARY’S SCHEDULE
8:30 am           Breakfast
9:00amMeeting with Professor Lee
12:00PMLunch
12:45PMClass
5:00PMWorkout
6:30PMDinner

Version 2: Picture Schedule

Instruction to the teacher: 

  • Prepare a schedule with pictures of common activities and times (or use the one given below).
  • Pair students up.
  • Ask one student to select a picture and show this picture to his/her partner; the other student guesses what the picture is about and then describes the schedule using one sentence. For example,


7:00 pm

        Response: I will watch Movie at 7:00 pm.

  • Ask students to take turns. 
  • They can decide to use 1st, 2nd or 3rd person and any tense in constructing their responses.

Instructions to students

Select a picture with an activity and time in it, and ask your partner to describe when this activity takes place. Remember  to take turns.

The picture schedule



8:45 am


10:15 am
12:50 pm

2:00 pm

7:00 pm

Example answers:

  1. I have math class at 8:45 am.
  2. I have music class at 10:15 am.
  3. I take a nap at 12:50 pm.
  4. I play soccer at 2:00 pm.
  5. I have dance class at 7:00 pm.

Version 3: My Schedule

Instructions to the teacher:

  • Give students a model: I get up at 8:00 am everyday. I eat breakfast at 8:30 am.
  • Pair students up.
  • With the assistance of sample sentences below, ask students to describe their daily routine with peers.

Example sentences:

I get up at ______.

I eat breakfast at ________.

I go to school at _________.

I eat my lunch at________.

I come home from school at ______.

I eat my dinner at _________.

I go to bed at________.

Categories: Speaking