Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Verb: Present Tense, Mood, and Aspects

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)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial for establishing the foundation of knowledge that will be deepened throughout the lesson. By clearly defining the objectives, students can understand the importance and applicability of the concepts of tense, mood, and aspects of verbs in the present. This helps create a focus and structure for the interactive activities that will follow, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of learning during the lesson.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to correctly identify and use verb tenses and moods in the present, including their variations and peculiarities.

2. Develop analytical skills in students so they can distinguish between different aspects of verbs in the present tense, such as the progressive aspect and the simple aspect.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation and critical thinking among students through group discussions and practical activities.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction stage is designed to reactivate students' prior knowledge and contextualize the importance of studying verb tenses and moods in the present. The problem-based situations encourage students to apply knowledge practically, promoting a deeper understanding through examples they may encounter in their daily lives. The contextualization helps demonstrate the practical and real value of the content, thus increasing engagement and relevance of learning.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are helping a foreign friend understand how to correctly use the verb 'to be' in sentences like 'I am studying' versus 'I am tired'. What explanations would you give?

2. If you had to explain the difference between 'I sing in the school choir' and 'I am singing now', how would you describe the use of present verb tenses in these sentences?

Contextualization

Present verbs are often used to describe current, habitual or general actions, but their nuances are crucial in various everyday and professional situations. For example, the difference between 'I study' and 'I am studying' may not be clear to those learning Portuguese, but it is fundamental to communicate correctly the habitual versus progressive aspect. Furthermore, understanding these differences aids in text interpretation, more effective writing, and even in public speaking or job interview situations.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The development phase is designed to solidify the knowledge gained about verb tenses and moods in the present, allowing students to apply what they have learned in a practical and interactive manner. The proposed activities aim to engage students through playful and contextual methods, facilitating the internalization of concepts and encouraging the active use of the Portuguese language in varied situations.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Verb Detectives

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop the ability to recognize and use verb tenses and moods in the present, creating a context for real and practical use.

- Description: In this activity, students become language detectives. Each group receives a set of cards with sentences in different present verb tenses. Students must identify and classify the verbs according to tense (simple, continuous) and mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative). After classification, each group must create a short dialogue or story, using the classified verbs correctly.

- Instructions:

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

• Distribute the sentence cards to each group.

• Ask them to identify the tense and mood of the verbs on each card.

• Request that they classify the cards into categories of tense and mood.

• Instruct each group to create a dialogue or story using the verbs from their cards.

• Each group presents their work to the class.

Activity 2 - Sentence Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice constructing sentences in the present, reinforcing the understanding of verb tenses and moods.

- Description: In groups, students receive a set of verbs and words. Their challenge is to construct sentences that demonstrate the correct use of present tenses (simple and continuous) and verbal moods (indicative, subjunctive, imperative). Each group must also illustrate one of the sentences created, demonstrating the verb's context of use.

- Instructions:

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

• Give each group a kit of verbs and complementary words.

• Ask them to construct sentences using each verb in the correct tense and mood.

• Request that they choose one sentence to illustrate, highlighting the use of the verb.

• Each group presents their sentences and illustration to the class.

Activity 3 - Verbal Theater Festival

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Improve the understanding and use of verb tenses and moods in the present through dramatization, also promoting oral expression skills.

- Description: This activity involves dramatization and creativity. Students, divided into groups, choose everyday situations to be acted out using verbs in the present tense. They must correctly use the simple and continuous tenses, as well as the indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods, to express actions in the dramatizations.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5.

• Each group chooses an everyday situation to dramatize.

• Students must prepare a short skit using present tense verbs.

• Ensure they use the various verb tenses and moods correctly.

• Each group presents their skit to the class.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is essential for consolidating learning by allowing students to reflect on their experiences and learn from their peers' observations. Group discussion not only helps reinforce acquired knowledge but also promotes communication and critical analysis skills, which are fundamental for mastering the Portuguese language.

Group Discussion

Start the discussion by inviting students to form a large circle with their chairs. Explain that the activity will be an opportunity to share insights and learn from each other about the uses of verb tenses and moods in the present. Suggest that each group begins the discussion by presenting a summary of what they created in the activities and what challenges they faced or discoveries they made. After each presentation, encourage other students to ask questions or provide feedback on their peers' presentations.

Key Questions

1. What were the most common challenges when trying to use different moods and verb tenses during the activities?

2. How can understanding the differences between verb tenses and moods help in daily communication?

3. What is the importance of using the correct tense and mood in the different situations presented?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to ensure that students have internalized the concepts discussed during the lesson. The summary and recap help reinforce learning, while the discussion on the connection between theory and practice and the relevance of the topic to daily life ensures that students see the practical value of what they have learned. Additionally, this stage prepares students for the use of these concepts in future situations, both academic and everyday.

Summary

To conclude, it is important to emphasize that today's lesson focused on the characteristics of verbs in the present tense, addressing their different moods and aspects. We recapped how simple and continuous tenses, as well as the indicative, subjunctive, and imperative moods, are used in various contexts, reinforcing learning through practical activities like verb detectives, sentence builders, and the verbal theater festival.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson served as a bridge between theory and practice, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations of verb use. The activities were designed to integrate and solidify students' understanding of verb tenses and moods in the present through concrete examples that simulate real language use.

Closing

The importance of understanding and correctly applying verb tenses and moods in the present is undeniable, both for effective communication in daily life and for the ability to express oneself in formal and informal contexts. This knowledge helps students improve their writing and speaking skills, preparing them for various communicative situations.