Which Way Is the Park? Navigating the City — Free ESL lesson plan

Lesson plan

Objectives

I can ask for the location of specific buildings using polite opening phrases.
I can understand and follow basic multi-step directions using 'left', 'right', and 'straight ahead'.
I can use common prepositions of place (next to, opposite, between) to describe a city map.
I can give simple directions to a peer using imperative verb forms.

Materials

Simplified city map with 15+ labeled buildings
Directional arrow flashcards
Student handouts with vocabulary list
Board and markers for drawing basic grids
Audio recording of a short dialogue (optional)
Digital timer for speaking activities

Warm-up

Start by drawing a simple 3x3 grid of 'shops' on the board. Ask students if they have ever been lost in a new city or a large shopping mall and how they felt. Briefly show icons for a cafe, a cinema, and a park, and ask students to describe where they are located in relation to each other using simple words like 'near' or 'far'.

Presentation

Introduce the 'Three-Step Method' for directions: 1. The Polite Opening ('Excuse me, can you help me?'), 2. The Question ('Where is the...?' or 'How do I get to...?'), and 3. The Instruction (Go straight, Turn left, It's on your right). Draw a compass rose and directional arrows on the board. Explain that when giving directions, we use the imperative (command) form of the verb without 'you'. For example: 'Turn left,' not 'You turn left.' Demonstrate the use of landmarks: 'Go past the bank' or 'It's next to the library.'

Guided practice

Distribute a map to each student. The teacher provides 'starting points' and 'destinations'. Students must trace the path with their finger as the teacher reads instructions: 'Start at the bus station. Go straight on Main Street for two blocks. Turn left at the museum. It is opposite the cafe.' Students call out the final destination. Repeat this 5 times, increasing speed and complexity each time.

Freer practice

Students work in pairs. Student A chooses a secret location on the map. Student B asks for directions from a specific starting point. Student A must give step-by-step instructions until Student B guesses the correct building. Then they swap roles. Encourage students to use 'Excuse me' and 'Thank you' to make it a realistic social interaction.

Wrap-up

Review the most difficult directions (left vs. right under pressure). Ask students to name one landmark in their own hometown and describe its location relative to their school. Provide a quick 'Exit Ticket' where students must write down three direction verbs they learned today.

Lost in the City: Leo's Big Adventure

Leo is fifteen years old and today is a very special day. He is visiting his cousin, Maya, in the big city for the first time. Leo lives in a very small village where there are only two streets and one small grocery store. The city, however, is huge and very busy. There are hundreds of tall buildings, bright lights, and many people walking quickly on the sidewalks. Maya told Leo to meet her at the 'Central Cinema' at 2:00 PM, but Leo is having a big problem: he is completely lost. Leo is standing in front of a large, blue building called the City Library. He looks at his map, but the wind is blowing, and the map is hard to read. He feels nervous. He sees a woman walking a small dog and decides to be brave. He walks up to her and says, 'Excuse me, could you help me? I am looking for the Central Cinema.' The woman smiles kindly. 'Oh, you are quite far from there,' she says. 'But don't worry, it is easy to find.' She points down the street. 'First, go straight down this road, King's Road, until you see a big supermarket on your left. That is Willow Street. Turn right at the supermarket. Walk past the post office and the pharmacy. When you reach the traffic lights, turn left onto Green Avenue. The cinema is a very large modern building. It is between the Italian restaurant and the toy shop. It is directly opposite the park.' Leo listens carefully and writes the directions down in his notebook. He thanks the woman and starts walking. As he walks, he sees many interesting things. He passes a park where kids are playing football. He sees a tall clock tower that chimes at the half-hour. Finally, he sees the supermarket the woman mentioned. He turns right. He sees the post office and the pharmacy. He reaches the traffic lights and turns left. Just as the woman said, there is the Central Cinema! Maya is standing in front of the doors, waving at him. Leo is happy. He realized that the city is not so scary if you know how to ask for help and follow directions. He is ready to enjoy the movie and spend the rest of the day exploring with his cousin.

Comprehension

Why is Leo in the city today?
Answer: He is visiting his cousin, Maya.
How does Leo feel about the city compared to his village?
Answer: The city is huge and busy with many buildings, while his village only has two streets.
Where is Leo supposed to meet Maya?
Answer: At the Central Cinema at 2:00 PM.
Where is Leo standing when he realizes he is lost?
Answer: In front of the City Library.
What is the first turn Leo needs to make according to the woman?
Answer: He needs to turn right at the supermarket.
What two buildings is the cinema between?
Answer: It is between the Italian restaurant and the toy shop.
What is directly opposite the cinema?
Answer: The park is directly opposite the cinema.
How does Leo feel at the end of the story?
Answer: He feels happy and realizes the city isn't scary because he can ask for help.

Grammar — The Imperative for Directions and Prepositions of Place

We use the imperative to give directions. This means we use the base form of the verb (Go, Turn, Stop) without a subject like 'you'. It is a polite way to give instructions when someone asks for help. Prepositions of place help us describe exactly where a building is. 'Next to' means beside it, 'Opposite' means on the other side of the street, and 'Between' means there is one building on the left and one on the right.

______ (Turn/Turning) right at the corner.
Answer: Turn
______ (Go/Going) straight for two blocks.
Answer: Go
The hospital is ______ the pharmacy and the bank. (next to/between)
Answer: between
Correct the mistake: You turn left at the park.
Answer: Turn left at the park.
The school is ______ (across) the street from the gym.
Answer: opposite
Don't ______ (take) the first right; take the second.
Answer: take
Walk ______ (passed/past) the library.
Answer: past
The bus stop is ______ (at/on) the corner.
Answer: on
______ (Cross/Across) the bridge to find the museum.
Answer: Cross
The cafe is ______ (next/next to) the cinema.
Answer: next to

Pronunciation

Focus: The 'th' /ð/ and /θ/ in Directions

Minimal pairs

Target: Three Contrast: Tree
Target: There Contrast: Dare
Target: Then Contrast: Den
Target: Through Contrast: True
Target: Thin Contrast: Tin
Target: Those Contrast: Doze

Drill

Explain the difference between the 'voiced' th in 'There' and the 'unvoiced' th in 'Through'. Students practice the sentence: 'Go straight through (unvoiced) the park, then (voiced) turn there (voiced) at the third (unvoiced) street.' Repeat the sentence three times, increasing speed each time while maintaining clear 'th' sounds.

Conversation — A tourist is at the train station and needs to find the local Youth Hostel and a nearby ATM.

Role A

You are a lost tourist. You have a heavy bag and are tired. You need to find the 'Sunshine Hostel' and an ATM to get money. Be very polite. Ask how long it takes to walk there.

Role B

You are a helpful local resident. You know the hostel is three blocks away. It is behind the big church. The nearest ATM is inside the supermarket, which is on the way to the hostel. Give clear instructions.

Useful phrases

Excuse me, could you help me?
I'm looking for...
How do I get to...?
Is it far?
Go straight on...
Turn left at the...
It's on your right.
You can't miss it!

Mapping My Neighborhood

Draw a simple map of the area around your house with at least 5 landmarks.
Write 5 sentences explaining where the landmarks are (e.g., 'The park is next to the shop').
Write a short dialogue (8 lines) between a tourist and you, giving directions to your school.
Online Research: Use Google Maps to find directions from your house to a nearby mall. Write down the first three steps.
Vocabulary Review: Write a definition in your own words for: 'Crossroads', 'Roundabout', and 'Sidewalk'.

Vocabulary

Go straight · verb phrase: To move forward without turning; "Go straight until you reach the end of the street."
Turn left · verb phrase: To move toward the left side; "Turn left at the traffic lights."
Turn right · verb phrase: To move toward the right side; "Turn right after you pass the school."
Opposite · preposition: Across from something or facing it; "The bank is opposite the museum."
Next to · preposition: Beside or very close to something; "The cafe is next to the bookstore."
Between · preposition: In the middle of two things; "The park is between the hospital and the mall."
Corner · noun: The place where two streets meet; "Wait for me on the corner of 5th Avenue."
Cross · verb: To go from one side of a road to the other; "Cross the street at the zebra crossing."
Blocks · noun: The distance between two cross streets; "Walk two blocks and then stop."
Traffic lights · noun: Red, yellow, and green lights that control cars; "Turn right at the traffic lights."
Past · preposition: Beyond a specific point or building; "Go past the church and you will see the park."
Looking for · verb phrase: Searching for something or someone; "I am looking for the train station."

Activities

Draw My City · 12 minutes
In pairs, Student A gets a blank grid. Student B has a completed map. Student B must describe where every building is located using prepositions of place ('The bakery is next to the park'). Student A must draw or label the grid based on the verbal instructions without looking at Student B's map. Compare at the end.
Blindfold Navigator · 12 minutes
One student closes their eyes (or uses a blindfold). The other student must give verbal directions to help them 'walk' a toy car or a finger across a paper maze on the desk. They must use phrases like 'Stop', 'Turn 90 degrees left', and 'Move forward three inches'. Change roles after reaching the goal.
The Tourist and the Local · 12 minutes
Students use a printed map. One student is a lost tourist who needs to find three different places. The other is a local who knows the area well. They must practice using polite openings and clear multi-step directions. After three locations, they switch roles so both practice giving and receiving instructions.

📖Which Way Is the Park? Navigating the City