Passato prossimo oggi

Overview

Students practise Italian past tense (passato prossimo) at A1 level with a focus on irregular participles, while also using the “ci” locativo pattern to describe where things are. The lesson builds from familiar present-tense routines and basic directions into meaning-making, listening/reading for detail, and short translation/response.

Learning intentions

Students will:

• interpret short Italian sentences using familiar words and the passato prossimo pattern for events that happened
• apply a small set of irregular participles (e.g., fatto, visto, scritto, preso) with the correct auxiliary
• use “ci” locativo to answer simple location questions (Dove…? C’è…? Ci sono…?)
• convey meaning by matching, completing, and speaking short statements about a past event

Success criteria

• I can complete “ho/è + participio” sentences using an irregular participle bank.
• I can say and write 2–3 short sentences about what I did/where I found something using “ci”.
• I can choose the best meaning when literal translation is not perfect (e.g., “Ieri ho preso…” rather than word-for-word).
• I can locate key information in short texts and respond appropriately with correct Italian word order.

Curriculum links

• AC9LIT8EC05: develop and begin to apply strategies to interpret, translate and convey meaning in Italian in familiar contexts (including recognising when literal translation is not possible).
• AC9LIT8EC04: locate and process information and ideas in familiar spoken, written and multimodal texts, responding appropriately to cultural context, purpose and audience.
• AC9LIT8C01: initiate and sustain exchanges in familiar contexts, adjusting language in response to others (brief speaking rounds using prompts).
• AC9LIT10EU02 (adapted for A1 skills): select and use features of Italian grammatical and writing systems to enhance meaning by using structured passato prossimo forms and position “ci” in locative phrases.

Lesson structure (90 minutes)

1. 0–10 min · Hook + activation. Teacher shows a “yesterday” scenario on the hook and model slides and asks: “Cosa hai fatto ieri?” Students quickly brainstorm in pairs in English or Italian fragments, then volunteer one idea for the class list.

2. 10–25 min · Direct teach: passato prossimo irregulars. Teacher models 6 example sentences on the hook and model slides (e.g., “ieri ho fatto…”, “ieri ho visto…”, “ieri ho preso…”) and highlights pattern: ho/è + participio with a visible irregular participle bank. Students repeat chorally and then underline the participles in provided printed examples.

3. 25–38 min · Direct teach: ci locativo. Teacher introduces “ci” locativo using mini dialogues on the hook and model slides (e.g., “Dove si trova il supermercato? Ci sono…” / “C’è…?”). Students practise with call-and-response, then complete 4 quick “Dove…? / Ci sono…?” items orally.

4. 38–58 min · Main task: Find and build sentences. Teacher distributes the passato prossimo + ci locativo worksheet. Students work in pairs to:

• match a past action to an irregular participle
• choose the best auxiliary (ho/è) using the provided support prompts
• add a location using “ci” (e.g., “Ci sono due…”, “C’è un…”) Teacher circulates, checking accuracy and prompting self-correction using the model on the hook and model slides.

5. 58–70 min · Processing and meaning check (micro-read). Teacher projects 3 short Italian texts on the hook and model slides (each 1–2 lines) and reads aloud slowly once, then twice. Students identify key information by pointing to the correct picture/option on the worksheet task sheet (same sheet segment). Teacher asks two comprehension questions: “Che cosa ha fatto?” and “Dove c’è / ci sono…?”

6. 70–85 min · Communication round (exchange). Teacher sets up a “Class detective” role-play using prompts on the hook and model slides:

• Student A asks: “Dove c’era…?”
• Student B answers with a full sentence in passato prossimo + ci. Students rotate. Teacher listens for successful use of irregular participles and “ci” locativo, noting 2–3 examples for feedback.

7. 85–90 min · Plenary + exit check. Teacher returns to the hook visual on the hook and model slides and asks one final question: “Scrivimi una frase su ieri.” Students write a one-sentence response in Italian on the back of the passato prossimo + ci locativo worksheet, including both (past verb + “ci” location).

Resources

• the hook and model slides
• the passato prossimo + ci locativo worksheet
• Irregular participle bank cards (small set, for pairing)
• Picture prompts for locations (e.g., school, park, shop corner)
• Coloured pens or highlighters
• Teacher checklist for assessing: irregular participle + ci locativo in one sentence
• Board/interactive display for model sentences

Assessment

• Formative during teach: observe chorals and underlining of participles (quick teacher check).
• Formative during main task: listen to pair building and look for correct “ho/è + participio” choices and correct placement/meaning of “ci”.
• Exit ticket: one written sentence that includes (1) passato prossimo with an irregular participle and (2) “ci” locativo.

Differentiation

• Support: provide sentence starters on the passato prossimo + ci locativo worksheet (e.g., “Ieri ho ___”, “Ci sono ___”, “C’è ___”).
• Support: an auxiliary choice strip (ho = actions; è = “essere” verb instances if included) and a visible irregular participle bank.
• Extension: offer an extra challenge line on the worksheet: add a second past action with a second irregular participle.
• EAL/SEN: allow first-draft answers in English fragments, then require students to replace only the key Italian structures (participio + ci) before submitting.