Lesson Plan | Active Methodology | Verbs: Tense Exercises

Premises: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class duration, prior student study both with the Book and the beginning of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be carried out during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a large part of the available time.

Objective

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for getting both learners and the teacher focused on the specific skills that will be developed during the lesson. By clearly outlining what is expected to be achieved, this section serves as a roadmap for subsequent activities, ensuring that both learner preparation and teacher input align with the desired learning outcomes.

Objective Utama:

1. Empower learners to accurately recognise and apply all verb tenses in English, including present, past, and future, along with variations like the present continuous, simple past, and future perfect.

2. Develop the ability to identify and differentiate the meanings associated with each verb tense so that learners can choose the most suitable verbal form in various contexts.

Objective Tambahan:

1. Encourage active learner participation in identifying and correcting common mistakes related to English verb tenses, fostering self-confidence and independence in language learning.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction engages learners and refreshes their prior knowledge of verb tenses in English, using problem situations that mimic real-life language contexts. Additionally, contextualising aims to show the practical and historical relevance of studying verb tenses, motivating students to delve into the topic with curiosity and apply knowledge more consciously and informatively.

Problem-Based Situation

1. Imagine you’re planning a trip for next month and need to draft an itinerary. How would you use different verb tenses to describe your planned and confirmed activities?

2. Think about a conversation between a father and his son discussing the son's academic performance. How could verb tenses be used to express past, present, and future actions, as well as possible conditions or hypotheticals about the future?

Contextualization

Verb tenses are like the gears of a time machine, allowing us to travel between the past, present, and future. Mastering their use not only improves fluency in the language but also enhances clarity in communication. As an interesting fact, it’s worth noting that modern English has fewer verb tenses than Latin, making it simpler to learn, or the influence of Nordic languages on the formation of verb tenses in English.

Development

Duration: (70 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is structured to allow learners to practically and creatively apply their prior knowledge of English verb tenses. By immersing them in playful and contextualised activities, this section aims to solidify learning, promote interaction and collaboration among learners, and develop communication and analytical skills. Each proposed activity is designed to maximise learner participation and help them explore and deepen their understanding of verb tenses through dynamic and engaging approaches.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Time Travel with Verb Tenses

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice the use of verb tenses in diverse contexts, developing presentation and teamwork skills.

- Description: In this activity, learners will form groups of up to five and create a slide presentation where they narrate a day of time travel, using different verb tenses. Each group will be given a time travel context, like a day in the life of an astronaut training for a mission to Mars.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to five learners.

• Each group either chooses or is randomly assigned a time travel context.

• Learners must prepare a slide presentation using PowerPoint or a similar tool, which includes photos, videos, or drawings illustrating their time travel day.

• On each slide, learners should use a different verb tense to describe the actions.

• The presentation should feature a continuous narrative that utilises all the studied verb tenses.

Activity 2 - Theatre of Tenses

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Clearly demonstrate the differences in meaning and use of verb tenses in a lively and dynamic context.

- Description: Learners will create and perform a short play, with each actor representing a different verb tense (Past, Present, Future, etc.). The play should convey a story or dialogue that clearly illustrates the differences in meaning and use among the verb tenses.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to five learners.

• Each group chooses a theme for their play, such as 'A Day at School'.

• Assign each group member a different verb tense to portray.

• Learners should write a short script that distinctly uses the verb tenses.

• Groups rehearse and present their play to the class, focusing on the correct usage of verb tenses.

Activity 3 - Time Detectives

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop critical analysis and text correction skills, applying knowledge about verb tenses in a practical and interactive manner.

- Description: In this fun activity, learners become ‘detectives’ who need to correct 'verbal crimes' in stories. They must identify and rectify verb tense errors, using their knowledge to 'go back in time' and amend the described actions.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to five learners.

• Distribute a short story with intentional verb tense errors to each group.

• Groups must identify and correct the errors, justifying each correction based on the proper use of verb tenses.

• Each correction made by the group is 'scored' based on the provided rationale.

• The group with the most accurate and justified corrections wins.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to consolidate learning, allowing learners to reflect on the practical application of verb tenses in various contexts and share their experiences. The group discussion reinforces the knowledge gained, facilitates the exchange of ideas and perspectives among learners, and provides the teacher an opportunity to gauge the learners' understanding and depth of concepts more broadly.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, bring all groups together for a discussion. Start the session with a brief introduction highlighting the importance of reflecting on what was learned and how different groups utilised verb tenses in varied contexts. Encourage each group to share their most significant discoveries and challenges faced. Use targeted questions to promote reflection, such as 'What was the biggest challenge when using verb tenses in different contexts?' or 'How can the use of verb tenses change the meaning of a story?' This stage should take about 10 minutes.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges you faced when applying different verb tenses in your activities?

2. How can understanding the nuances of verb tenses enhance communication in English?

3. Did you encounter any surprising or interesting discoveries regarding the use of verb tenses during the activities?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion is to consolidate learning, ensuring that learners can explicitly articulate what they’ve learned and comprehend the practical applicability of verb tenses. This stage also serves to reinforce the connection between theory and practice, highlighting the relevance of verb tenses in everyday English usage. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on the importance of what they’ve learned and how they can continue to improve their English skills.

Summary

In conclusion, let’s recap what we covered today. Learners explored all verb tenses in English, including present, past, and future, alongside variations such as the present continuous, simple past, and future perfect. Through hands-on and playful activities, students were able to apply these tenses in various contexts, such as time travel and theatre, reinforcing their theoretical and practical understanding of the concepts.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was designed to connect theory with practice in a cohesive manner. Initially, learners reviewed theoretical concepts at home, preparing to apply them through practical activities in class. This approach allowed learners to see the relevance of verb tenses in real situations and the importance of selecting the correct verb tense for each context, ultimately solidifying their learning.

Closing

Mastering verb tenses in English goes beyond mere classroom learning. A solid understanding of this aspect of the language is essential for effective communication in academic, professional, and everyday settings. Being able to correctly use verb tenses can enhance clarity in both spoken and written communication, ensuring that messages are conveyed accurately and understood by everyone involved.