Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
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Understand the concept of Simple Present: Students should be able to understand the structure, usage, and rules of the Simple Present in English. This includes forming affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences, as well as aspects such as the use of auxiliary verbs and the transformation of regular and irregular verbs.
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Identify and apply the Simple Present in context: Students should be able to identify the use of the Simple Present in texts and sentences, as well as be able to apply it correctly in their own written and oral productions.
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Differentiate the Simple Present from other verb tenses: Students should be able to distinguish the Simple Present from other verb tenses, such as the Present Continuous and the Present Simple.
Secondary Objectives:
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Develop English writing skills: Through the study and practice of the Simple Present, students will also be enhancing their English writing skills.
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Encourage communication in English: By familiarizing themselves with the Simple Present, students will be able to express ideas, opinions, and information more accurately and coherently in English.
Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)
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Review of Previous Content: The teacher should start the lesson by reminding students about the basic structure of a sentence in English, including the subject, the verb, and the predicate. Additionally, it is important to quickly review the difference between regular and irregular verbs, as this will be relevant to the lesson topic. (3-5 minutes)
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Problem Situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to arouse students' interest. The first one could be: "How would you describe actions that regularly occur in your daily routine?" The second one could be: "How would you talk about facts or universal truths?" Both questions are designed to make students think about the need for a verb tense that describes habitual actions and universal truths, which is exactly what the Simple Present does. (3-5 minutes)
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Contextualization: The teacher should explain the importance of the Simple Present in everyday communication in English. They can mention that it is often used to talk about schedules, routines, general facts, feelings, and opinions. Additionally, they can mention that it is a common verb tense in news and headlines. (2-3 minutes)
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Engage Students' Attention: The teacher can share some curiosities or facts related to the Simple Present to capture the students' attention. For example, they can say that although the Simple Present is often used to describe actions that happen in the present, it can also be used to describe future actions, especially in plans, programs, schedules, and calendars. Another interesting curiosity is that in some varieties of English, such as Australian English, the Simple Present is often replaced by the Present Continuous. (2-3 minutes)
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
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"Daily Routine" Activity (10 - 12 minutes): In this activity, students will create a short dialogue describing the daily routine of a fictional character. The goal is for them to practice using the Simple Present to describe actions that occur regularly. The teacher should divide the class into groups of four and provide each group with a different character image. Each group should use the image to create a name and a brief description of the character. Then, they should work together to create a dialogue of at least five lines in which each character describes what they do in a typical day. The teacher should guide the groups to use the Simple Present correctly in their sentences. After completing the activity, each group should present their dialogue to the class.
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"True or False" Activity (5 - 7 minutes): In this activity, students will be challenged to identify the correct use of the Simple Present in statements about general facts. The teacher should divide the class into teams and provide each team with a series of statements. Some of the statements should be in the Simple Present and others should be in different verb tenses. The teams should work together to determine if each statement is correct or not. They should justify their answers by explaining why the statement is or is not in the Simple Present. At the end of the activity, the teacher should review the answers with the class, clarifying any doubts and reinforcing the correct use of the Simple Present.
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"Verb Tense Sort" Activity (5 - 6 minutes): In this activity, students will practice distinguishing between the Simple Present and other verb tenses. The teacher should provide each student with a set of cards, each containing an English sentence. The sentences should be in different verb tenses, including the Simple Present. Students should work individually to categorize the sentences according to the verb tense. This activity not only reinforces the correct use of the Simple Present but also helps students distinguish between different verb tenses. The teacher should circulate around the room, monitoring students' progress and providing help when needed. After completing the activity, the teacher should review the answers with the class, clarifying any remaining doubts.
Feedback (10 - 12 minutes)
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Group Discussion (5 - 7 minutes): The teacher should gather all students and promote a group discussion about the solutions or conclusions found in each activity. This will provide an opportunity for students to share their experiences, difficulties, and learnings during the lesson. The teacher should encourage the participation of all students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions. During the discussion, the teacher should ask questions that stimulate students' reflection, such as: "Why did you choose this answer?", "What was the most challenging part of the activity?", and "How did you solve this problem?" The goal is for students to not only apply what they have learned but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes): After the discussion, the teacher should briefly recap the main theoretical points covered in the lesson. For example, the teacher can review the structure of the Simple Present, the use of auxiliary verbs, the distinction between regular and irregular verbs, among others. Then, the teacher should connect these concepts to practice, highlighting how they were applied in the activities. For instance, the teacher can say: "Remember when we described the daily routines of the fictional characters? We used the Simple Present to talk about actions that occur regularly. This is an example of how the Simple Present is applied in practice."
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Final Reflection (2 - 3 minutes): To conclude the lesson, the teacher should propose that students reflect for a minute on the following questions: "What was the most important concept you learned today?" and "What questions have not been answered yet?" After the reflection, the teacher should ask some students to share their answers with the class. This reflection activity is an effective way to consolidate students' learning and identify any comprehension gaps that may need further clarification in future lessons. Additionally, it gives students the opportunity to express their opinions and feelings about what they have learned, which can increase their motivation and engagement.
Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)
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Review of Contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher should recap the main points covered during the lesson. This includes the definition and structure of the Simple Present, its use to describe routines, general facts, and future actions, and the difference between regular and irregular verbs. The teacher should emphasize that the Simple Present is an essential verb tense in English, used in various communication situations, such as news, headlines, everyday conversations, among others.
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Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should highlight how the lesson connected the theory of the Simple Present with practice, through activities of dialogue production, verb tense identification, and statement resolution. Additionally, the teacher should reinforce the practical application of the Simple Present, emphasizing how this verb tense is used in real communication situations.
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Extra Materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher should suggest complementary materials for students to deepen their knowledge of the Simple Present. This may include explanatory videos, language learning websites, online exercises, and textbooks. For example, the teacher can suggest using the "Duolingo" website for additional practice, or Raymond Murphy's book "English Grammar in Use" for a more in-depth review of the Simple Present.
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Importance of the Subject (1 minute): To conclude, the teacher should reinforce the importance of the Simple Present in daily life. They can mention that this verb tense is essential for effective communication in English, allowing speakers to express actions that occur regularly, general facts, feelings, and opinions. Additionally, the teacher can highlight that mastering the Simple Present can open doors to educational and professional opportunities, such as the ability to understand and communicate effectively in a globalized business environment.