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Samantha’s Autumn Project: Costa del Sol

Samantha is thirteen, and school is getting busy this autumn. After homework, she is starting a small research project of her own. She loves travelling, so she wants to learn everything about the Costa del Sol and maybe go there one day. She watches short travel vlogs in the evenings and reads simple articles from the school library. In her notes she writes about Málaga city, the Picasso Museum, the long beach in Torremolinos, and the Nerja Caves. She also keeps a list of useful Spanish phrases and a budget plan for a future trip.

Samantha enjoys video games, especially adventure games with friends at the weekend. But she tries to balance her screen time. She swims at the community pool, plays basketball with her cousins, and this week she is trying padel for the first time. She also likes quiet time with mystery comics.

Right now, Samantha is making a map of places to visit and saving links to helpful travel blogs. Next month, she is going to ask her English teacher to start a class blog so students can share ideas about autumn activities and travel dreams.

Glossary: research = study; vlog = video blog; coastline = land next to the sea; padel = racket sport; budget = money plan

1) Comprehension

A. True/False (T/F)

Samantha only likes football. ____
She wants to learn about the Costa del Sol for a future trip. ____

B. Multiple Choice

3. Which sport is new for Samantha?

☐ A) Football ☐ B) Padel ☐ C) Swimming

4. What does she use to learn about the Costa del Sol?

☐ A) Only textbooks ☐ B) Travel vlogs and articles ☐ C) Only comics

C. Short Answers

5. Write two places Samantha notes in her research: __________________ and __________________

6. How does she balance her screen time? __________________________________________

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple (incl. be)	Present Continuous (be + V-ing)
Meaning / Use • Habits & routines • Facts & permanent states • Timetables • Likes/dislikes	Meaning / Use • Actions now/around now • Temporary situations • Changes/trends • Near-future arrangements
Model • She usually watches* vlogs.* • Málaga is in Spain.	Model • She is reading* now.* • This week she is trying* padel.* • We are meeting* on Friday.*
Time markers • always, usually, often, sometimes, never • every day/week • on Mondays • after school	Time markers • now, right now, at the moment • today, this week • these days, currently
Form (Affirmative) • I/you/we/they play • he/she/it plays • be: I am, you/we/they are, he/she/it is	Form (Affirmative) • I am playing • you/we/they are playing • he/she/it is playing
Negatives • do not/does not + base → don’t/doesn’t play • be: am not / aren’t / isn’t	Negatives • am not / aren’t / isn’t + V-ing → isn’t playing
Questions • Do/Does + subject + base? → Does she play? • with be: Am/Are/Is + subject? → Is she 13?	Questions • Am/Are/Is + subject + V-ing? → Is she reading?
Spelling tips • 3rd-person -s/-es: watch → watches; go → goes; study → studies	Spelling tips • -ing: write → writing (drop e); swim → swimming (double CVC); play → playing
Stative verbs (use Simple, not Continuous): like, love, hate, know, want, need, understand, believe, seem → She likes* mystery comics.*	(same rule)

Samantha – Contrast Examples (pair each row)

Present Simple	Present Continuous
She watches* travel vlogs in the evenings.*	She is reading* an article now.*
She swims* on Wednesdays.*	This week she is trying* padel.*
She is a student.	She is working* at the library today.*
—	They are meeting* to plan the class blog on Friday.*

Quick Check (left = questions / right = answers)

Complete with the correct tense	Key
1) She usually ___ (play) basketball, but today she ___ (study).	plays / is studying
2) I ___ (be) 13 and I ___ (live) in Málaga.	am / live
3) They ___ (meet) the coach this afternoon.	are meeting
4) He ___ (not watch) videos on school nights.	doesn’t watch
5) Are you ___ (work) on your map now?	working

Summary

“Present Simple = habit/fact.
Present Continuous = now/temporary/arrangement.”
“Add -s for he/she/it.”
“Use do/does for negatives/questions; with be, invert: Is she…?”
“No -ing with stative verbs: I know / I want / She likes.”

3) Language Focus – Present Simple / Present Continuous / Going to

Complete the gaps with the correct form.

She usually ______________ (watch) travel vlogs, but today she ______________ (read) an article.
Samantha ______________ (be) 13 and she ______________ (study) at school.
Every weekend, she ______________ (play) co‑op games with friends.
Right now she ______________ (look) at a map of Málaga.
Next month she ______________ (be going to + plan) a simple budget.
There ______________ (be) many beaches on the Costa del Sol.
She often ______________ (go) swimming, but she ______________ (try) padel this week.
Samantha ______________ (not) only like football; she enjoys reading too.

4) Word Order (Make correct sentences)

is / project / her / Autumn / starting / Samantha.
travel / she / vlogs / evenings / in / watches / the.
museum / the / about / reads / Picasso / she.
are / beaches / many / there / sandy.
is / padel / trying / she / this week.
going / to / is / a class blog / start / she.

5) Speaking – Pair Q&A

Student A asks, Student B answers. Then swap. Use: I usually… / I’m …ing this week / I’m going to…

What autumn activities do you usually do after school?
What are you doing this week that is different?
Which sports do you like? (not only football!)
Do you watch any travel videos or channels? Which one?
What are you going to try this term: a new sport, game, or book?
Which place would you like to visit one day? Why?

Garden Storm Rescue

Our class has a small garden behind the gym. We usually water the plants before lunch. Milo often checks the soil. I normally pull weeds with Sara. We also write notes in a green journal.

Today a storm is coming, so everyone is busy. Mr. Lee is moving the pots under the roof. Sara is covering the seedlings with nets. Milo is measuring the wind with a little meter. Lina is counting snails near the marigolds. I am tying the tall sunflowers to stakes. The rain is starting, and we are laughing.

We usually work slowly, but right now we are racing the clouds. We take care of the garden every week. Today we are protecting it.

Questions

Where is the class garden?
When do you usually water the plants?
Who often checks the soil?
Who do you normally pull weeds with?
What color is the journal you write in?
Why is everyone busy today?
What is Mr. Lee doing right now?
What is Sara doing at the moment?
What is Milo measuring today?
Who is counting snails, and where?
What are you doing with the sunflowers?
How are you working now, and how do you usually work?

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