Embark on a journey through time with our ESL lesson plan tailored for high beginner A2 adult learners. This educational adventure is designed to unlock the secrets of the past simple tense, transforming grammar practice into an art form through the power of storytelling. In this lesson, students will immerse themselves in the narrative flow of short stories, discern the intricacies of verb usage, and wield their newfound knowledge to create captivating tales of their own.
Summary
This lesson plan is structured to reinforce understanding and application of the past simple tense in a welcoming and interactive environment. By engaging with written narratives, students will identify and master the patterns of past tense verb forms. Activities are expertly crafted to stimulate creativity and boost confidence in writing and grammar proficiency.
Lesson Focus
Students will gain a comprehensive grasp of the past simple tense, with a special emphasis on writing and grammatical accuracy. The activities will hone their ability to recount events and build cohesive narratives, providing a solid foundation for effective communication in both spoken and written English.
Lesson Content
Activity 1: Past Tense Recognition
Approximate Time Needed: 20 minutes
Objective: To identify and understand the use of past simple tense verbs within the context of a short story.
Materials: A selection of short stories with a good mix of past simple verbs, worksheet handouts or digital copies. These materials can be found in ESL textbooks, online educational resources, or custom-made by the teacher.
Instructions:
- Distribute the short stories to the students.
- Instruct them to read the stories and underline all the verbs in the past simple tense.
- Discuss the findings as a class, and clarify any confusion regarding irregular verbs and past simple tense verb forms.
Activity 2: Verb Conjugation Practice
Approximate Time Needed: 15 minutes
Objective: To practice conjugating regular and irregular verbs in the past simple tense.
Materials: Verb conjugation worksheets or an interactive whiteboard for digital exercises.
Instructions:
- Provide each student with a worksheet or display the exercise on the interactive whiteboard.
- Ask students to fill in the blanks with the correctly conjugated past simple tense verbs.
- Review the answers collectively to ensure comprehension and correct any mistakes.
Alternative to Activities 1 and 2: Flipped Classroom Model
Have students complete ALULA's course on simple past tense at home. During the course, they will listen to conversations containing numerous examples of simple past tense usage. Additionally, they will study the grammatical rules associated with simple past tense and engage in practice by using simple past tense while conversing with the AI-powered English tutor. By the time they return to class, they should have a basic understanding of the mechanics of simple past tense and have gained experience in its application through practice. Then, in the first 10 minutes of the class, the teacher can address and clarify any questions that students might have. Subsequently, the lesson can proceed directly to Activity 3.
Activity 3: Personal Past Tense Story Creation
Approximate Time Needed: 25 minutes
Objective: To apply the past simple tense by writing a short personal story using past tense verbs.
Materials: Writing paper or digital document editors.
Instructions:
- Encourage students to brainstorm events from their own past that they can share.
- Instruct them to write a short story using the past simple tense to recount their chosen event.
- Allow students to share their stories with a partner or the class, providing an opportunity for peer feedback.
Wrap Up
To conclude, this lesson plan offers an intuitive approach to mastering the past simple tense. Students emerge with an enhanced ability to narrate past events through effective storytelling. Reflecting on this lesson, they will appreciate the significance of past tense forms in sharing experiences and connecting with others.
As a complement to this in-class learning experience, ALULA serves as a revolutionary ESL learning companion. ALULA, an AI-powered ESL application, provides conversation exercises on various topics and specifically tailored speaking exercises targeting grammar topics like the past simple tense. Through interactive grammar lessons, learners can engage with an AI English Tutor at home, consolidating their knowledge and refining their skills with practice questions. By integrating ALULA into their learning routine, students can preview grammar content, rehearse speaking, and arrive prepared for more dynamic and enriching classroom activities.
Do you have any feedback, comments, or suggestions about this article? Let us know in the comment section below the sponsored content.
Are you a teacher with ideas for improvement for this article? Want to contribute an article yourself? Leave a comment below or contact us.