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📕 A2: Grades 7-9 • MY TOWN

Our Town: Describing Places with there is/are

In this lesson, students will learn to describe their town using 'there is/are' and articles 'a/an/the'. They will read a community newsletter, listen to a neighborhood monologue, and practice speaking and writing about local places.

Our Town: Describing Places with there is/are
💬 Warm-up
1 What is your favorite place in your town?
2 Is there a river or a park near your home?
3 How would you describe the streets in your neighborhood?

🎯 Objectives

  • Use 'there is' and 'there are' to describe places in a town
  • Identify and correctly use articles 'a/an/the' in descriptions
In this block:

📚 Vocabulary

1.
river
"There is a long river near my house."
a large natural stream of water
2.
park
"Children play in the park every afternoon."
a public area with grass and trees for recreation
3.
building
"That tall building is a library."
a structure with walls and a roof, like a house or school
4.
street
"The street in front of my school is very clean."
a paved road in a city or town
5.
clean
"We keep our neighborhood clean by recycling."
not dirty; free from mess
6.
dirty
"After the rain, the street was a little dirty."
not clean; covered with dust or mud
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
river
a large natural stream of water
park
a public area with grass and trees for recreation
building
a structure with walls and a roof, like a house or school
street
a paved road in a city or town
clean
not dirty; free from mess
dirty
not clean; covered with dust or mud

✍️ Practice

Guess the missing word.
1. We keep our neighborhood clean by picking up trash.
2. After the festival, the ground was quite dirty .
3. The street in front of the school is very wide.
4. The children play in the park every afternoon.
5. That tall building is the town library.
6. There is a river near my house that flows through the town.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
1. We keep our neighborhood clean by picking up trash.
2. After the festival, the ground was quite dirty .
3. The street in front of the school is very wide.
4. The children play in the park every afternoon.
5. That tall building is the town library.
6. There is a river near my house that flows through the town.

📖 Reading

Our Town Newsletter

Hello neighbors! Welcome to the first edition of "Our Town News". This month we take a look at the places we love in our town. One of the best spots is the river that runs through the center. The water is clean and clear. There is a small path along the river for walking and biking. Many families spend time there on sunny days.

Another favorite place is the park on Oak Street. It is a beautiful green space with playgrounds and benches. The street around the park is also very clean because people take care of it. There are many buildings near the park, like the library and the community center. Some buildings are new, but others are old and look a bit dirty. The town plans to clean them soon.

Do you have a favorite place in town? Write to us! We want to share your stories in the next newsletter. Remember: there is always something to do in our town. Whether you like the river, the park, or just walking on a clean street, you can find it here.

Comprehension Questions

1.
What is the newsletter about?
It is about favorite local places in the town.
2.
Where is the river located?
The river runs through the center of town.
3.
Describe the park.
The park is on Oak Street, with playgrounds and benches.
4.
Why is the street near the park clean?
Because people take care of it.
5.
What does the town plan to do with the old buildings?
The town plans to clean them.

🎧 Listening Practice

A Walk in My Neighborhood

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Listening context

Comprehension Questions

1.
How does Luna describe the river water?
The water is very clean.
2.
Where is the park?
The park is near her school.
3.
Are all streets clean?
No, some streets near the market are a little dirty.
4.
What does Luna like about the park?
She likes the big tree and the benches.
5.
When does Luna meet her friends?
She meets them after school.

🗣️ Pair Work

Neighborhood Comparison

"Work with a partner. First, think about your own neighborhood. Describe it using 'there is' and 'there are'. Then compare with your partner. Find at least three differences."

👉 1. Think about your neighborhood. What places are there?

👉 2. Write down 3-4 sentences using 'there is/are' and vocabulary words like river, park, street, building, clean, dirty.

👉 3. Share your sentences with your partner.

👉 4. Discuss similarities and differences between your neighborhoods.

👉 5. Tell the class one difference you found.

🚀 EnglishDee Tasks

KEYWORDS: river park building street clean dirty
✍️ WRITING

My Neighborhood

Write a paragraph (80-100 words) about your neighborhood. Use 'there is/are' and articles 'a/an/the'. Describe a park, street, river, or building.

✅ Checklist:
  • Minimum 80 words, use at least 4 vocabulary words, use 'there is/are' correctly, use articles a/an/the correctly.
🎙️ SPEAKING

Neighborhood Talk

Record a 45-second talk about your town. Use 'there is/are' and Describe what you like and maybe 1 thing you don't like. Speak clearly.

✅ Checklist:
  • Duration: 45 seconds, use at least 4 vocabulary words, use 'there is/are' and articles correctly, speak fluently.
Helpful Phrases
  • In my neighborhood, there is a...
  • There are two streets near my house...
  • The park is clean because...
  • I think the river is...
  • My favorite building is...
  • One thing I don't like is that some streets are dirty.