Verb Tenses in English for First Graders

Here's a 6-week lesson plan for 1st-grade English, focusing on the Present Perfect, Present Perfect with 'ever' and 'never,' and Past Verbs, tailored with a Mexican context where relevant.

General Objective: To introduce and practice basic verb tenses, enabling students to express actions that happened in the past and their relevance to the present.

Methodology: Teachy – interactive, digital resources, real-world connections, and student-led learning.

Week 1: Introduction to Past Verbs

• Specific Objective: Students will identify and use regular past tense verbs (e.g., played, walked, talked).
• Resources:
  • Flashcards with images depicting actions (e.g., a child playing soccer, a person walking in a park).
  • Interactive whiteboard with drawing tools.
  • Online games focusing on matching present and past tense verbs.
• Activities (45 minutes):
  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Sing a familiar song like "Las Mañanitas," focusing on identifying verbs in the present tense.
  2. Introduction (10 minutes): Explain the concept of past tense using examples related to Mexican culture (e.g., "Yesterday, I ate a delicious taco."). Show flashcards and have students repeat the verbs in the past tense.
  3. Interactive Game (15 minutes): Use the interactive whiteboard to play a verb-matching game. Divide the class into teams and have them take turns matching present tense verbs with their past tense forms.
  4. Creative Activity (10 minutes): Have students draw a picture of something they did yesterday and write a simple sentence about it using a past tense verb (e.g., "I played with my perro.").
  5. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Review the past tense verbs learned and assign a simple homework task, such as asking their parents about something they did in the past and writing it down.

Week 2: More Past Verbs (Regular & Irregular)

• Specific Objective: Students will learn and use common irregular past tense verbs (e.g., ate, went, saw).
• Resources:
  • Picture cards illustrating actions with irregular verbs (e.g., eating tamales, going to a fiesta, seeing a parade).
  • A chart listing common irregular verbs and their past tense forms.
  • Digital storybook with audio narration.
• Activities (45 minutes):
  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Review regular past tense verbs from the previous lesson through a quick quiz.
  2. Introduction (10 minutes): Introduce irregular past tense verbs using the picture cards. Explain that these verbs don't follow the same rules as regular verbs.
  3. Story Time (15 minutes): Read a short digital story about a Mexican legend or folktale, highlighting the use of both regular and irregular past tense verbs.
  4. Role-Playing (10 minutes): Divide students into pairs and have them act out simple scenarios using the new verbs (e.g., "I went to the mercado. I saw a beautiful piñata.").
  5. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Review the irregular verbs learned and assign a homework task: write three sentences using different irregular verbs.

Week 3: Introduction to Present Perfect

• Specific Objective: Students will understand the basic concept of the present perfect tense (actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have a result in the present).
• Resources:
  • Visual timeline showing past, present, and future.
  • Sentence-building blocks with "have/has" + past participle.
  • Online videos explaining the present perfect tense in simple terms.
• Activities (45 minutes):
  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Review past tense verbs through a quick game of "Simon Says."
  2. Introduction (10 minutes): Explain the present perfect tense using the timeline. Use examples related to their lives (e.g., "I have lived in Mexico City for six years.").
  3. Sentence Building (15 minutes): Use the sentence-building blocks to create present perfect sentences. Start with simple examples and gradually increase the complexity.
  4. Group Activity (10 minutes): Divide students into small groups and have them create sentences about things they have done in their lives (e.g., "I have eaten tacos. I have visited Guadalajara.").
  5. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Review the concept of present perfect and assign a homework task: ask family members about things they have done and write down three sentences.

Week 4: Present Perfect with 'Ever' and 'Never'

• Specific Objective: Students will learn to use 'ever' and 'never' in present perfect sentences to ask and answer about experiences.
• Resources:
  • Flashcards with questions using "Have you ever…?"
  • A chart explaining the use of 'ever' and 'never'.
  • Interactive online quizzes.
• Activities (45 minutes):
  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Review present perfect tense through a quick fill-in-the-blanks exercise.
  2. Introduction (10 minutes): Explain the use of 'ever' and 'never' in present perfect sentences. Use examples related to Mexican culture (e.g., "Have you ever visited Chichen Itza?").
  3. Question & Answer (15 minutes): Use the flashcards to ask questions using "Have you ever…?" Have students answer with "Yes, I have" or "No, I have never."
  4. Pair Work (10 minutes): Divide students into pairs and have them ask each other questions using 'ever' and 'never'.
  5. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Review the use of 'ever' and 'never' and assign a homework task: write three questions using "Have you ever…?" and answer them.

Week 5: Combining Past Verbs and Present Perfect

• Specific Objective: Students will be able to differentiate and use both past verbs and present perfect in describing events.
• Resources:
  • Worksheets with mixed exercises.
  • Online interactive games to practice both tenses.
  • Real-life scenario cards.
• Activities (45 minutes):
  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Quick review game mixing past simple and present perfect questions.
  2. Explanation (10 minutes): Reiterate the differences between past simple (completed action in the past) and present perfect (action with relevance to the present).
  3. Worksheet Practice (15 minutes): Students complete worksheets with exercises requiring them to choose between past simple and present perfect.
  4. Scenario Cards (10 minutes): Present scenario cards (e.g., "Visiting a historical site," "Cooking a traditional dish"). Students take turns describing the scenario using both tenses.
  5. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Review key concepts and assign homework: Write a short paragraph about a recent experience, using both past simple and present perfect tenses.

Week 6: Review and Application

• Specific Objective: Students will consolidate their understanding of past verbs and present perfect through creative activities.
• Resources:
  • Craft supplies (paper, markers, glue, scissors).
  • Digital storytelling tools.
  • Presentation materials.
• Activities (45 minutes):

  1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Play a quick review game to recap all the tenses covered.

  2. Creative Project (25 minutes): Students create a mini-project, such as a poster or short digital story, about a Mexican tradition or festival. They should incorporate both past verbs and present perfect to describe the history and their personal experiences.

  3. Presentations (10 minutes): Students present their projects to the class, explaining their choices of tenses.

  4. Wrap-up (5 minutes): Final review and encouragement. Assign a fun, optional activity for the weekend, such as watching a movie in English and identifying past verbs and present perfect sentences.

This lesson plan incorporates interactive and engaging activities that are relevant to the students' lives, making the learning process more meaningful and fun. Remember to adapt the activities based on your students' needs and interests. ¡Buena suerte!