Where Time Really Goes
This B1 lesson explores where our time actually goes using a TED talk that visualizes life expectancy. Students learn vocabulary like “estimate,” “on pace,” and “chores and errands,” then analyze how much time goes to sleep, work, and screens. The activities include estimating weekly time use, answering comprehension questions with specific numbers, practicing time collocations, and tracking a full day for homework.
Lesson overview
- Practice time-related vocabulary including life expectancy calculations, daily task descriptions, and progress tracking
- Watch a short TED talk showing that young Americans spend 93% of free time on screens
- Build awareness of personal time use through estimation exercises and realistic self-assessment
- Develop speaking skills using time collocations like “run out of time” and “make time for something”
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Video Length | Lesson Time |
| B1 / Intermediate | 8 words | 1:00 min | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- life expectancy
- estimate
- on average
- on average
- chores and errands
- personal hygiene
- optimistically
- represent
- on pace
Collocations
- run out of time
- lose track of time
- worth your time
- waste time
- kill time
- make time for something
Contents
- Lead-in
- Vocabulary preview
- Definitions
- Discussion
- Video
- Comprehension
- Comments
- Questions
- Practice
- Associations
- Collocations
- Speaking
- Wrap-up
- Homework
- Extra video
Start with questions about free time activities and what’s worth their time. The discussion table asks students to estimate weekly hours spent sleeping, working, eating, on screens, and doing chores before the video reveals actual statistics.
The vocabulary section introduces eight terms including “life expectancy” (how long people typically live) and “on pace” (moving at speed to reach a goal). The video runs one minute, showing an 80-year life using dots. It removes time for sleeping, working, driving, cooking, chores, and hygiene, revealing young Americans spend 93% of remaining free time on screens. Students watch once for general questions, then again to fill in specific numbers.
Comments show mixed reactions from jokes about sleeping less to drive faster, to recognizing screen time overlaps with other activities. Students answer whether they’re close to 93% screen time and whether all screen use is bad. The practice activity presents eight situations where students choose the best vocabulary word and explain their choice.
The collocations section teaches six time expressions: run out of time, lose track of time, worth your time, waste time, kill time, and make time for something. After matching definitions, students tell a two-minute story illustrating one collocation. The speaking activity shows three images to describe using time expressions.
For homework, students track everything they do in 60-minute blocks for a full day and bring findings to compare with their estimates.
