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Lesson planB150 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Must or Have To? School rules
Students compare must, have to, need to and needn't to talk about school or work rules, then write a guide for a newcomer.
Must have to contrast · Need to neednt · Modals · School · Rules
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Plan at a glance
Aims
- Use must vs have to accurately
- Use need to / needn't accurately
- Learn and use 12 words and phrases in 2 sets: School rules, Homework and exams
- Read for detail: new rules at Riverside School
- Writing task: a guide for a new student
Stages · 50 min
- 5 minLead-in: Pairs talk about modals and share ideas with the class.
- 5 minVocabulary: Ex. 1
- 5 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes together and check understanding.
- 10 minControlled practice: Ex. 2–3
- 5 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4
- 10 minReading: Ex. 5
- 10 minWriting: Ex. 6
Printables
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Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)Grammar notes
must or have to?
- Both mean something is necessary. Use must for rules you give yourself and for written rules and signs: I must study harder this term. Students must wear a uniform.
- Use have to for rules that come from someone else: We have to wear a uniform at my school.
- In questions and in the past, use have to: Do you have to wear a uniform? Last year we had to stay until five.
- must has no past form. Say had to, not musted or must have.
mustn't, don't have to, needn't
- mustn't = it isn't allowed: You mustn't cheat in the exam.
- don't have to = it isn't necessary, but you can if you want: You don't have to stay for the club.
- needn't / don't need to = it isn't necessary: You needn't print your essay. (not needn't to)
Study tips
- Make two lists about your school or job: things you have to do, and things you don't have to do.
- mustn't and don't have to look similar but mean very different things. Check which one you need: not allowed, or not necessary?
Glossary
- School rules6 items
- Homework and exams6 items
Complete the exercises, then check your answers.
1
School words
Match each word or phrase with its meaning.
Tap an item…
…then its match
2
Rules at my school
Complete each sentence with the right form. Use the words in the box. There are two extra words.
Word box
Tap a gap, then a word, or type the answer.
- a
Last year we wear a uniform, but now we can wear our own clothes.
- b
You use your phone during the exam. It's against the rules.
- c
Tomorrow is a holiday, so we go to school.
- d
you have to wear a uniform at your school?
- e
My sister get up at six every day because her school starts at half past seven.
- f
You bring a pen to the exam. The school gives you one.
- g
I remember to call my grandma tonight. It's her birthday!
3
Necessary, not allowed or your choice?
Put each sentence in the right group.
- a
All students must attend the morning meeting.
- b
You mustn't run inside the school.
- c
You don't have to stay for the after-school club.
- d
You needn't print your essay. You can send it by email.
- e
We have to hand in our homework by Friday.
- f
Students mustn't eat in the library.
- g
It isn't necessary to bring a dictionary. There are some in the classroom.
- h
Everyone has to pass an exam at the end of the course.
- i
If you fail an exam, you have to take it again in June.
4
Find and correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correction: the corrected word(s) or the whole sentence.
- a
I made an exam yesterday.
- b
I want to approve the exam.
- c
I failed in my English exam.
- d
Yesterday I must stay after school to finish my project.
- e
Do we must wear a uniform tomorrow?
- f
You don't have to cheat in exams. It's against the rules.
- g
She have to revise for her test this weekend.
- h
You needn't to bring your books on Friday.
5
Read: new rules at Riverside School
Read the text. Are the sentences true, false or not given?
From next month, students at Riverside School will have to follow some new rules. Everyone must wear the full school uniform, including a tie, from Monday to Thursday, but on Fridays students don't have to wear it. Phones are allowed in the playground, but students mustn't use them in class. Homework will change too. Students needn't print it any more, because they can hand it in online. Last year many students complained because they had to carry heavy books every day, so now the school will keep the books in the classrooms. The headteacher, Mrs Patel, reminds students that the rules are there to help them, and she wants to hear their ideas at the next school meeting.
- a
Students have to wear a tie on Fridays.
- b
Students can use their phones in the playground.
- c
Students needn't print their homework.
- d
The new rules start next week.
- e
Some parents complained about the heavy books.
- f
Mrs Patel wants students to share their ideas.
6
Write: a guide for a new student
Write a short guide.
A new student is joining your school, college or workplace. Write a short guide for them (8–10 sentences). What do they have to do? What mustn't they do? What don't they have to do? Use must, have to, mustn't, don't have to and needn't. Word box: rule · uniform · homework · attend · hand in · revise · cheat · exam · pass an exam · fail an exam · necessary · remind Example: At my school, you have to attend every class, but you don't have to wear a uniform. You mustn't use your phone in lessons. Before an exam, you should revise, and remember: it isn't necessary to stay up all night!
Suggested minimum: 80 words
0 words · aim for at least 80
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Revise with a game
This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.
- Step UpAnswer the lesson's questions to climb to the top.
- Pair UpMatch the lesson's words to their meanings against the clock.
- SnapA word and a meaning: do they go together? Answer fast.
- Fix ItFind the mistake in each sentence, then correct it.
- Quiz BoardTeams choose questions worth 100 to 500 points.
- Retro arcadeWord Invaders, Word Snake, Word Maze and Word Crossing: classic arcade games with the lesson's words.
Glossary
The 12 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 2 sets.
School rules
- rule
- something that says what you must or mustn't do
- uniform
- special clothes that all the students wear
- attend
- to go to a class or a school regularly
- cheat
- to break the rules to pass a test or win a game
- necessary
- needed; you have to do it or have it
- remind
- to make someone remember something
Homework and exams
- homework
- work a teacher gives you to do at home
- hand in
- to give your work to the teacher
- revise
- to study again before an exam
- exam
- an important test of what you know
- pass an exam
- to get a good enough result in an exam
- fail an exam
- to not get a good enough result in an exam
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