Action Words Fun

Lesson Overview

Subject: Languages – English as a Foreign Language
Level: Year 4
Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum Area: Writing and Spelling – Vocabulary and Grammar

Learning Objectives

1. Review Basic Verbs: Students will recall and use common action verbs.
2. Learn New Verbs: Students will learn and use new verbs suitable for their level.
3. Understand Present Simple: Students will be introduced to the present simple tense and how to use it in sentences.
4. Practise Spelling: Students will practise spelling both review and new verbs.

Materials Needed

• Flashcards with verbs (both image-based and word-based)
• Whiteboard and markers
• A small ball or soft toy
• Printed worksheets with verb exercises
• Sticky notes

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

• Warm-Up Game: (5 minutes)

  • Organise a quick "Flash Verb Action" game. Show students a flashcard with a verb (e.g., run, jump, dance) and have them perform the action as quickly as possible.
  • Explain that today, you will explore more action words and how they fit into sentences.

• Objective Overview: (5 minutes)

  • Briefly discuss what students will learn: review some verbs, learn new ones, and use them in sentences using the present simple tense.

Activity 1: Verb Review and Practice (15 minutes)

• Basic Verbs Review: (5 minutes)

  • Use flashcards to go over basic verbs like run, eat, play, sleep.
  • Ask students to spell out each verb after identifying the action.

• Spelling Relay: (10 minutes)

  • Divide the students into two teams.
  • Play a spelling relay game where one student from each team races to the board to write a verb correctly after you pronounce it.
  • Provide gentle corrections as necessary and celebrate successes with applause.

Activity 2: Introducing New Verbs (15 minutes)

• New Verbs Introduction: (5 minutes)

  • Introduce five new verbs: draw, climb, whisper, chase, and bake.
  • Illustrate each with a quick action or mime and have students repeat the words aloud.

• Sticky Note Treasure Hunt: (10 minutes)

  • Write each of the new verbs on separate sticky notes and hide them around the room.
  • Give hints for students to find and collect them.
  • Once found, students come back and put them on a "Verb Wall" on the whiteboard.

Activity 3: Present Simple Fun (20 minutes)

• Introduction to Present Simple: (5 minutes)

  • Explain the present simple tense using simple examples. Write "I run." "She runs." "They play." on the board.
  • Highlight how the verb form changes depending on the subject.

• Ball Pass Sentence Game: (10 minutes)

  • Sit in a circle with students and use the ball for passing.
  • Start with an action sentence using a reviewed or new verb, e.g., "I run every day."
  • Pass the ball to a student who will have to say a new sentence using the present simple, e.g., "She climbs trees."
  • Correct any mistakes lightly and have fun with it!

• Worksheet Exercise: (5 minutes)

  • Distribute worksheets with fill-in-the-blanks and matching exercises focused on present simple tense with verbs.
  • Allow students to work on them individually, with teacher assistance as needed.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Quick Recap: (3 minutes)

  • Ask students what new verbs they learned today.
  • Remind them of the present simple tense usage.

• Feedback Circle: (2 minutes)

  • Ask each student to say one part of the lesson they enjoyed and one thing they learned.
  • End with applause and positive reinforcement for participation and learning.

Extension Activity (Optional)

• Verb Storytime:
  • As an extra task, students could draw a short comic strip using any of the verbs learned in the lesson and narrate a simple story using present simple sentences. This can be completed if time allows or taken home for practice.

This lesson plan provides a hands-on, engaging, and educational experience aligned with UK curriculum standards, incorporating movement, creativity, and practical grammar use for optimal learning engagement.