November Topic: Daylight Savings Time!

 

It's that time of the year again - Daylight Saving Time (DST) - officially ends this Sunday (Nov 5th), so get ready to turn those clocks "backwards"! DST was first introduced in the late 1800's before electricity and  modern lighting as a way to gain an extra hour of daylight and productivity. When the energy crisis hit in the 1970's, more and more countries began to practice DST and today it's observed by over 70 countries worldwide. Applauded for its role in energy conversation, but criticized for the way it disrupts daily life, DST makes for a great ESL discussion topic - one that can also provide a springboard for talking about "time".

CONVERSATION QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND TIME BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. What are some advantages and disadvantages associated with moving the clocks forward one hour in March and back one hour in November? What about for businesses?  Do you think this has changed since DST was first introduced?

2. Many countries have chosen not to switch to daylight saving time. What do you think their reasons might be? Does your country use daylight saving time? What have been the advantages and disadvantages?

3. Time plays a big role in our lives. What do these common time expressions mean; time on your hands, free time, make time, on time, in time, to pass the time, it's only a matter of time.

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS ON THE TOPIC OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND TIME:

EL Civics: Daylight Saving Time picture vocabulary and definitions
ESL Video: How to adjust to DST video and short quiz
English-Online: Easy reading with vocabulary on Daylight Saving Time
The Free Resource: Facts about Daylight Saving Time
EnglishBaby: Reading and listening lesson on Daylight Saving Time
Huffington Post: Daylight Saving Time Ends  **DOWNLOAD COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS BY ESL Made Easy**
National Geographic: A reading on the case against Daylight Saving Time
Bogglesworld ESL: Time worksheets
ESL Tower: Activities for telling time
Teach-This: Activities on time expressions and telling time
EZ Tales: Daylight Saving Time lesson plan  NEW!
Rachael's English Classes: Reading/follow up worksheet on Daylight Saving Time - NEW!
ITESLJ: Conversation questions about time
ESL Partyland: online quiz on time expressions
Daily Writing Tips: 15 time idioms and expressions