Lesson Plan: Understanding Simple Tenses
Objective:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
Define and identify the simple present, past, and future tenses.
Identify the correct tense for a given action or situation.
Express confidence in their ability to use simple tenses correctly.
Code:
EN4SW-I-3
Grade Level:
Grade 4
Subject:
English
(1) Review
Begin the lesson by reviewing the basic concepts of verbs. Ask students to define
what a verb is and provide examples. Write a few sentences on the board and
highlight the verbs. Discuss how verbs can change based on time.
(2) Motivation
Engage students by asking them about their daily routines. Pose questions like:
"What do you do every morning?"
"What did you do yesterday?"
"What will you do next weekend?" This will lead them to think about how they
express actions in different times.
(3) Activity
Tense Relay Race
Materials Needed: Index cards with verbs, whiteboard, markers.
Instructions:
Divide the class into two teams.
Each team will have a set of index cards with different verbs written on them.
One member from each team will race to the board and write a sentence using the
verb on their card in the correct tense (simple present, past, or future).
Teams will take turns, and after each round, students will discuss whether the
tense used is correct and why.
The team with the most correct sentences wins.
(4) Analysis
After the relay race, gather the students and discuss the sentences created. Ask
them:
"What patterns did you notice in the verbs?"
"How do the endings of the verbs change based on the tense?" This will help them
analyze the structure of different tenses.
(5) Abstraction
Guide the students to abstract the rules for forming simple tenses:
Simple Present: Base form of the verb (add 's' or 'es' for third person).
Simple Past: Regular verbs add 'ed'; irregular verbs change entirely.
Simple Future: Use 'will' + base form of the verb. Create a chart on the board
summarizing these rules for reference.
(6) Application
Real-Life Problem: Present a scenario: "Imagine you are writing a letter to a
friend about your week. Write a short paragraph that describes what you do every
day, what you did yesterday, and what you will do tomorrow." Encourage students to
use all three tenses appropriately.
(7) Assessment
Quiz Questions:
Identify the simple present tense in the following sentence: "She walks to school
every day."
Answer: walks
True or False: The simple past tense of "go" is "goed."
Answer: False (it is "went")
Fill in the blank: "He _____ (play) soccer yesterday."
Answer: played
Choose the correct tense: "They _____ (eat) dinner at 6 PM tomorrow."
Answer: will eat
Identify the correct tense: "I _____ (finish) my homework."
Answer: finish (simple present)
(8) Assignment
For homework, students will write a short story (5-7 sentences) about their last
vacation. They should use at least one sentence in the simple present, one in the
simple past, and one in the simple future. Encourage creativity and clarity in
their use of tenses.
Questions and Answers
What is the simple present tense used for?
Answer: To describe habits, routines, or general truths.
What is the past tense of "eat"?
Answer: ate.
How do you form the simple future tense?
Answer: Use "will" + base form of the verb.
True or False: "She will go to the store" is in the simple future tense.
Answer: True.
Fill in the blank: "They _____ (visit) their grandparents last weekend."
Answer: visited.
Interactive Activities
Tense Charades: Students act out verbs in different tenses while others guess the
verb and its tense.
Tense Sorting Game: Provide students with a mix of sentences in different tenses.
They must sort them into categories of present, past, and future.
Tense Story Chain: In groups, students create a story by passing a paper around.
Each student must add a sentence in a different tense, building on the previous
sentence.
"Great job, everyone! Today, we learned how to talk about the past, present, and
future using simple tenses. Keep practicing by using these tenses in your daily
conversations!"
