Lesson plan of Verbs: Simple Past Regular and Irregular Verbs

Objectives (5-7 minutes)

1. Understand the simple past tense structure of regular and irregular verbs in English: Students should be able to recognize and differentiate between regular and irregular verbs, as well as understand how each type is conjugated in the simple past tense. This includes recognizing the vowel change for regular verbs and memorizing the irregular forms of common verbs.

2. Practice using the simple past tense in context: Students should be able to apply the simple past tense in full sentences and within varied contexts. This involves understanding how the past tense fits into narratives and descriptions.

3. Develop English listening and speaking skills: Students should have the opportunity to listen to and speak using the simple past tense. This can be achieved through group discussions and listening to dialogues or stories.

Additional Objectives:

• Improve English fluency: Through consistent use of the simple past tense in different contexts, students will have the opportunity to practice and improve their fluency in English.

• Reinforce learning through interactive activities: Students will be encouraged to actively participate in the lesson, whether through games, presentations, or group discussions. This will help reinforce what has been learned and make the lesson more engaging and productive.

Introduction (10-12 minutes)

1. Review of prior knowledge: The lesson begins with a brief review of the present simple tense, with a specific focus on regular and irregular verbs. This will provide a foundation for introducing the simple past tense. (3-4 minutes)

2. Problem situations: Next, present two situations that require the use of the simple past tense. For example, a situation where the student needs to describe what they did yesterday and another where they need to tell a story that happened in the past. This will help students see the relevance of the topic to effective communication in English. (2-3 minutes)

3. Contextualization: Explain how the simple past tense is widely used in everyday conversations, books, movies, and songs in English. Mention that understanding and using the simple past tense correctly is essential for English fluency and comprehension of various types of content. (2-3 minutes)

4. Curiosities for engagement: To spark students' interest, share some curiosities about the English language. For instance, mention that English has a large number of irregular verbs and that, although most verbs in English are regular, irregular verbs are frequently used and, therefore, need to be memorized. Another interesting fact is that some verbs that used to be irregular in the past have become regular over time. (2-3 minutes)

Development (20-25 minutes)

1. Board Game Activity (10-12 minutes):

   • Preparation: Create a large board game on the floor of the classroom, with each square containing an infinitive verb. Additionally, have cards with the regular and irregular past simple forms of these verbs.

   • Rules: Divide students into groups of 4 or 5. Give each group a game piece and a set of past simple verb cards. The goal is to move the game piece around the board by correctly conjugating the verb on the card according to the square the piece is on. If they conjugate correctly, they move forward; if not, they stay in place.

   • Gameplay: Groups take turns playing. On each turn, a student from the group must conjugate the verb on the card into the simple past tense and say the correct English form before moving the game piece. If the group does not know the answer, they can ask for help from the teacher or another group.

   • Objective: This activity aims to reinforce the use of the simple past tense in a fun and competitive game context, making learning more playful and motivating.

2. Role-Play Activity (10-12 minutes):

   • Preparation: Prepare cards with everyday situations that require the use of the simple past tense. For example, "you went to the cinema yesterday" or "you won a prize last week."

   • Rules: Divide students into groups and give each group one of these cards. They must create a short scene where the situation on the card is acted out. They should use the simple past tense to describe the actions in the scene.

   • Gameplay: Each group is given time to prepare their scene, assign roles, and rehearse. Afterward, they present their scenes to the class. The other teams should pay attention and try to identify which simple past tense verbs are used.

   • Objective: This activity encourages students to use the simple past tense practically and creatively while developing their speaking and listening skills.

3. Scavenger Hunt Activity (5-8 minutes):

   • Preparation: Hide cards with irregular past simple verbs around the classroom. Each card should contain a verb and its irregular past simple form.

   • Rules: Divide students into groups and give each group a list of infinitive verbs. They must find the cards corresponding to the verbs on their list and write down the irregular past simple forms.

   • Gameplay: Groups go on a "scavenger hunt" around the classroom. When a group finds a card, they read the verb aloud, and one student in the group writes down the irregular past simple form next to the verb on their list.

   • Objective: This activity aims to help students memorize the irregular past simple forms of verbs in a fun and interactive way.

Debrief (8-10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (2-3 minutes):

   • Objective: Bring the whole class together for a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions reached in each activity. This provides an opportunity to share different approaches and strategies for using the simple past tense.

   • Procedure: Begin the discussion by asking each group to briefly share how they solved the situations presented in the activities. Encourage students to express their opinions, questions, and any difficulties they encountered during the activity.

   • Feedback: Provide constructive feedback, praising correct answers and effective strategies and addressing common mistakes or areas for improvement. Also, clarify any misconceptions or confusions that may have arisen during the discussion.

2. Theory-Practice Connection (2-3 minutes):

   • Objective: After the group discussion, connect the practical activities the students did to the theory of the simple past tense of regular and irregular verbs.

   • Procedure: For example, highlight the most frequently used simple past tense verbs that were practiced in the activities and reinforce their regular and irregular forms.

   • Feedback: Ask students if they can now identify why specific verbs are considered regular or irregular and how this affects how they are used in the simple past tense. Be attentive to any difficulties or misunderstandings that may arise and address them clearly and concisely.

3. Individual Reflection (2-3 minutes):

   • Objective: To conclude the lesson, ask students to take a moment to reflect individually on what they have learned. This will allow them to solidify their understanding and identify any areas that may still be unclear or need more practice.

   • Procedure: Pose reflective questions such as, "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions do you still have?" Encourage students to write their responses in a notebook or on a digital document.

   • Feedback: Ask a few students to share their responses with the class if they feel comfortable doing so. This can help identify any areas that need further explanation or practice in future lessons.

Conclusion (5-7 minutes)

1. Summary of Key Concepts (2-3 minutes): Recap the main points covered during the lesson, reinforcing the concept of regular and irregular verbs and the structure of the simple past tense in English. This includes the vowel change for regular verbs and memorizing the irregular forms of common verbs. This recap will help solidify the students' learning.

2. Theory-Practice-Application Connection (1-2 minutes): Highlight how the lesson connected the theory, practice, and applications of the simple past tense. This can be done by explaining how the practical activities, like the board game and role-play, helped students apply the theory in a fun and meaningful way. Also, reinforce the importance of the simple past tense in English communication, providing examples of how it is frequently used in everyday contexts, such as telling stories and describing past experiences.

3. Supplemental Materials (1-2 minutes): Suggest additional study materials for students who want to further explore the simple past tense. This can include English learning websites, textbooks, educational videos, language learning apps, and more. For example, suggest that students practice the past simple irregular verbs using online games or watch explanatory videos on the topic.

4. Relevance of the Topic (1 minute): Finally, reinforce the importance of the simple past tense for English fluency. Emphasize that by mastering this tense, students will be able to communicate more effectively in English, both in speaking and writing. Additionally, mention that knowledge of the simple past tense is a useful skill for English proficiency tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS.

This lesson plan, combining flipped classroom with interactive hands-on activities, will allow students to effectively understand and practice using the simple past tense in English while making the learning process more engaging and enjoyable.