1st Conditional: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

(TESOL Worksheets--1st Conditional) 
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[This is the text from the children's book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" (A) which I have re-worded to emphasize the first conditional.  I use this in several stages:

1. Cut up the story into separate strips, and give them to the students to work on in groups.  The students have to arrange the strips in the correct order to make a story.

2. After students have struggled with it for an appropriate amount of time, give them the correct text on a separate sheet of paper so they can check their answers.

3. Take away all the sheets, and give students a new sheet where they have to write in the missing verbs in the sentence.

4. After students have completed this, give them back the full text sheet so they can check their answer.

5. Possibly at this point, insert worksheet on the formation of 1st Conditionals--see separate sheet.

6. Give students worksheet to write their own story with the prompt: "If you give a mouse a motorcycle..."

7. Possibly finish with the 1st conditional brainstorm game--see separate sheet.

I found these 7 steps filled up quite nicely a 90 minute lesson with younger students.
My students really seemed to enjoy this lesson, but I should add that I have some mixed feelings as to how well this introduces the meaning of the first conditional. The playful use the book makes of the first conditional might confuse students if you are trying to introduce the first conditional as something that is real or likely to occur. ]

Update:
As a lead-in, I've started showing a video for this story first.  I pull up the title of the Video--If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, and then ask the students to predict what will happen.  Then I play the video, and check their predictions.  Then I have them re-arrange the strips into a story.  (The language on the strips is different than the original story, since I re-wrote this story to emphasize the first conditional.  But the video still works nicely to give the students the main idea of the story, as an advance organizer.)
Youtube video here:

If you give a mouse a cookie, he will ask for a glass of milk.

If you give him the milk, he will probably ask you for a straw.

When he is finished, he will ask you for a napkin.

If you give him a napkin, then he will want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk moustache.

If he looks in the mirror, he will notice his hair needs a cut.

If he notices his hair needs a cut, he will probably ask for a pair of nail scissors.

When he is finished giving himself a haircut, he will want a broom to sweep it up.

If he starts sweeping, he will get carried away and sweep every room in the house. He may even end up washing the floors as well!

When he is done, he will probably want to take a nap.

If he wants to take a nap, you will have to fix up a little box for him with a blanket and a pillow.

If you fix up a little box for him, he will crawl in, make himself comfortable and fluff the pillow a few times.

If he makes himself comfortable, he will probably ask you to read him a story.

If  you read to him from one of your books,  he will ask to see the pictures.

If he looks at the pictures, he will get so excited that  he will want to draw one of his own.

If he wants to draw one on his own, he will ask for paper and crayons.

If you give him paper and crayons, he will draw a picture.

If he finishes the picture, he will want to sign his name with a pen.

If he signs his name with a pen, then he will want to hang his picture on your refrigerator.

If he wants to hang his picture on your refrigerator, you will need scotch tape.

If you give him scotch tape,  he will hang up his drawing and stand back to look at it.

If he looks at the refrigerator, it will remind him that he is thirsty.

If he is thirsty,  he will ask for a glass of milk.

And chances are if he asks you for a glass of milk, he will  want a cookie to go with it.

               

If you give a mouse a cookie, he will ask for a glass of milk.

If you give him the milk, he will probably ask you for a straw.

When he is finished, he will ask you for a napkin.

If you give him a napkin, then he will want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk moustache.

If he looks in the mirror, he will notice his hair needs a cut.

If he notices his hair needs a cut, he will probably ask for a pair of nail scissors.

When he is finished giving himself a haircut, he will want a broom to sweep it up.

If he starts sweeping, he will get carried away and sweep every room in the house. He may even end up washing the floors as well!

When he is done, he will probably want to take a nap.

If he wants to take a nap, you will have to fix up a little box for him with a blanket and a pillow.

If you fix up a little box for him, he will crawl in, make himself comfortable and fluff the pillow a few times.

If he makes himself comfortable, he will probably ask you to read him a story.

If  you read to him from one of your books,  he will ask to see the pictures.

If he looks at the pictures, he will get so excited that  he will want to draw one of his own.

If he wants to draw one on his own, he will ask for paper and crayons.

If you give him paper and crayons, he will draw a picture.

If he finishes the picture, he will want to sign his name with a pen.

If he signs his name with a pen, then he will want to hang his picture on your refrigerator.

If he wants to hang his picture on your refrigerator, you will need scotch tape.

If you give him scotch tape,  he will hang up his drawing and stand back to look at it.

If he looks at the refrigerator, it will remind him that he is thirsty.

If he is thirsty,  he will ask for a glass of milk.

And chances are if he asks you for a glass of milk, he will  want a cookie to go with it.

If you _______ a mouse a cookie, he ___  ______ for a glass of milk.

If you ____ him the milk, he ______ probably ______ you for a straw.

When he is finished, he will ask you for a napkin.

If you _______ him a napkin, then he _____ _______ to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk moustache.

If he _______ in the mirror, he _____ ________ his hair needs a cut.

If he ________ his hair needs a cut, he _____probably _____ for a pair of nail scissors.

When he is finished giving himself a haircut, he will want a broom to sweep it up.

If he _________ sweeping, he _____  _____ carried away and sweep every room in the house. He may even end up washing the floors as well!

When he is done, he will probably want to take a nap.

If he ______  to take a nap, you _____ _______ to fix up a little box for him with a blanket and a pillow.

If you _____ up a little box for him, he _____ _____ in, make himself comfortable and fluff the pillow a few times.

If he _______ himself comfortable, he ____ probably ______ you to read him a story.

If  you _______ to him from one of your books,  he _____ _______ to see the pictures.

If he ________ at the pictures, he _____ _____ so excited that  he will want to draw one of his own.

If he ______to draw one on his own, he ____ ______ for paper and crayons.

If you _____ him paper and crayons, he ____ ______ a picture.

If he _________ the picture, he ______ _______ to sign his name with a pen.

If he ________ his name with a pen, then he _____ ________ to hang his picture on your refrigerator.

If he _______ to hang his picture on your refrigerator, you _____ ______ scotch tape.

If you _____ him scotch tape,  he _____ _______ up his drawing and stand back to look at it.

If he _____ at the refrigerator, it _____ _________ him that he is thirsty.

If he ___ thirsty,  he ___ _______ for a glass of milk.

And chances are if he _______ you for a glass of milk, he ____ ______ a cookie to go with it.

Now, make your own story here:

If you give a mouse a motorcycle_________________________

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