Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Conjunctions

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 and directed foundation for subsequent activities. By defining precise objectives, the teacher guides students on what is expected of them and the practical importance of the knowledge to be acquired. This phase also serves to motivate students, showing how the effective use of conjunctions can enrich their ability to express themselves in English, both in writing and speaking.

Main Objectives:

1. Equip students to correctly and contextually use conjunctions in English, improving fluency and textual cohesion.

2. Differentiate coordinating conjunctions from subordinating conjunctions, enabling students to recognize and apply such structures in different types of sentences.

3. Conduct practical activities that involve identifying and using conjunctions in various contexts, strengthening understanding and applicability of the topic.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage collaboration and debate among students during group activities, fostering a dynamic and interactive learning environment.
2. Develop analytical skills in students by challenging them to identify common mistakes in the use of conjunctions in sample texts.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The Introduction is intended to engage and prepare students for the practical application of conjunctions, reinforcing prior knowledge and establishing the relevance of the topic. By presenting problem situations, the teacher challenges students to actively apply what they have learned, while the contextualization highlights the importance of conjunctions in effective communication in English. This segment serves as an intellectual warm-up and motivates students to think critically about how conjunctions influence clarity and textual cohesion.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are writing an email to a friend describing a recent trip. How would you connect ideas about different events from the trip so that the email is coherent and fluid?

2. Consider that you are arguing about the importance of extracurricular activities in a school meeting. What conjunctions would you use to contrast viewpoints, add information, and show causes?

Contextualization

Conjunctions are like the joints of the human body in language; they connect ideas and events, making communication smoother and more understandable. For example, the conjunction 'but' shows contrast, essential in debates or discussions, while 'and' adds information, vital in descriptions or instructions. These small words have powerful effects on the meaning and clarity of texts, directly reflecting the speaker's ability to express themselves effectively in English.

Development

Duration: (70 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply the knowledge about conjunctions acquired at home. By engaging them in activities that require active use of conjunctions in varied contexts, such as writing, debating, and media production, they can explore the functionality and importance of these grammatical structures in real communication situations. This hands-on approach aims to reinforce learning, stimulate critical thinking, and increase students' confidence in using conjunctions in English.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Building Bridges with Words

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop creative writing skills and effective use of conjunctions for textual cohesion.

- Description: In this activity, students are challenged to build a narrative 'bridge,' connecting two seemingly disconnected stories using a variety of conjunctions. Each group receives two short stories that end and begin abruptly. The challenge is to create a transition paragraph that creatively uses conjunctions to unite these stories coherently and fluidly.

- Instructions:

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

• Distribute the short stories to each group.

• Explain that they must use conjunctions to create a paragraph that connects the two stories.

• Encourage the use of different types of conjunctions to show contrast, addition, cause and effect, etc.

• Each group presents its narrative bridge to the class, explaining their conjunction choices.

Activity 2 - The Great Conjunction Debate

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Improve students' argumentation skills and the use of conjunctions in speaking contexts.

- Description: Students participate in a structured debate where they must use conjunctions to form strong and cohesive arguments. Each group represents an opinion on a contemporary topic (e.g., use of technology in education). They must use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions to add information, contrast ideas, and express causes or conditions.

- Instructions:

• Organize the room into two large groups, each with an opposing position on the topic.

• Give time for each group to prepare their arguments, highlighting the importance of conjunctions in constructing them.

• Conduct the debate, alternating speeches between the groups.

• After the debate, conduct a collective analysis highlighting the effective or ineffective use of conjunctions in the presented arguments.

Activity 3 - Conjunction Filmmaker

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the creative use of conjunctions in different contexts and develop oral expression and dramatization skills.

- Description: Students create short videos or dramatizations where conjunctions are the 'stars of the show.' They must write a short script where the use of conjunctions is crucial for developing the plot. The challenge is to use conjunctions in innovative ways to add humor, suspense, or any other element that enriches the story.

- Instructions:

• Explain the concept of the activity and distribute recording equipment if available.

• Help students form groups and think of ideas for their scripts.

• Monitor and assist the groups during preparation and recording.

• Organize a video screening and ask each group to explain how conjunctions helped build the narrative.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The Feedback stage is crucial for consolidating students' learning and allowing reflection on the applicability of conjunctions in various contexts. This discussion helps students articulate their understanding and hear different perspectives from their peers, which can further enrich their learning. Additionally, it allows the teacher to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities and the depth of students' understanding of the topic.

Group Discussion

Conclude the class with a group discussion, where all students will gather to share their experiences and learnings from the activities. Start the discussion with a brief review of the conjunctions studied and how they were applied in today's activities. Ask how each group approached the proposed challenges and which strategies were most effective. Encourage students to reflect on how the use of conjunctions affects clarity and cohesion in written and oral communications.

Key Questions

1. Which conjunctions did you find most challenging to use and why?

2. How did the use of conjunctions help improve the cohesion and fluency of the presented stories and arguments?

3. Was there any situation during the activities where the choice of conjunction significantly altered the meaning of the sentence?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to consolidate learning, allowing students to review and internalize the key concepts discussed during the class. This recapitulation helps ensure that students can apply the acquired knowledge in future situations, both academic and everyday, and recognize the importance of conjunctions for communicative effectiveness in English. Additionally, this section allows the teacher to assess students' understanding and the effectiveness of the teaching, adjusting future approaches as necessary.

Summary

Summarize the main points addressed in the class, reinforcing the understanding of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions, and how these are used to connect ideas clearly and efficiently in different communicative contexts.

Theory Connection

Demonstrate how the practical activities linked students' prior theoretical knowledge with real applications, emphasizing the importance of conjunctions in constructing coherent arguments and improving fluency in English.

Closing

Highlight the relevance of conjunctions in daily use of the English language, both in writing and speaking, and how a deeper understanding of these elements can significantly improve communication and expression of complex ideas.