This entertaining 60-minute intermediate lesson includes vocabulary, a video, comprehension questions, discussion questions, and a bonus video. Have fun discussing “playing hooky” with your students!

Warm-up Questions (5 minutes)

Playing hooky, blowing off, cutting, and skipping all mean the same thing. What do you think they mean?

Have you ever played hooky? If yes, what happened? If not, were you ever tempted? (Note: It’s possible to play hooky from school, class, or work.)

Go over the vocabulary with your teacher. Try to use each of the new words in a sentence. (10-15 minutes)

Answer the questions before watching the video. (5 minutes)

The title of the video today is Teen Leaves School to Get Donuts | World’s Strictest Parents. What do you predict is going to happen in the video?

World’s Strictest Parents is a TV show about misbehaving teenagers who are sent to stricter households to learn how to behave. Have you ever watched this TV show or a similar TV show? What do you think of the premise? Why?

Now watch the video. (5 minutes)

Note to teachers: The teen in the video says one swear word at 4:25 in the video. 

Answer the comprehension questions. If you need to replay the video, you can. The answers are at the bottom of the page. (10 minutes)

1. Where did this take place?
2. Why did Bailey leave the classroom?
3. What excuse did Bailey give her teacher for leaving the classroom?
4. Why did Bailey feel justified for leaving the classroom early?
5. What was her punishment at school for skipping class?
6. Bailey did not complete her school punishment. What did she do instead?
7. What was her punishment at home for skipping class?
8. Why did Bailey tell her “mom” that she was being cruel?
9. What was the mother’s opinion on the situation?

Discussion Questions (15-20 minutes)

1. Do you think the school’s response to Bailey’s insubordination was appropriate? Why or why not?
2. What was the punishment when you were in school for cutting class? What did you think about this punishment?
3. Did your school have detention? If yes, were you ever punished with detention?
4. What’s your opinion on “World’s Strictest Parents”? Why?
5. What are some pros and cons to sending disobedient teens to stricter households?
6. Who has the tougher job on this TV show: the teens or the parents? Why?
7. What do you think parents can do to help disobedient teenagers behave better? Why?
8. Did you ever behave like Bailey when you were a teenager? Why or why not?
9. Do you think Bailey’s reaction to her mother’s punishment was appropriate? Why or why not?
10. What would your parents’ response have been if they had discovered you’d blown off a class? Why?
11. Are parents responsible for their childrens’ behavior? Why or why not/?
12. Do you think there are times when playing hooky is acceptable? If yes, when is it acceptable to skip class? If not, why not?

Bonus! If you have time, watch and discuss this other 2-minute video from World’s Strictest Parents.

Comprehension Questions Answers

1. Victoria Park High School in Australia
2. Because she wanted to go to the canteen early and get a hot dog and a donut
3. She said that she had “tuck shop” duty, meaning that she had to do a job at the canteen or school shop on campus.
4. Bailey felt justified because she said that the students all run to the canteen when the bell goes off, and some students did indeed run when the bell rang.
5. She was told to write down all the school rules during detention.
6. Instead she wrote a letter to her friend about how much she hates her school.
7. At home she was asked to cook dinner and clean the house.
8. She believed that her mom was doubly punishing her because she’d already been punished at school.
9. She believes that she is Bailey’s mother in this situation and that Bailey has to stay and listen to her whether Bailey likes it or not.

Do you want more 1 hour video lessons? Try Past Continuous – Disney Video Lesson – 1 hour.