Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Verbs: Present Perfect Continuous

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 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for establishing a clear foundation of what is expected to be achieved by the end of the lesson. By specifying the main objectives, the teacher guides students on the skills they need to acquire and improve. This allows for greater focus on both home preparation activities and in-class tasks, ensuring that all efforts align with the learning goals.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to write verbs in the present perfect continuous correctly, differentiating its use from other verb tenses in English.

2. Develop the ability to identify verbs conjugated in the present perfect continuous in various texts.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation from students in identifying and explaining the use of the present perfect continuous in practical examples.
2. Foster a discussion and collaboration environment among students for clarifying doubts and sharing knowledge.

Introduction

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The Introduction serves to engage students with the content they have already studied at home, using situations that prompt them to think critically and apply knowledge practically. The problem situations are designed for students to start thinking about how to apply the present perfect continuous in various contexts, preparing them for more complex activities in class. Contextualization helps connect the content with the students' reality, increasing motivation and interest in learning the verb tense.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Ask students to imagine they are writing a letter to a friend describing what they did during the vacation. They should use the present perfect continuous to describe activities that started in the past and continue in the present. For example, 'I have been reading a great book.'

2. Request that the students create a small play where a character is waiting for something that started in the past and has not yet happened. This exercise will help them understand the construction of sentences in the present perfect continuous using 'have/has been' + verb + 'ing'. For example, 'He has been waiting for the bus for over an hour.'

Contextualization

Contextualize the use of the present perfect continuous with real situations, such as describing travel experiences or personal projects that are still ongoing. This approach helps students realize the relevance of the verb tense in everyday and professional communications. For example, 'I have been learning Spanish for two years.'

Development

Duration: (75 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to put into practice and deepen the students' prior knowledge of the present perfect continuous. Through playful and interactive activities, students have the opportunity to apply the verb tense in various contexts, facilitating content assimilation and retention. The activities are structured to promote group collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, as well as to provide a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Mission Present Perfect Continuous

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice identifying and using the present perfect continuous in various contexts, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.

- Description: In this activity, students are invited to participate in a 'treasure hunt' within the classroom. The teacher hides cards with sentences in the present perfect continuous in strategic places. Each sentence contains a clue that leads to the next location of the treasure, and so on, until completing a circuit. The sentences use everyday and fun situations to illustrate the use of the present perfect continuous.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain that they must find the cards and discuss in the group the correctness of the sentences, identifying the use of the present perfect continuous.

• Upon finding a card, the group must read the sentence aloud and discuss the context of the situation.

• If the sentence is correct, the teacher gives the next clue. Otherwise, the group must correct it before receiving the next clue.

• The first group to complete the circuit with all correct sentences wins.

Activity 2 - Celebrity Interview

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Enhance the ability to formulate and answer questions in the present perfect continuous, as well as develop presentation and active listening skills.

- Description: Students, in groups, take on the role of reporters who must interview 'celebrities' (historical, fictional, or contemporary characters) using exclusively the present perfect continuous. Each group creates a script of questions that explore the life and achievements of the 'celebrity', focusing on actions that started in the past and continue in the present.

- Instructions:

• Each group chooses a 'celebrity' to interview.

• They develop a script with questions that must be answered in the present perfect continuous.

• Students take turns acting as reporters and interviewees.

• The interview is recorded or presented live to the class.

• After the presentation, the class discusses the correct use of the present perfect continuous in the answers.

Activity 3 - Drama at School

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Encourage creativity and fluent use of the present perfect continuous in a theatrical context, as well as improve teamwork skills.

- Description: In this activity, students create and present small plays that use the present perfect continuous to tell stories about everyday situations at school. Each group receives a scenario and must develop dialogues and actions that illustrate the use of the verb tense.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups and distribute scenarios that involve common situations at school.

• Students create dialogues and actions that must be performed in the present perfect continuous.

• Each group presents its play to the class.

• After the presentations, the class discusses the strengths and areas for improvement in the use of the present perfect continuous.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate students' learning, allowing them to reflect on the practical application of the present perfect continuous. The group discussion helps clarify remaining doubts, promotes better understanding of the content, and allows students to articulate what they have learned, reinforcing knowledge through the exchange of experiences and perspectives. Additionally, this stage serves to evaluate students' understanding of the topic and identify areas that may need further review.

Group Discussion

After completing the activities, organize a group discussion with all students. Start the discussion by briefly reviewing the tasks performed, emphasizing the skills practiced and challenges encountered. Encourage each group to share their discoveries and lessons learned during the activities, especially focusing on how the present perfect continuous was applied and in which contexts it seemed more challenging or natural. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: 'What were the most difficult sentences to construct and why?'; 'How did you help each other during the activities?'; 'What difference does the use of the present perfect continuous make compared to other verb tenses in English?'

Key Questions

1. What are the key differences between the present perfect continuous and other verb tenses that you identified during the activities?

2. How can knowledge of the present perfect continuous aid communication in real situations, such as interviews or reporting experiences?

3. Was there any moment when the application of the present perfect continuous didn't seem natural? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The conclusion stage serves to reinforce and consolidate the learning from the lesson, ensuring that students have clarity on the topics covered and their practical applications. Additionally, it helps connect the activities carried out with the learning objectives, allowing students to visualize the relevance of the Present Perfect Continuous in real situations. This final reflection also helps evaluate the knowledge acquired and prepare for future applications of the verb tense.

Summary

In the conclusion, the teacher should summarize the main topics covered about the Present Perfect Continuous, reiterating the structure 'have/has been' + verb + 'ing' and highlighting practical examples discussed during the activities. It is important to recap how this verb tense differs from others, such as the Present Perfect Simple, and emphasize the continuity of actions from the past to the present.

Theory Connection

Today’s lesson was a bridge between the theory studied at home and the practice in the classroom. Through dynamic and interactive activities, students were able to apply theoretical knowledge in real and fictional contexts, solidifying their understanding and usage skills of the Present Perfect Continuous. The flipped classroom methodology allowed the theory to be explored at home, freeing up more class time for application and discussions.

Closing

Finally, it is crucial to highlight the importance of the Present Perfect Continuous in students' daily lives, both in oral and written communication. This verb tense is frequently used to talk about ongoing experiences that started in the past and still have relevance in the present, such as in travel reports or progress on personal projects. Understanding and mastering the application of this verb tense enriches students' ability to express themselves in English and is fundamental for fluency in the language.