The History of Boarding Schools
🎯 Today I can: understand vocabulary • read about boarding schools • use used to • speak • write
1. WARM-UP: Would You Survive?
Imagine you are a student at a British boarding school in 1850.
🥶 Cold bedroom 📵 No phones or computers 🏉 Rugby every afternoon 🍲 Simple food 📏 Strict rules ⏰ Early mornings
A. Would you like to study there? ☐ Yes! ☐ Maybe ☐ No way!
B. Talk to a partner.
1. Which thing would be the most difficult for you? ______________________________________________
2. Which thing would be the easiest? __________________________________________________________
3. What would you miss most? _________________________________________________________________
2. VOCABULARY
Word |
|
Definition |
1. Boarding school |
___ |
A. Expecting people to obey rules completely; not lenient. |
2. Tradition |
___ |
B. A penalty or consequence for doing something wrong. |
3. Strict |
___ |
C. A school where students study, eat, and sleep on the premises. |
4. Punishment |
___ |
D. A school where boys and girls study together. |
5. Co-educational |
___ |
E. A custom, belief, or story passed down through generations. |
Complete: boarding school • tradition • strict • punishment • co-educational
1. My school / this school is ______________________________________________.
2. My school / this school is ______________________________________________.
3. My school / this school is ______________________________________________.
4. My school / this school is ______________________________________________.
5. My school / this school is ______________________________________________.
3. READING: A Quick History of Boarding Schools
Centuries ago, the first boarding schools started in European monasteries. Monks taught young boys how to read, write, and pray.
By the 1800s, boarding schools became very popular in Great Britain. The British Empire was growing fast, and it needed disciplined young people to become soldiers, officers, and leaders.
Life at these schools was not easy. The rules were very strict, the bedrooms were cold, and sports like rugby were mandatory to build character.
Today, modern boarding schools are very different. They are comfortable, high-tech, and usually co-educational. Students from all over the world attend them to prepare for top universities.
A. Before reading: What do you think boarding schools were like 200 years ago? Write three ideas.
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________________________
B. True or False?
1. ☐ The earliest boarding schools were connected to religious communities.
2. ☐ British boarding schools in the 1800s were warm and comfortable.
3. ☐ Playing sports was optional for students in the 19th century.
4. ☐ Modern boarding schools only accept boys.
C. Find the evidence.
1. What did monks teach young boys?
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. What were the bedrooms like?
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Was rugby optional or mandatory?
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Are modern boarding schools usually co-educational?
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. THEN AND NOW
Boarding schools in the past |
Modern boarding schools |
Bedrooms were ____________. |
They are ____________. |
Rules were ____________. |
They are more ____________. |
Mainly ____________ attended. |
Boys and ____________ attend. |
There was little/no ____________. |
They are ____________. |
🎥 Video Lesson: “Welcome to Brook Hill”
Before watching: Predict
You are going to visit a modern boarding school in Texas. What do you think it is like?
bedrooms
food
rules
technology
sports
students
free time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o564we9gVU
How will this school be different from a boarding school in 1850?
Tick what you hear/see
Modern boarding school ✓
separate boarding houses ☐
full kitchens ☐
dining spaces ☐
study rooms ☐
entertainment areas ☐
house parents ☐
two or three students per room ☐
shared bathrooms ☐
meals provided ☐
students from different countries ☐
nurse on campus ☐
free counselling ☐
THEN AND NOW
1850 / Past |
Brook Hill / Present |
cold bedrooms |
|
simple food |
|
strict rules |
|
early mornings |
|
no phones/computers |
|
|
|
cold bedrooms → spacious suites
simple food → meals provided + fully equipped kitchens
strict rules → modern boarding houses / different rules
no phones/computers → modern technology
mainly boys → students from many countries / modern community
little technology → high-tech environment
5. GRAMMAR: USED TO
used to + base verb = a past habit or situation that is no longer true.
Example: Students used to wear heavy uniforms.
Negative: didn't use to + base verb. Example: Students didn't use to have smartphones.
⚠️ Remember: After didn't use to, use the base verb: didn't use to have (NOT didn't use to had).
6. PRACTICE
In the Middle Ages, only boys went to these schools. → In the Middle Ages, only boys ____________________________________________.
The living conditions were very cold and spartan. → The living conditions _________________________________________________ .
Students did not have mobile phones or computers. → Students ____________________________________________________________.
Teachers punished students with physical discipline. → Teachers __________________________________________________________.
7. COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
1. Students __________________ wake up very early.
2. Schools __________________ have Wi-Fi.
3. Students __________________ play sports such as rugby.
4. Boarding schools __________________ be co-educational.
5. Students __________________ use smartphones in class.
8. PAST OR PRESENT?
1. Students used to sleep in cold bedrooms. __________________
2. Modern schools are usually co-educational. __________________
3. Students didn't use to have smartphones. __________________
4. Modern schools use lots of technology. __________________
5. Boarding schools used to have very strict rules. __________________
9. DESIGN YOUR OWN BOARDING SCHOOL
Work with 2–3 classmates. You have €100 million to create a brand-new international boarding school!
School Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Location: ______________________________________________________________________________
Top 3 Campus Rules:
1. ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Mandatory Afternoon Activity: _____________________________________________________________
Who can attend? ☐ Boys ☐ Girls ☐ Boys and girls ☐ One country ☐ All over the world
Our school used to _______________________________________________________________________.
Our school didn't use to __________________________________________________________________.
10. PRESENT YOUR SCHOOL
Welcome to __________________ School. It is located in __________________. Our three main rules are __________________, __________________ and __________________. Every afternoon, students must __________________. Our school used to __________________, but now __________________.
11. WRITING: A LETTER HOME FROM 1850
Write 80–120 words. Include: ☐ bedroom ☐ food ☐ rules ☐ daily schedule ☐ at least 2 examples of used to / didn't use to
Useful language: My bedroom is... • The food is... • We have to... • We aren't allowed to... • I wake up at... • Lessons start at... • In the afternoon...
Dear Mum and Dad,
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Love, ____________________________ Word count: __________
12. EXIT TICKET
1. One new word I learned today: __________________________________________________________
2. Something students used to do: __________________________________________________________
3. Something students didn't use to do: ____________________________________________________
⭐ SELF-CHECK
I can... |
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understand the boarding school vocabulary |
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understand the reading |
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use used to |
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use didn't use to |
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talk about my boarding school |
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write about life in 1850 |
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