Actually if its your first lesson effects of controls or ex3 flight experence its not part of the learning points for you to fly the whole thing.
The instructor should though have been constantly talking through what they were doing though.
Its infact a problem with some instructors that they do just let the students go for it in a none structured way then put them into the circuit without the foundations being taught properly.
Book one of most ppl theory courses has long briefs for all the lessons its up to you to read them before the lesson so you get the maximum out of them.
We don't know whats in your training records it could be that you have been signed off for the preflight.
Saying that though it could be that the instructor has just had you dumped on them at the very last moment and you haven't had value for money. I presume at the school you will have a member of staff who looks after the course. Go and have a chat with them.