Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Verbs: Present Tense

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to establish the learning objectives that will guide subsequent activities. By clearly defining what is expected of students, it facilitates planning and execution of activities that direct students' focus toward the specific competencies of the present indicative in Spanish. The focus on writing skills aims to solidify previously acquired theoretical knowledge and prepare students to actively apply the content in practical situations.

Main Objectives:

1. Enable students to identify and correctly conjugate regular and irregular verbs in the present indicative in Spanish.

2. Develop writing skills and practical application of verbs in the context of simple sentences and dialogues.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage collaboration and debate among students during practical activities, promoting an active and participatory learning environment.
2. Reinforce the importance of grammatical accuracy in the use of the Spanish language through interactive corrections and immediate feedback.

Introduction

Duration: (15 minutes)

The introduction serves to activate students' prior knowledge and contextualize the importance of studying the present indicative. Through problem situations, students are challenged to think about how to apply the verbs in a real context. The contextualization helps establish a connection between the studied theory and its practical application, motivating students to see the relevance of the topic in their daily lives and in real usage situations of the Spanish language.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are in a café in Madrid and need to order a coffee. How would you use the present indicative to make your order clearly?

2. Pretend you are describing your day to a friend in Barcelona. How would you conjugate the verbs to talk about your current activities?

Contextualization

The present indicative is crucial in Spanish as it allows the expression of actions occurring at the moment or considered universal truths. For example, when talking about daily routines, we use this verb tense. Additionally, understanding the correct use of the present indicative is essential for everyday situations such as making orders, describing ongoing actions, or expressing current emotions in informal and formal conversations. The practice of this verb tense can be as simple as saying 'Yo estudio' (I study) or as complex as describing a series of events in a novel.

Development

Duration: (75 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and dynamically apply their acquired knowledge about verbs in the present indicative. Through playful and contextual activities, students have the opportunity to reinforce their understanding and verb conjugation skills while developing collaboration, creativity, and communication competencies. Each proposed activity aims to engage students in a differentiated manner, ensuring active and meaningful learning.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Story Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice conjugating verbs in the present indicative creatively and contextually.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to five people, and each group will receive a set of cards, each containing a verb in the infinitive. The challenge is to build a story in which the verbs are correctly conjugated in the present indicative. Each group randomly selects five verb cards and then has 30 minutes to develop a story, using each verb at least once, conjugated correctly in the present indicative.

- Instructions:

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

• Distribute a set of verb cards to each group.

• Ask each group to randomly select five cards.

• Students must use the chosen verbs to construct a written story in the present indicative.

• Each verb must be used at least once and be correctly conjugated.

• After 30 minutes, each group reads its story to the class, which will evaluate the correct use of the verbs.

Activity 2 - Express Interview

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop conversational skills and fluency in using the present indicative in an entertainment context.

- Description: Students, in groups, will take on roles of different characters (a famous artist, an athlete, a scientist, etc.). Each group will receive a set of cards with verbs in the infinitive. They must formulate questions and answers using the verbs, in the present indicative, appropriate to the roles they play. The goal is to create a quick and natural dialogue, simulating an interview on a talk show.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of no more than five people.

• Assign each group a type of character (artist, scientist, etc.).

• Distribute verb cards to each group.

• Groups must prepare an interview dialogue using the verbs in the present indicative.

• Conduct an 'express interview' where each group presents its dialogue to the class.

• Discuss with the class about the use of the verbs and the context of the interviews.

Activity 3 - Verbal Shadow Theater

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore body expression and verb conjugation in the present indicative playfully and creatively.

- Description: Using a shadow theater technique, students, in groups, will create a short play where the shadows of the actors projected will represent actions described by verbs in the present indicative. Each group will receive a list of verbs that must be represented creatively and correctly conjugated.

- Instructions:

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

• Provide each group with a list of verbs in the present indicative.

• Students must create and rehearse a short play with their shadows, where the verbs are the focus of the action.

• Each verb must be used and conjugated correctly in the play.

• Allow each group to perform their play and discuss the use of verbs with the class.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this feedback stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to reflect on the practical application of verbs in the present indicative. The discussion in groups helps identify areas that may require more attention and clarification, in addition to providing a collaborative learning environment. Key questions are formulated to guide reflection and ensure that students can articulate what they have learned, reinforcing the understanding and importance of the studied theme.

Group Discussion

At the end of the activities, gather all students for a group discussion. Start the conversation with a brief introduction, highlighting the importance of using the present indicative in everyday situations and language fluency. Ask each group to share their experiences and challenges encountered during the activities. Encourage students to discuss the different uses of the verbs and the importance of correct conjugation in each presented context. This discussion not only reinforces individual learning but also promotes knowledge exchange among students.

Key Questions

1. What were the main challenges you faced in using verbs in the present indicative during today's activities?

2. How did the practice of the activities help improve your understanding of verb conjugation in Spanish?

3. Is there any real situation where you realized you could apply what you learned today about verbs?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this conclusion stage is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content covered during the lesson. Recapping main points helps reinforce learning and ensures that students can apply the acquired knowledge in future contexts. Furthermore, discussing the practical and theoretical importance of the present indicative reinforces the value of what was learned and will motivate students to continue exploring and perfecting their linguistic skills in Spanish.

Summary

At this final moment of the class, it is essential to recap and summarize the main points addressed about verbs in the present indicative in Spanish. Students have reviewed and practiced the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs and applied this knowledge in various playful and contextual activities.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was designed to connect theory to practice in a dynamic and meaningful way. Through interactive activities such as story building and shadow theater, students were able to see the direct applicability of the present indicative in real and imaginary situations, consolidating theoretical learning through active practice.

Closing

Understanding and mastering the present indicative is crucial, as this verb tense is widely used to express actions occurring at the moment or that are considered universal truths. The ability to correctly conjugate verbs in the present indicative is a fundamental step toward fluency and effectiveness in communication in Spanish, both in formal and informal contexts.