Level 2 Unit 1

2.1.1 - Phrasal Verbs

Ben shows Moby his big postcard collection. As the two friends go over Ben's collection, they count the postcards and talk about the different countries. Ben explains how he looks up information about these countries and learns geography through his hobby. Moby and our ESL students learn why hobbies are worthwhile, as well as a few phrasal verbs, counting up to a hundred and some more nationalities.

Grammar Skills:
Phrasal Verbs
Nationalities II
Numbers 1-100

Lesson Ideas

2.1.2 - This / That / These / Those

The librarian wants to open a new research library and needs help putting the books in alphabetical order. The work must be finished before three o'clock. Ben and Moby are eager to help, but will they be able to do all the work in time? This setting is a good opportunity to introduce the demonstratives, to teach how to tell time and to remind our students of the correct order of the alphabet.

Grammar Skills:
This / That / These / Those
Alphabetical Order
Telling Time

Lesson Ideas

2.1.3 - Object Pronouns

Ben reads Moby a scary story when they're on their camping trip at night. Ben falls asleep in the middle of the story. He hears weird noises. Is it the new Frankenstein monster? As our ESL students follow Ben and Moby deep into the forest, they learn more irregular verbs in the Past Simple tense and are introduced to object pronouns.

Grammar Skills:
Object Pronouns
Irregular Verbs II

Lesson Ideas

2.1.4 - Reflexives and Can

Nikki has a new puppy and Ben is looking after it. Moby is interested to find out what the cute puppy can do. Together with Moby, our students learn about different kinds of mammals. They also learn about reflexive pronouns and the modal verb can in its positive, negative and interrogative forms.

Grammar Skills:
Can: Present Simple
Reflexive Pronouns

Lesson Ideas

2.1.5 - Review: Reflexive and Object Pronouns

Ben and Moby decide to take Fighter to the school dog show. Fighter has an hour to practice. His chances of winning seem very promising, but can he perform his tricks when it’s show time? As we follow Fighter's training, our ESL students review the grammatical points in the unit.

Grammar Skills:
Phrasal Verbs (Review)
Can: Present Simple (Review)
Object Pronouns (Review)
This / That / These / Those (Review)
Reflexive Pronouns (Review)

Lesson Ideas

Level 2 Unit 2

2.2.1 - Going to/Possessive Pronouns

Ben and Moby are at a school fair called "Jobs of the Future." As they walk around, they get a glimpse of what their friends are going to be in the future. Thinking about their future careers is exciting to both of them. This is an opportunity for our ESL students to join Ben and Moby and learn to use the future tense in English. This lesson also introduces our students to the possessive pronouns. The future is theirs!

Grammar Skills:
Future: Going to
Possessive Pronouns

Lesson Ideas

2.2.2 - Future: Will

There are elections for school president and Ben wants to be elected. He already has some ideas of what he will do as school president. However, when Moby opens the box of suggestions sent by the students, Ben realizes it won't be so easy to please everyone.

Grammar Skills:
Future: Will

Lesson Ideas

2.2.3 - The Modal "Can"

Ben wants to fly like the birds, but realizes it is impossible. He and Moby discuss people's interest in flying. They talk about Leonardo da Vinci's plans and thoughts, and the Wright Brothers' first successful flights. Maybe they will be able to build an airplane one day!

Grammar Skills:
Can: Past Simple
Can: Future
Ordinal Numbers

Lesson Ideas

2.2.4 - The Modal "Have to"

Ben and Moby are learning about William Shakespeare. Everyone in class has to present a short part of one of the plays. Ben had to work hard to learn his part. Moby already knows his part! It’s very scary.

Grammar Skills:
Have to

Lesson Ideas

2.2.5 - Review: Future and Modals

Ben's Uncle Joe has a farm and a restaurant. He grows everything he cooks on his farm. Ben, Moby and friends visit Uncle Joe's restaurant. The waiter shows them to their table and just as they choose their food, Uncle Joe whispers something in Ben's ear. As the students follow Ben and Moby on their visit to the restaurant, they review the grammar points in the unit.

Grammar Skills:
Future Tense (Review)
Modals (Review)

Lesson Ideas

Level 2 Unit 3

2.3.1 - Present Prog. (Future Intent)

Ben and his team are running in the marathon next week. While Ben is busy practicing, Moby and the ESL students learn what a marathon is. When Ben unexpectedly fails to finish the city marathon, he realizes that he will have to practice really hard for next year's marathon. But next year he won't be alone.

Grammar Skills:
Present Progressive (Future Intent)

Lesson Ideas

2.3.2 - Must / Mustn't

Ben and Moby must practice for the dance on Saturday night. As Ben and Moby practice the steps, Moby learns what he must and mustn't do at the dance. Meanwhile, the students are also exposed to some polite expressions.

Grammar Skills:
Must / Mustn't
Polite Expressions and Requests

Lesson Ideas

2.3.3 - Adverbs

Cousin Larry, who's living in England, sends Ben a letter to say he's sorry that he won't be at grandmother's birthday party on 9/3. Ben and Moby look at the date and realize they have to organize the birthday party very quickly. When everything is ready, they learn they didn't have to work so quickly. Thanks to grandma's birthday and Ben's mistake, our ESL students learn about adverbs, the months and the English calendar.

Grammar Skills:
Adverbs that describe verbs
Adverbs that describe whole statements
Months of the year
Dates

Lesson Ideas

2.3.4 - More Adverbs

Ben decided to build a tree house, but it isn’t going well. Moby comes to help! They have to plan and measure carefully. Together they build a great tree house. This is the second lesson on adverbs. It focuses on adverbs that modify adjectives and other adverbs. It also introduces the adverb well.

Grammar Skills:
Adverbs that describe adjectives
Adverbs that describe other adverbs

Lesson Ideas

2.3.5 - Review: Adverbs / Present Progressive (Future Intent)

Ben is spending this year's 4th of July with his grandmother who lives in an old age home. The old age home is having a party, and Ben and Moby are going to help! While Ben and Moby are preparing for the party, we review the different topics presented in the unit, and learn a bit about American history and customs.

Grammar Skills:
Adverb (Review)
Present Progressive (Future Intent) (Review)
Must / Mustn't (Review)
Polite Expressions and Requests (Review)

Lesson Ideas

Level 2 Unit 4

2.4.1 - Past Prog.: Interrupted Action

Ben had a very strange experience. While he was putting on his clothes to go out, the weather kept changing. One minute the sun was shining, so Ben was going to go outside in his shorts. The next minute it was snowing, so he had to put on his coat and scarf. As the students learn why the weather kept changing, they are also introduced to the past progressive. This lesson focuses on the Past Progressive when it comes on its own or with another action that interrupts it.

Grammar Skills:
Past Progressive
Past Progressive (Interrupted Action)

Lesson Ideas

2.4.2 - Past Prog.: Parallel Actions

Nikki has a new pet, a cat she named Lucky. Unfortunately, while Nikki was doing her homework last night, the cat ran away. Nikki's very sad, so her friends, Ben, Moby, Fighter and Ed, decide to help her look for the cat. They search everywhere. Where could she be? While the students accompany the friends on their search, they learn how to use the Past Progressive with actions that take place simultaneously.

Grammar Skills:
Past Progressive (Parallel Actions)

Lesson Ideas

2.4.3 - May/Might, (Be) Supposed to

Something is wrong with Fighter. He doesn't want to go for a walk, play, or eat. Ben and Moby are worried, and they decide to use the scientific method to find out what might be bothering Fighter. They make their hypothesis and conduct different experiments. As the students accompany Ben and Moby, they are exposed to the scientific method and learn the modals may, might, and (be) supposed to.

Grammar Skills:
May and Might
Supposed to
Scientific Method

Lesson Ideas

2.4.4 - Should/Ought to/Had better

Ben doesn't feel well and Moby gives him some good advice about what he should do to get better. Things change when Ben realizes he has a fever. Now Ben ought to go to the doctor and follow her advice. As we accompany Ben to the doctor, the students learn the modals should, ought to and had better.

Grammar Skills:
Should
Ought to
Had better

Lesson Ideas

2.4.5 - Review: Past Progressive and Modals

Ed needs somebody to babysit for his little sister, Abby. He calls Ben and Moby to see if they might be able to help. Ben isn’t sure that’s a good idea. He remembers what happened last time he and Moby babysat for Abby. As the students learn what happened, they review the grammar points presented in the unit.

Grammar Skills:
Past Progressive (Review)
Past Progressive (Interrupted Action) (Review)
Past Progressive (Parallel Actions) (Review)
May and Might (Review)
Supposed to (Review)
Should (Review)
Ought to (Review)
Had better (Review)

Lesson Ideas

Level 2 Unit 5

2.5.1 - Comparatives

Ben and Moby go out shopping for lunch. Walking along the aisles at the supermarket makes both friends very hungry, but they're anxious to choose food items that will be both tastier and cheaper than others. As the students follow Ben and Moby at the supermarket, they learn how to use the comparative form of adjectives and adverbs.

Grammar Skills:
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative Adverbs

Lesson Ideas

2.5.2 - Superlatives

As Ben, Moby, Nikki, and Ed look through a book of world records, they come across the strangest records. They learn about the heaviest lemon, the longest snake, and the fastest woman athlete. This inspires Moby to look for a record he can set, too. As our students follow Ben and his friends, they learn the superlative form of adjectives and adverbs.

Grammar Skills:
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative Adverbs

Lesson Ideas

2.5.3 - Adjectives ending in -ed/-ing

Ben and Moby are out in the woods on a beautiful day in autumn. Ben is amazed by the beauty of the nature around him, but Moby thinks that taking a walk in the woods is very boring. Ben does his best to show Moby how exciting nature can be, but Moby isn't persuaded until something really frightening happens. In this lesson, the students learn the difference between adjectives that end in –ing and –ed.

Grammar Skills:
Adjectives that end in –ed and -ing

Lesson Ideas

2.5.4 - Word Order

Ben and Moby are going on a vacation. They are going to the beach for a whole week. Ben thinks they should catch the early bus, so they decide to meet at the bus station in the morning. While the friends are busy packing and planning their vacation, the students learn about word order and different prepositions of time.

Grammar Skills:
Word Order
Prepositions of Time

Lesson Ideas

2.5.5 - Review: Comparatives and Superlatives

Moby is helping Ben pick pictures for the yearbook. As they look through the photos, they remember funny, memorable, and silly situations.They look at the different categories in the yearbook and wonder who they should vote for this year. Moby is frustrated until he finds a suitable category for himself, too. This is a flashback lesson in which students practice and use the language points they learned throughout this unit.

Grammar Skills:
Comparative Adjectives
Comparative Adverbs
Superlative Adjectives
Superlative Adverbs
Adjectives that end in –ed and -ing
Word Order
Prepositions of Time

Lesson Ideas

Level 2 Unit 6

2.6.1 - Review of the Present Tense

Ben and Moby went on a shopping trip and are taking the bus home. On the way to the bus stop, Moby gets distracted. As the two friends navigate the crowded bus, students review the present tense.

Grammar Skills:
Review of the Present Tense (Present Simple, Present Progressive and Stative Verbs)

Lesson Ideas

2.6.2 - Review of the Past Tense

Ben and Moby prepared a science project for their class about the life cycle of a butterfly. As they present their work to their classmates, the students learn about the butterfly life cycle while reviewing the past tense.

Grammar Skills:
Review of the Past Tense (Past Progressive and Past Simple)

Lesson Ideas

2.6.3 - Review the Future Tense

Ben and Moby are going to see a movie, but they can’t decide which one to see. After checking out the movie posters, they finally agree on one they think they will both enjoy. In this lesson, the students review the different ways to express the future in English.

Grammar Skills:
Review the Future Tense (Will, Going & Present Progressive)

Lesson Ideas

2.6.4 - Review of the Modals

Ben and Moby are packing their lunches for a picnic. Moby reminds Ben about recycling, using eco-friendly products, and being “green.” While the students learn along with Ben, they review the use of modal auxiliary verbs, as well.

Grammar Skills:
Review of the Modals

Lesson Ideas

2.6.5 - Review of the Tenses: Present, Past, Future, and Modal Verbs

Ben is about to read Goldilocks and the Three Bears to Abby when Moby suggests they read his version of the fairytale. As students listen along with Abby, they review the tenses and modal verbs.

Grammar Skills:
Review of the Tenses: Present, Past, Future, and Modal Verbs

Lesson Ideas