Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
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Present to students the grammatical structure of the simple past of regular and irregular verbs in English. Students should be able to identify and understand the formation of the simple past of these verbs.
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Develop students' ability to apply the simple past of regular and irregular verbs in sentence and paragraph contexts. Students should be able to formulate sentences and paragraphs correctly in the simple past.
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Encourage students to recognize and proficiently use the simple past of verbs in their English reading and writing skills. Students should be able to read English texts containing verbs in the simple past, as well as write texts in this verbal form.
- Secondary Objectives:
- Promote review and practice activities to reinforce students' learning.
- Foster active student participation through discussions and group activities.
- Secondary Objectives:
The teacher should present these Objectives at the beginning of the lesson so that students know what to expect and what they should achieve by the end of the session. This is a crucial moment to motivate students and spark their interest in the topic. Additionally, the Objectives should be clearly communicated and explained to ensure that all students fully understand them.
Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)
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The teacher starts the lesson by reminding students what verbs are and their importance in the English language. The teacher may ask questions to check if students still remember these concepts. For example:
- "Remember, what are verbs in the English language?"
- "What are some of the main functions of verbs in a sentence?"
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Next, the teacher introduces two problem situations to pique students' interest:
- "Have you ever imagined how it would be to talk about actions that happened in the past, but didn't know how to express that in English?"
- "Have you ever wondered why some verbs change completely in the past, while others are simpler?"
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The teacher contextualizes the importance of the topic, explaining that the simple past is a widely used verb tense in English texts, including books, articles, and everyday conversations. Additionally, the teacher can highlight that knowledge of the simple past is essential for effective communication in English, as it allows students to express their ideas clearly and precisely.
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To capture students' attention, the teacher can share some curiosities:
- "Did you know that some verbs in English do not follow the general rule for forming the simple past and are considered irregular? For example, the verb 'go' in the past becomes 'went' and not 'goed' as we would expect."
- "How about this: 'be' is the only verb in English that has three different forms in the simple past: 'was' for the first person singular, 'were' for the second person singular, and all persons plural."
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Finally, the teacher announces that by the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify and use the simple past of regular and irregular verbs in English correctly. Additionally, the teacher emphasizes that the lesson will include various interactive and fun activities to make learning more effective and enjoyable.
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
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Theory and Examples (10 - 12 minutes):
- The teacher begins the Development of the lesson by explaining the formation of the simple past of regular verbs, which is done by adding the suffix -ed to the infinitive verb. However, the teacher should emphasize that there are some rules to follow, depending on the verb ending. For example, verbs ending in -e, only add -d at the end (ex: dance - danced), verbs ending in a consonant preceded by a vowel and stressed in pronunciation, double the final consonant (ex: stop - stopped), and so on.
- Next, the teacher moves on to explaining irregular verbs, highlighting that these verbs do not follow the general rule for forming the simple past and therefore need to be memorized. The teacher should provide a list of common irregular verbs and their corresponding simple past forms (ex: go - went, see - saw, be - was/were, etc.).
- During the explanation, the teacher should write the rules and examples on the board so that students can visually see the structure of the simple past and how it is applied.
- After the explanation, the teacher should lead students in a loud reading of the examples, so they can hear the correct pronunciation and the difference between the simple past and the present simple.
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Gap-Fill Activity (5 - 7 minutes):
- After the explanation, the teacher hands out a gap-fill activity sheet. The activity should contain sentences with blanks that students need to fill in with the simple past of the provided verbs.
- The teacher should guide students to complete the activity in pairs, encouraging discussion and collaboration. This not only helps reinforce learning but also develops students' teamwork and communication skills.
- The teacher monitors the activity, circulating around the room to answer questions and provide guidance if necessary.
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Board Game (5 - 6 minutes):
- Next, the teacher introduces a thematic verb board game. Students, organized in groups, move around the board answering questions and completing tasks related to the simple past of verbs.
- Questions and tasks may include: identifying if a verb is regular or irregular and providing the simple past, conjugating verbs in the simple past in different pronouns, completing sentences with the simple past of verbs, among others.
- The teacher should ensure that the game is fun and engaging, encouraging active student participation. Additionally, the teacher should use this moment to observe students' progress and identify any areas that may need review or reinforcement.
Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)
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Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes):
- The teacher starts the Feedback stage by promoting an open discussion about the solutions or conclusions found by the groups during the activities. Each group will have a maximum of 2 minutes to share their answers and strategies with the class.
- During the discussion, the teacher should encourage students to explain the reasoning behind their answers, rather than just providing the correct answer. This helps develop students' argumentation skills and critical thinking.
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Connection with Theory (2 - 3 minutes):
- The teacher then makes the connection between the groups' discussions and the theory presented at the beginning of the lesson. The teacher can reinforce the rules of the simple past of regular and irregular verbs, and highlight common errors made by students during the activities.
- The teacher should emphasize the importance of continuous practice and study of irregular verbs, as they do not follow the general rules for forming the simple past.
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Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes):
- The teacher proposes that students reflect individually on what they learned in the lesson. The teacher asks questions like:
- "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
- "What questions have not been answered yet?"
- Students have a minute to think and then are encouraged to share their answers with the class. This can be done orally or in writing, depending on the classroom dynamics.
- The teacher proposes that students reflect individually on what they learned in the lesson. The teacher asks questions like:
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Feedback and Closure (1 minute):
- Finally, the teacher thanks the students for their participation and effort during the lesson. The teacher also asks for feedback from students about the lesson, encouraging them to express any remaining difficulties or doubts.
- The teacher reminds students to review the lesson content at home and prepare for the next lesson, which will delve deeper into the study of the simple past focusing on reading and writing skills.
This Feedback stage is a crucial step to consolidate students' learning and ensure they have understood the concepts presented. Additionally, group discussion, connection with theory, and individual reflection help develop students' critical thinking skills and metacognition.
Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)
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Summary and Recapitulation (2 - 3 minutes):
- The teacher starts the Conclusion of the lesson by summarizing the main points covered. He reinforces the difference between regular and irregular verbs, and the formation of the simple past of each.
- The teacher reiterates that regular verbs follow a general rule, which consists of adding the suffix -ed to the infinitive verb, while irregular verbs do not follow this rule and need to be memorized.
- He also recalls the special rules for the formation of the simple past of regular verbs, such as doubling the last consonant in some cases.
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Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes):
- The teacher highlights how the lesson connected theory with the practice and applications of the simple past. He mentions the gap-fill activities and the board game, which allowed students to practice the formation and use of the simple past of regular and irregular verbs.
- The teacher also reinforces the importance and applicability of the simple past, reminding students that this is a verb tense widely used in English texts, and that mastering this verb tense is essential for effective communication in English.
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Extra Materials (1 minute):
- To complement students' learning, the teacher suggests some extra materials, such as websites, videos, and apps that offer interactive activities and games to practice the simple past.
- The teacher also indicates some English books and texts that students can read to see the simple past being used in practice.
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Importance of the Topic (1 minute):
- Finally, the teacher emphasizes the importance of the topic for students' daily lives. He explains that the simple past is an essential tool for expressing actions that occurred in the past, and that the ability to use this verb tense correctly can make a significant difference in the clarity and effectiveness of communication in English.
- The teacher encourages students to continue practicing the simple past in their study activities and to apply this knowledge in their daily interactions with the English language.
The Conclusion of the lesson is an important step to reinforce students' learning, consolidate the concepts presented, and motivate them to continue studying the topic. Additionally, by offering extra materials and highlighting the practical importance of the simple past, the teacher helps create a meaningful connection between the lesson and students' lives.