Teaching with songs: USED TO in Songs (2020 – 2000) A fun activity with music videos for ELT

Teach ‘Used To’ with an Unforgettable Song-Based Lesson

This ready-to-use lesson plan helps your B1-level ESL students practice the “used to” grammar structure in a fun and memorable way. Using a video compilation of five popular songs, this activity takes students on a journey through time, reinforcing their understanding of past habits. I’ve designed this as a 30-minute activity perfect for online classes, but you can easily adapt it for face-to-face teaching.

This lesson is great for extra grammar practice, a quick review, or just an engaging activity your students will love.

Quick Lesson Overview:

Language Level: B1 (Intermediate)
Learner Type: All ages
Primary Skills: Listening, Writing
Grammar Focus: Used to + Verb
Materials: Vimeo video, downloadable instructions
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Downloadable materials: instructions.pdf

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How to Teach ‘Used To’ with Songs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s my proven method for using this song activity in your ESL class.

Step 1: Warm-Up (5 mins)

Start with a simple, relatable question to get your students talking. Ask the class:

“Do you and your parents like the same kind of music?”

Let a few students share their answers. This gets them thinking about different musical tastes and eras.

Step 2: Review the Grammar (5 mins)

Next, focus on the target grammar.

Write USED TO + VERB on the board.
Ask students to explain when we use this structure and to provide a few examples.
Guide the conversation with follow-up questions like:
- “Did your taste in music change over time?”
- “What kind of music did you use to listen to?”

This activates their prior knowledge and sets the stage for the main activity.

Step 3: The Song Challenge (15 mins)

Now for the main event! This is a gamified listening activity that students really enjoy.

Divide students into pairs or small groups. If you’re teaching online, breakout rooms work perfectly.
Explain the task: They will watch five short music video clips. Each clip contains the phrase “used to.” Their job is to listen carefully and write down the full phrase (e.g., “used to love”).
Play the video clip by clip. Pause after each song and play it two or three times to give everyone a chance to listen.
Check answers after each clip. In my experience, awarding points to the teams with the correct answer adds a fun, competitive element. The team with the most points at the end wins!

Pro Tip for Online Classes: If you have a bad connection, share the video link directly with your students. Have them watch it on their own devices and then send you their answers in the chat.

Used To In Songs: An ESL Song Activity For B1 Students

ANSWERS in the instructions.pdf (see downloadable materials in the description)

Step 4: Creative Follow-Up (Choose One)

To solidify their learning, have students choose one of these creative tasks. This step allows for differentiation and encourages more personal expression.

Option A: Personal “Used To” Verses: Students write a short, 4-6 line verse about their own life using “used to.”
Option B: Then & Now Visual: Students create a drawing or collage contrasting their life “then” and “now,” accompanied by 3-5 sentences using “used to.”
Option C: Time Capsule Letter: Students write a letter to their future self, describing at least five habits they “used to” have.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What CEFR level is this activity for?

This activity is designed for B1 (Intermediate) learners. The songs, language complexity, and tasks are tailored to students who can understand the main points on familiar topics and describe past events and habits.

How does this lesson practice 21st-century skills?

Beyond grammar, this activity promotes critical thinking and communication. Students analyze song lyrics and can collaborate in teams, which are key 21st-century skills.

Can I adapt this for higher or lower levels?

Yes! For A2 (Elementary) students, you could pre-teach more vocabulary and provide the verbs, asking them only to listen for “used to.” For B2 (Upper-Intermediate) students, you could extend the discussion to analyze the song’s themes or ask them to write a detailed narrative about a past habit.

How does this type of activity align with popular ESL textbooks?

This lesson is a perfect supplement for most Intermediate-level textbooks like English File, Headway, or Speakout. These textbooks all introduce “used to” at the B1 level to discuss past habits, and this song-based activity provides an authentic, engaging context for practice that goes beyond typical textbook exercises.

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