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Why does school start later in California? Will and won't for predictions and offers

This A2 ESL lesson plan teaches will for predictions, quick decisions and offers through California's later school start times.

Grammar
The future simple, will or won't + verb for every person, for predictions (It won't be easy.), quick decisions and offers (I'll help you!), plus Will…? questions.
Topic
Teens' sleep and California's law that high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later, with words such as homeroom, zero period, learner's permit and night owl.
Activities
School news to read, a dialogue before school and a viewer's voice message to hear, self-checking drills, a chat full of offers and open boxes of predictions.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Wake up, sleepyhead!

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: sleepy morningsVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and chooseChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: why 8:30?

    • Look at the photo: a sleepy morningPictureUnlock
    • Read the school newsReal-life documentTry it
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: homeroom time!

    • Listen to Maya and EthanListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the right answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to the Viewer's QuestionListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: I think it will…

    • Study the scheme: will and won'tGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct optionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: will or won't + verbFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the table: will and won'tFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the right sentenceQuizUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: I'll help you!

    • Choose the right replies: I'll help you!ChatTry it
    • Open a box and answer: what will happen?Open the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with the words from the lessonFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the correct wordChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: say it in another wayFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the right answer: what do you say?QuizUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: the school news postChoose the optionUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: Ethan's messageDrag and dropUnlock

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Vocabulary

10 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+7 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • learner's permit
  • zero period
  • locker
  • announcement
  • night owl
  • driving test
  • nap

Grammar: will and won't for predictions, decisions and offers

The future simple, will + verb, does three jobs: it makes a prediction, a decision on the spot or an offer of help. At a California high school where the day now starts at 8:30 a.m., learners use one form for every person, ask Will…? questions, start predictions with I think and keep going to for plans.

I think students will sleep more. I'll help you!

will + verb: the same for every person. For predictions, quick decisions and offers.

Will and won't for every person

Will never changes: I will wake up, he will pass, they will be busy. Speech shortens it to I'll, you'll, it'll or we'll, and the negative is won't: It won't be easy. The base verb follows with no to and no -s.

Whowill (+)Short formwon't = will not (–)
II will wake up at seven.I'll wake up at seven.I won't wake up late.
youYou will love homeroom.You'll love homeroom.You won't be late.
heHe will pass the test.He'll pass the test.He won't yawn in class.
sheShe will come with us.She'll come with us.She won't forget.
itIt will rain today.It'll rain today.It won't be easy.
weWe will sleep more.We'll sleep more.We won't be tired.
theyThey will be busy.They'll be busy.They won't take a nap.

Predictions, quick decisions and offers

A prediction is your idea about the future: I think students will sleep more. A quick decision is made at the moment of speaking: It's cold. I'll get my jacket. An offer answers someone's problem: Your bag is heavy. I'll help you.

When do we use will?

UseExample
a prediction: your idea about the futureI think students will sleep more. It won't be easy.
a quick decision: you decide nowIt's cold. I'll get my jacket.
an offer: you want to helpYour bag is heavy. I'll help you.

At the high school

  • I think Ethan will pass his driving test.
  • I don't think Biscuit will like homeroom.
  • Homeroom? I'll come with you!
  • Will students sleep more? – Yes, they will.
  • Biscuit is yawning. I'll take him back to the Toaster.

Will…? questions and short answers

Questions put will before the subject: Will Ethan pass the test? What time will you wake up? Short answers repeat will or won't: Yes, he will. No, he won't. After yes, will stays in full.

QuestionShort answer
Will you come to homeroom?Yes, I will. / No, I won't.
Will Ethan pass the test?Yes, he will. / No, he won't.
Will they be tired?Yes, they will. / No, they won't.
What time will you wake up?I'll wake up at seven.

I think … will, I don't think … will

Predictions often open with I think: I think you'll love it. For a negative prediction, English usually puts not on think: I don't think it will rain is more common than I think it won't rain, though both are correct.

I think… / I don't think…

Predictions often start with I think or I don't think: I think you'll love it. To say no, we usually put the not on think: I don't think it will rain. This is more common than "I think it won't rain".

Decided now, or planned before?

I'll is for a decision you make now: The phone is ringing. I'll get it! For a plan made before, use going to: I'm going to visit my aunt on Saturday, because it was planned last week.

A plan from before? going to

I'll is for a decision now: The phone is ringing. I'll get it! For a plan from before, use going to: I'm going to visit my aunt on Saturday. (We planned it last week.)

Common mistakes

  • I will to go to homeroom.

    I will go to homeroom.

    will + verb, no to

  • He wills come tomorrow.

    He will come tomorrow.

    will is the same for every person

  • Will you going to school?

    Will you go to school?

    Will + person + verb

  • Will you come? – Yes, I'll.

    Yes, I will.

    no short form at the end

More lessons on this grammar: Future tenses lessons and exercises

Try the will exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 17 auto-checked exercises
  • 4 games
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • make predictions with will and won't: I think students will sleep more. It won't be easy.
  • make a quick decision or an offer with I'll: It's cold. I'll get my jacket. Your bag is heavy. I'll help you.
  • ask and answer Will…? questions: Will you come to homeroom? – Yes, I will. What time will you wake up?
  • give a negative prediction the usual way: I don't think it will rain.

Lesson 13 opens Healthy and happy habits, the fourth unit of English A2.2 · Curious Minds. It builds on A2.1 lesson 18, which taught going to for plans and predictions, and adds will for predictions, decisions made on the spot and offers. Lesson 15 puts will into the first conditional, and lesson 30 sets it against going to. A later start raises an obvious question, Will students sleep more?, so predictions with will come up naturally.

The warm-up spins a wheel of questions about mornings and sleep and brings ten words with pictures and audio, from wake up and yawn to zero period and learner's permit. Students then read student news on California's later start times and answer true-or-false and multiple-choice questions, then listen to Maya and Ethan (an AI-voiced dialogue) before school and to a viewer's voice message from Michigan. The grammar chapter follows the scheme with four drills that check themselves, from a gap-fill of will or won't + verb to a table of both forms for every person. In the speaking chapter, students reply to Maya's messages with predictions and offers, then open boxes that ask what will happen.

Nine homework tasks check themselves: word matching, anagrams and a word gap-fill, a choice of will forms, gap-fills that turn I think … won't into I don't think … will and statements into Will…? questions, sentences to put in order, a what-do-you-say quiz, a school news post and a message with gaps.

Grammar:
will for predictions · will for decisions and offers · won't · Will…? · I think / I don't think + will
Topic:
California · school start times · sleep · homeroom · learner's permit · zero period · Curious Minds

Teaching tips

  • Answer problems with offers: say This bag is heavy!, I'm cold or Someone is at the door!, and students reply at once with I'll: I'll help you. I'll close the window. I'll open it!
  • Ask about school hours before the reading: what time does school or work start for your students, and would a later start help? Then they read to find California's earliest start times for high schools and middle schools.
  • Play the dialogue before school twice: first for what happens in homeroom, then for every will and 'll, which students sort into predictions and decisions.
  • Make the guessing box a pair game: one box asks for three guesses about a partner's mornings, so each student guesses first (I think you'll wake up at seven), then checks with Will you…? questions.

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The whole course: English A2.2 · Curious Minds

32 lessons that pick up where English A2.1 ends, in simple American English, from the present perfect to used to, have to and relative clauses. Eight units cover nature, tech at home, heroes, healthy habits, fashion, school, animals and traditions. Pictures and definitions replace translations, and the practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 Wonders of nature

    the present perfect with ever and never, been to, superlatives with I've ever, articles with place names

    1. Lesson 1Have you ever seen the sky dance?The present perfect for experiences
    2. Lesson 2Have you been to the Grand Canyon?Present perfect vs past simple
    3. Lesson 3The longest cave in the worldSuperlatives with the present perfect
    4. Lesson 4The first national parkArticles with place names

  2. Unit 2 Clever tech at home

    the present perfect with just, already and yet, phrasal verbs, subject and object questions

    1. Lesson 5The chocolate bar that meltedThe present perfect with just
    2. Lesson 6Has my lunch arrived yet?Already and yet with the present perfect
    3. Lesson 7Turn it on, turn it offPhrasal verbs with it and them
    4. Lesson 8The girl who tests waterSubject and object questions

  3. Unit 3 Everyday heroes

    the past continuous, when and while, adjective order, story linkers

    1. Lesson 9When the pager beepsThe past continuous with was and were
    2. Lesson 10The man who planted apple treesPast continuous and past simple with when and while
    3. Lesson 11What's in the lost and found?The order of adjectives
    4. Lesson 12The dogs who saved NomeStory linkers

  4. Unit 4 Healthy and happy habits

    will for predictions, the zero and first conditionals, so do I and neither do I

    1. Lesson 13 · you're hereWhy does school start later in California?Will and won't for predictions, decisions and offers
    2. Lesson 14Brain freeze!The zero conditional for facts
    3. Lesson 15Doctor's orders: go to the park!The first conditional with if and will
    4. Lesson 16Walking in the mall at 7 a.m.Agreeing with So do I and Neither do I

  5. Unit 5 Style through time

    used to, didn't use to, made of and made from, still and not anymore

    1. Lesson 17Why did everyone use to wear a hat?Used to for past habits and states
    2. Lesson 18Jeans used to be work clothesUsed to in negatives and questions
    3. Lesson 19Quilts made from old clothesMade of, made from and made by
    4. Lesson 20Cowboy boots, still made by handStill, not anymore and no longer

  6. Unit 6 School in America

    have to, must and mustn't, be allowed to, had to

    1. Lesson 21Do you have to wear a uniform?Have to and don't have to for rules
    2. Lesson 22Stop for the yellow bus!Must, mustn't and don't have to
    3. Lesson 23A class trip to the SmithsonianBe allowed to and can for permission
    4. Lesson 24One room, one teacher, every gradeHad to and didn't have to for past duties

  7. Unit 7 Amazing animals

    relative clauses with which, that, who and where, look and sound + adjective, adjectives with prepositions

    1. Lesson 25The bird that copies car alarmsRelative clauses with which and that
    2. Lesson 26Alligators and crocodiles togetherWho, which, that and where in relative clauses
    3. Lesson 27Sailors thought it was a mermaidLook, sound and feel as linking verbs
    4. Lesson 28Beagles at the airportAdjectives with prepositions

  8. Unit 8 Traditions we love

    invitations, will vs going to, so and such, one and ones

    1. Lesson 29Come to our cookout!Making, accepting and refusing invitations
    2. Lesson 30Is spring going to come early?Will vs going to for the future
    3. Lesson 31From turnips to pumpkinsSo and such for emphasis
    4. Lesson 32Giant balloons over ManhattanOne and ones in place of a noun

Questions about this lesson

What is the future simple in English?
The future simple is will or won't plus the base verb, used for predictions, quick decisions and offers: I think students will sleep more. It won't be easy. I'll help you. It's the same for every person, and speech shortens it: I'll, she'll, they'll. The A2 lesson Why does school start later in California? on edio.ai teaches it at a high school that now starts at 8:30 a.m.
How do you use will for the future?
Use will for what you think or decide about the future: predictions (It will rain today.), decisions made at the moment of speaking (It's cold. I'll get my jacket.) and offers (I'll help you.). The base verb follows it directly, with no to: I will go, not I will to go. For plans made earlier, English usually prefers going to.
What does "won't" mean?
Won't is the short form of will not, the negative of will: It won't be easy. She won't forget. Like will, it stays the same for every person and takes the base verb, so it's He won't come, never He won't comes. Short answers can end with it: Will they be tired? – No, they won't.
How do you use will for predictions?
For a prediction, use will + verb for what you believe will happen, often after I think or with I'm sure: I think students will sleep more. You'll pass, I'm sure! For a negative prediction, say won't (It won't be easy.) or I don't think … will. In Why does school start later in California?, an A2 lesson on edio.ai, students predict whether a later start will help teens.
How do you make offers with will?
Make an offer with I'll + verb, right after you hear a problem: Your bag is heavy. – I'll help you. The dishes are dirty. – I'll wash them! In speech, the short form I'll is usual, and no to follows it. The chat in the A2 lesson Why does school start later in California? on edio.ai has an offer among its right replies: Sure! I'll help you.
Is it "Yes, I will" or "Yes, I'll"?
The right short answer is Yes, I will, because I'll can't end a sentence. Short forms like I'll, she'll and they'll need a verb after them: I'll come. When the sentence stops after will, use the full form: Will you come to homeroom? – Yes, I will. The negative short answer is fine: No, I won't.
Is it "I don't think it will rain" or "I think it won't rain"?
Both are correct, but I don't think it will rain is more common. English usually puts the not on think: I don't think dogs will like homeroom. No, I don't think they will! Don't drop do, though: I not think it will rain is a mistake. Homework in the A2 lesson Why does school start later in California? on edio.ai turns four I think … won't sentences into this form.
What's the difference between will and going to?
Use will for decisions made now, going to for earlier plans: The phone is ringing. I'll get it! but I'm going to visit my aunt on Saturday. Both can predict: will often gives an opinion (I think you'll love it.), while going to often comes from what you can see now (Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.).
How do I teach will to A2 students?
Start with offers and quick decisions, because students can act them out: say This box is heavy! and let them answer I'll carry it. Then move to predictions with I think and I don't think about things they care about, like the weekend or their own school day. Leave the contrast with going to for a later lesson, once will feels easy.
What's a good game for practicing will?
An open-the-box game of predictions and offers works well: each box hides a prompt, such as Make a prediction about tomorrow or Oh no, it's raining! Make a quick decision, and the student who opens it answers aloud with I'll or I think … will. These prompts come from the boxes of Why does school start later in California?, an A2 lesson on edio.ai.
What's good homework for practicing will and won't?
Good homework mixes form drills with what-do-you-say choices: gap-fills that turn Ethan will pass the test into Will Ethan pass the test?, sentences to put in order, and short situations such as Your friend: I'm cold, answered with I'll close the window. This lesson's homework has all three, among nine tasks that check themselves.
Are there interactive exercises for will and won't?
Yes: gap-fills and chats that check each answer make will and won't quick to practice. This page plays four parts of Why does school start later in California?, an A2 lesson on edio.ai, without an account: the school news on California's start times, Maya and Ethan's dialogue before school, a gap-fill of will or won't + verb, and a chat of predictions and offers. The other exercises are locked.
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