Then and now

1. Discuss with students how they remember their childhood. Happier and freer than now? Or the opposite? Then ask them to write down four lists of differences between: 1. What they could do then, but can't (or mustn't) do now; 2 What they couldn't I weren't able to do then, but can now; 3. What they had to do then but don't have to do now; 4. What they didn't have to do then, but must now.
2. After 10 or 15 minutes of writing (you may need to help with some new vocabulary), ask them to read out some of the things they have; or they may share their ideas in groups before reporting to the full class. Finally, try to reach some overall conclusions; do these fit the impressions given in the opening discussion?
3. The same exercise may be used to practise the quasi-modal used to: students can contrast what they used to do as young children with what they no longer do.