I had a terrible day last Friday.
It was around 9 in the morning and I was alone
as all of my family had already gone to work.
I'd had breakfast but I hadn't got dressed yet.
I went into the kitchen and saw that the rubbish bin needed emptying.
So I picked up the bin liner and went to take it outside.*
I opened the front door and went along the corridor
to the place where you leave your rubbish.
As I was putting the bag down I felt a draught of air and heard a bang.*
When I came back to my flat, I saw that the door was closed.
The wind had blown it shut.
I put my hand in the pocket of my pyjamas, but I had left my keys inside.
I tried ringing my neighbour's door bell, but they had already gone to work.*
So I went down to the security man to phone my husband.
But they told me he had gone to China for the day!
So I had to wait all day in the corridor outside my flat!
Locked out – ordering activity

Cut up the story into strips and give one strip to each student. Arrange the students in a circle and tell them to order the story. As they do the exercise, they should move into position to the left of the person with the first strip. Strips marked* can be omitted. This allows 13 – 16 strips. The number can be further reduced by doubling up short strips.

Locked out!

I ______a terrible day last Friday. It ______around 9 in the morning and I ______alone as all of my family ______to work. I ______breakfast but I ______got dressed yet.

I ______into the kitchen and ______that the rubbish bin needed emptying. So I ______the bin liner and went to take it outside. I ______the front door and ______along the corridor to the place where you leave your rubbish.

As ______the bag down I ______a draught of air and ______a bang.

When I ______back to my flat, I ______that the door was closed. The wind ______it shut.

I ______my hand in the pocket of my pyjamas, but I ______my keys inside.

I tried ringing my neighbour's door bell, but they ______to work.

So I ______down to the security man ______my husband. But they told me he ______to China for the day!

So I had to wait all day in the corridor outside my flat!

Locked out!

I ______a terrible day last Friday. It ______around 9 in the morning and I ______alone as all of my family ______to work. I ______breakfast but I ______got dressed yet.

I ______into the kitchen and ______that the rubbish bin needed emptying. So I ______the bin liner and went to take it outside. I ______the front door and ______along the corridor to the place where you leave your rubbish.

As ______the bag down I ______a draught of air and ______a bang.

When I ______back to my flat, I ______that the door was closed. The wind ______it shut.

I ______my hand in the pocket of my pyjamas, but I ______my keys inside.

I tried ringing my neighbour's door bell, but they ______to work.

So I ______down to the security man ______my husband. But they told me he ______to China for the day!

So I had to wait all day in the corridor outside my flat!

Answers

Locked out!

I had a terrible day last Friday. It was around 9 in the morning and I was alone as all of my family had gone to work. I'd had breakfast but I hadn't got dressed yet.

I went into the kitchen and saw that the rubbish bin needed emptying. So I picked up the bin liner and went to take it outside. I opened the front door and went along the corridor to the place where you leave your rubbish.

As put the bag down I felt a draught of air and heard a bang.

When I got back to my flat, I found that the door was closed. The wind had blown it shut.

I put my hand in the pocket of my pyjamas, but I had left my keys inside.

I tried ringing my neighbour's door bell, but they had gone to work.

So I went down to the security man to call my husband. But they told me he had gone to China for the day!

So I had to wait all day in the corridor outside my flat!

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