Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Present Continuous

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish a clear understanding of the learning objectives for the students, ensuring they know exactly what is expected of them by the end of the lesson. This serves as a guide to focus both their preparation and the practical activities that will be carried out.

Main Objectives

1. Use the present continuous concisely in an action that is happening.

2. Identify the present continuous in texts in English.

Side Objectives

1. Incorporate the use of the present continuous in digital and social media contexts.
2. Improve oral communication skills in English through practical discussions.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to engage students from the beginning of the lesson, connecting the theme to their reality. Using cell phones and exploring examples from social media allows students to see the practical applicability of the present continuous, making learning more contextualized and interesting.

Warming Up

The present continuous is a verb form in English used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or during a temporary period. Explain to the students that the use of this verb tense is very common on social media, such as when someone posts a photo and writes a caption like 'I am enjoying my vacation'. Ask students to use their cell phones to search for an interesting fact about the present continuous in English, such as an example of use on a social network or a linguistic curiosity.

Initial Reflections

1. Which verbs are most commonly seen in sentences in the present continuous on social media?

2. Why is the present continuous important for describing temporary actions?

3. How does the present continuous help give a more vivid and immediate context in online communications?

4. Do you remember any recent social media posts that used the present continuous? How about sharing with the class?

Development

Duration: 75 - 85 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to apply the knowledge acquired about the present continuous in practical and modern contexts. By using digital technologies and working collaboratively, students develop communication, writing, and digital skills while engaging creatively in learning.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - 六‍ Creating a Vlog: My Daily Routine 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Incorporate the use of the present continuous in a real and practical context, developing oral communication skills and digital competence.

- Description: Students will create a vlog detailing their daily activities using the present continuous. They will record short videos with their cell phones and edit the content using a simple editing app, such as InShot or iMovie. The activity will culminate in a presentation of the vlog to the class.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group should plan a script for a vlog lasting approximately 2-3 minutes, predominantly using the present continuous.

• Students will record short segments of the daily life of each group member (for example, 'I am eating breakfast', 'She is studying for a test').

• Use an editing app to compile and edit the videos. Add subtitles in English to highlight the verbs in the present continuous.

• The groups will present the finalized vlogs to the class, explaining each segment in English.

Activity 2 -  Meme Challenge: Present Continuous is ON! 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Use the present continuous creatively, developing writing skills and digital comprehension, as well as promoting teamwork.

- Description: Students will create memes using the present continuous to describe funny or interesting actions. They will use platforms such as Canva or Meme Generator to create the images and then share them with the class for a vote on the best memes. The memes should be posted on a group platform such as Google Classroom or WhatsApp.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must create 3 different memes using sentences in the present continuous (for example, 'My cat is sleeping on my homework').

• Use platforms like Canva or Meme Generator to design the memes.

• Post the memes on a group platform, such as Google Classroom or WhatsApp.

• Organize a vote to determine the most creative and correctly written memes.

• Discuss with the class the uses of the present continuous in the winning memes.

Activity 3 -  Interactive Storytelling: A Day in the Life of an Influencer 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop creative writing skills and understanding of the present continuous while also promoting familiarity with advanced digital storytelling tools.

- Description: In this activity, students will create an interactive narrative about a day in the life of a digital influencer. Using an interactive storytelling tool like Twine, students will write and diagram their stories, incorporating the present continuous to describe the influencer's actions throughout the day.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must plan and create a narrative that describes a day in the life of a digital influencer, using the present continuous.

• Use the Twine tool to write and diagram the story interactively, allowing readers to make choices that affect the plot's unfolding.

• The groups must share their interactive narratives with the class.

• Each group will present the narrative, highlighting the use of the present continuous in their actions and the available interactive choices.

Feedback

Duration: 20 - 25 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning through reflection and constructive feedback. Group discussion allows students to collectively review and consolidate the knowledge acquired, while 360° feedback promotes communication and self-assessment skills, in addition to strengthening collaboration and mutual respect among peers.

Group Discussion

Facilitate a group discussion with all students, where groups share what they learned while carrying out the activities and their conclusions. Introduce the discussion with a brief script:

Ask each group to present the main challenge they faced while completing their activities and how they overcame it. Request them to share a specific example of a sentence or situation where they used the present continuous. Inquire students about how the use of digital tools influenced their learning and understanding of the topic.

Reflections

1. How did the use of the present continuous facilitate the description of actions in your activities? 2. What were the main difficulties encountered while using the present continuous and how did you overcome them? 3. In what way did the digital tools used in the activities help you better understand the present continuous?

360° Feedback

Conduct a 360° feedback session where each student must receive feedback from the other members of the group they worked with. Guide the class to follow these guidelines for constructive and respectful feedback:

Be specific: Provide clear examples of what was observed. Be balanced: Mention both positive points and areas for improvement. Be respectful: Avoid personal criticism and focus on actions and behaviors related to the activity.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning by reinforcing the key points discussed during the lesson. This helps students synthesize what they learned and see the relevance of the content in the real world. By connecting the present continuous with its practical and modern applications, students become more motivated and prepared to use this knowledge in their daily lives and in the digital environment.

Summary

 Recapping our adventure in the world of the Present Continuous!  Let's remember that the present continuous is used to describe actions that are happening right now or during a temporary period. In the activities, we saw how it can be applied in vlogs, memes, and interactive narratives. From 'I am eating breakfast' to 'She is studying for a test', we highlighted how this verb tense is useful to bring life and movement to our descriptions. 

World Connection

 Connection with the Current World: In the digital age, the present continuous is more relevant than ever. It is in every social media network, in every post that describes the 'now'. When someone says 'I'm watching a live stream' or 'We are launching a new product', they are using the present continuous to share moments in real-time. This facilitates immediate communication and makes interactions more vibrant and authentic. 

Practical Application

The present continuous is essential in our daily lives, especially in the digital context. Whether to describe what one is doing in an Instagram post, narrate an event in a vlog, or create engaging content in digital storytelling, this verb tense allows us to capture and share instant moments clearly and effectively. 