Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Connectors

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 aims to clearly establish what is expected to be achieved by the end of the lesson, focusing on a deep understanding of connectors in the English language and the students' ability to apply this knowledge in real contexts. This section serves to align the expectations of both the teacher and the students, ensuring that everyone is aware of the desired learning outcomes and why each proposed activity is important to achieve these objectives.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to understand and identify different types of connectors in the English language.

2. Develop textual analysis skills so that students can identify the use of connectors in various contexts and understand their functions.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation from students in classroom discussions to reinforce practical understanding of connectors.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students with the content they have previously studied, using problem situations that encourage the practical application of knowledge about connectors. Additionally, the contextualization aims to show the relevance of studying connectors through examples of real-world use and curiosities, increasing students' interest and preparing the ground for an interactive and meaningful lesson.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Ask the students to analyze a short text (such as a news article, a book excerpt, or even a joke) and identify all the connectors present. Then request that they classify the connectors according to their function (addition, opposition, cause, etc.) and discuss how each contributes to the coherence of the text.

2. Propose a quick game where students form groups and receive cards with keywords and connectors. They must create small dialogues or stories that make sense and correctly use the connectors, competing to see which group can utilize the most connectors appropriately.

Contextualization

Explain the importance of connectors in the English language through practical examples, such as the ability to completely change the meaning of a sentence by using different connectors. Present curiosities, such as the fact that some connectors are more common in certain types of texts, like political speeches or fictional narratives, demonstrating how knowledge of connectors can enrich the understanding and production of diverse texts.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the knowledge about connectors they have previously acquired. Through playful and collaborative activities, they will be able to explore the use of connectors in various contexts, effectively consolidating their learning. Each proposed activity aims not only to reinforce the understanding of connectors but also to develop teamwork and creativity skills.

Activity Suggestions

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

Activity 1 - Language Bridge Builders

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop skills in using and understanding connectors creatively and collaboratively.

- Description: In this activity, students will be challenged to build 'bridges' of understanding between words and sentences using connectors. They will receive cards with keywords and connectors, and the challenge will be to create sentences that make sense and are grammatically correct, connecting the appropriate words with the correct connectors.

- Instructions:

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

• Give each group a set of cards containing words and connectors.

• Explain that each word must be connected to another using an appropriate connector to form a coherent sentence.

• Groups will have 30 minutes to build the largest number of correct sentences possible.

• At the end of the time, each group will present their sentences and discuss their choice of connectors.

Activity 2 - Connector Detectives

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Enhance the ability to recognize and apply connectors in diverse contexts.

- Description: Students will take on the role of detectives to solve a 'linguistic crime'. They will receive a text where some connectors have been 'stolen', and the task will be to identify the missing connectors and replace them correctly so that the text makes sense.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of up to 5 participants.

• Distribute a copy of the 'criminal' text to each group.

• Ask them to identify the missing connectors and replace them, justifying their choices.

• Each group will present their 'corrected' version of the text and explain the role of each inserted connector.

• Discuss the solutions in class, highlighting the different uses and effects of the connectors.

Activity 3 - Connector Theater

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Explore the application of connectors in communication and creative expression situations.

- Description: In this playful activity, students will use connectors to act out small improvised plays. Each group will receive a basic scene and must incorporate as many connectors as possible naturally and coherently into the dialogue.

- Instructions:

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

• Give each group a basic scenario for the performance.

• Groups will need to write a short script that includes the use of connectors naturally in the characters' lines.

• Each group will present their play to the class, and the other students will try to identify the connectors used.

• Hold a discussion after the presentations about the effective use of connectors in communication.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to articulate and reflect on the knowledge acquired during the practical activities. The group discussion helps to consolidate learning, allowing students to share strategies and difficulties, which can enrich collective understanding. The key questions are designed to provoke deeper reflection on the practical use of connectors and their importance in constructing cohesive and coherent texts.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion by gathering all students and asking each group to share their discoveries and experiences from the activities. Use a rotating approach, where each group has time to present, followed by a brief question and answer session. Encourage students to explain the reasoning behind their choices of connectors in their activities and how it affected the coherence and clarity of the texts or dialogues created.

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest challenges when using connectors in the activities and how did you overcome them?

2. Was there any connector that you found more difficult to apply? Why?

3. How did the use of connectors alter the understanding or tone of the texts you created?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the content studied. Summarizing the key points aids in knowledge retention, and discussing the practical application of the content reinforces the relevance of studying connectors in everyday life. This section also serves to reinforce the connection between theory and practice, ensuring that students perceive the usefulness of what they have learned.

Summary

To conclude, the teacher should summarize the key topics covered about connectors, highlighting the different types and their functions. It is essential to recap the activities conducted and the discoveries made by students, reinforcing the importance of connectors in forming cohesive texts and effective communication.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was structured to effectively connect theory and practice. The proposed activities allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge about connectors in real and creative contexts, demonstrating how connectors are fundamental for textual cohesion and clarity in communication.

Closing

The importance of understanding and using connectors in the English language goes beyond the academic context, extending to daily life and professional situations. Knowing how to use connectors appropriately can significantly improve expression and comprehension skills in English, essential in an increasingly globalized society.