Lesson Plan | Traditional Methodology | Verbs: Passive Voice

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to provide a clear overview of the learning objectives, establishing a starting point for understanding the topic of passive voice verbs. This will help students focus on the specific skills that will be developed during the lesson, ensuring a solid foundation for the practical application of the content.

Main Objectives

1. Teach students the difference between active and passive voice.

2. Empower students to transform sentences from active voice to passive voice.

3. Ensure that students recognize verbs in the passive voice.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to contextualize students about the relevance and practical application of passive voice, sparking interest and curiosity about the topic. This initial moment also serves to prepare students for a deeper understanding of the content that will be presented throughout the lesson, ensuring that they remain attentive and engaged from the start.

Context

To start the lesson on passive voice verbs, explain to students that this structure is widely used in the English language, especially in formal, scientific, and journalistic writing. Present examples of common sentences where passive voice is used, such as in news reports ('The suspect was arrested by the police') or in academic articles ('The experiment was conducted by the research team'). Highlight that understanding passive voice is crucial for reading and producing texts in English, as well as improving accuracy and clarity in communication.

Curiosities

An interesting fact is that passive voice is often used in newspaper headlines and scientific articles to emphasize the result of an action, rather than who performed it. For example, in a headline like 'A new vaccine was developed', the focus is on the development of the vaccine, not on the scientists who created it. This can help students understand the practical importance of learning and using passive voice correctly.

Development

Duration: (40 - 50 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to provide students with a detailed and practical understanding of passive voice, with an emphasis on transforming sentences and accurately identifying the structure. This section aims to consolidate theoretical knowledge through practical examples and guided exercises, ensuring that students are capable of recognizing and using passive voice effectively in various contexts.

Covered Topics

1. Definition of Active and Passive Voice: Explain that in active voice, the subject performs the action of the verb (for example, 'The cat chased the mouse'), while in passive voice, the subject receives the action (for example, 'The mouse was chased by the cat'). 2. Structure of Passive Voice: Detail the basic structure of passive voice, which is formed by the verb 'to be' conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb (for example, 'is eaten', 'was eaten', 'will be eaten'). 3. Transformation of Sentences: Demonstrate how to transform a sentence from active to passive voice. Use clear examples, such as: Active: 'The chef cooked the meal.' Passive: 'The meal was cooked by the chef.' 4. Use of the Agent: Explain when the agent (who performs the action) is included in passive voice, using 'by'. Provide examples of sentences where the agent is necessary and where it can be omitted. 5. Identifying Passive Voice: Show how to identify sentences in passive voice in different tenses. Provide various examples, such as 'The book is being read', 'The project had been completed', 'The cake will be baked.'

Classroom Questions

1. Transform the following sentence from active to passive voice: 'The teacher explains the lesson.' 2. Identify whether the sentence is in active or passive voice: 'The homework was completed by the student.' 3. Complete the sentence in passive voice: 'The match __________ (win) by our team.'

Questions Discussion

Duration: (20 - 25 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to ensure that students consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson, allowing them to clarify doubts and review the concepts learned. This feedback section also promotes active student participation, encouraging reflection and discussion about the practical application of passive voice, in addition to reinforcing understanding and accuracy in using this grammatical structure.

Discussion

• Discussion of the Presented Questions:

• Transform the following sentence from active to passive voice: 'The teacher explains the lesson.'

• **Answer:** 'The lesson is explained by the teacher.'
  

• **Explanation:** The sentence in active voice has the subject 'the teacher' performing the action of 'explains' on the object 'the lesson'. In passive voice, the object 'the lesson' becomes the subject, followed by the verb 'is' (form of 'to be' in the simple present) and the past participle 'explained'. The agent 'by the teacher' is included to indicate who performed the action.
  

• Identify whether the sentence is in active or passive voice: 'The homework was completed by the student.'

• **Answer:** Passive voice.
  

• **Explanation:** The structure of the sentence ('was completed by the student') indicates that 'the homework' is the subject receiving the action, and the construction 'was completed' uses the verb 'to be' in the past (was) followed by the past participle 'completed'. The agent 'by the student' specifies who performed the action.
  

• Complete the sentence in passive voice: 'The match __________ (win) by our team.'

• **Answer:** 'The match was won by our team.'
  

• **Explanation:** The sentence in passive voice requires the verb 'to be' in the past (was) followed by the past participle 'won'. The agent 'by our team' indicates who won the match.
  

Student Engagement

1. Questions and Reflections: 2. Why is it important to know how to transform sentences from active to passive voice in different contexts? 3. In what situations can passive voice be more useful than active voice? 4. How can the choice between active and passive voice influence the clarity and emphasis of a message? 5. What are some examples of texts or situations where passive voice is more commonly used? 6. Ask students to create a sentence in active voice and then transform it to passive voice, explaining the process.

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to recap the main points addressed, reinforcing the knowledge acquired. Through the summary and connection with practice, students can reflect on the applicability of the concepts learned. This section also highlights the importance of the topic for everyday life, motivating students to use passive voice effectively in their communications.

Summary

• Definition of active and passive voice.
• Basic structure of passive voice (verb 'to be' + past participle).
• Transformation of sentences from active to passive voice.
• Use of the agent in passive voice and when it can be omitted.
• Identification of sentences in passive voice in different tenses.

The lesson connected theory with practice by explaining in detail the structures and rules of passive voice and providing practical examples for transforming sentences and identifying verbs in passive voice. Guided exercises allowed students to immediately apply the concepts learned, consolidating knowledge in a practical and relevant way.

Understanding and using passive voice is essential not only for producing formal texts in English but also for interpreting information in various fields such as journalism, science, and literature. The ability to transform sentences and recognize passive voice improves clarity and precision in communication, as well as enhances the understanding of complex texts.