Exploring Time Adverbs

Subject: English

Topic: Present Perfect with Time Expressions and Adverbs

Duration: 120 Minutes

Grade Level: Year 7 (approx. 12–13 years old)

Curriculum Area: English Language Arts (Speaking and Listening; Grammar and Usage)

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand and correctly use the present perfect tense with time expressions and adverbs (for, since, yet, ever, never, just, only, recently).
2. Distinguish between these adverbs and expressions in their meaning and usage.
3. Use the present perfect tense in dynamic activities that build confidence in speaking, listening, and contextual writing.

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard/Markers
• Worksheets (teacher-created: fill in the blanks, word banks, short scenarios)
• A "time expressions" spinner (can be handmade with a pointer and adverb usage examples)
• Index cards with prompts (one adverb or phrase mentioned for each card)
• A timer for activities
• Index cards for student-created examples
• Fun props (e.g., a stopwatch or an “Urgent Delivery” envelope to simulate “just/recently” tasks)

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Lesson Breakdown

Warm-Up (10 Minutes)

Activity: "Have You Ever?" Game

1. Form a circle for all 14 students and the teacher.
2. Begin by holding a prompt card with "Have you ever" questions. For example:
   • "Have you ever eaten sushi?"
   • "Have you ever traveled outside the US?"
3. After sharing the question, toss a soft ball to a student to answer briefly in a complete sentence:
   • "Yes, I have eaten sushi before" or "No, I have never eaten sushi."
4. Each student gets a turn to catch the ball and reply. Prompt them for a follow-up sentence (e.g., “When? Where?”) to encourage fuller responses.

Purpose: Engages students in real-life, personal examples while introducing present perfect ideas naturally.

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Introduction to the Topic (15 Minutes)

1. On the board, write:

   • “I have lived here for five years.”
   • “He has not seen the movie yet.”
   • “She has just finished her homework.”

2. Ask the class to help spot differences between the bolded parts. Explain these words help describe when or how often something happened in the past but is connected to now.

3. Teach the key adverbs and expressions (for, since, yet, ever, never, just, only, recently):

   • “For” – refers to a period of time, e.g., "for five years."
   • “Since” – refers to a point in time, e.g., "since 2018."
   • “Yet” – indicates something is expected to happen, typically used in questions/negatives.
   • “Ever” – for experiences up to now (questions), e.g., “Have you ever…?”
   • “Never” – the negative counterpart to "ever."
   • “Just” – indicates something happened a short time ago.
   • “Only” and “Recently” – relate to immediate past events.

4. Illustrate examples and write one sentence for each on the board.

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Group Activity 1: Adverb Scavenger Hunt (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

1. Scatter "prompt cards" (with adverbs or phrases) around the classroom.
2. Students work in pairs to search for the cards and must shout out or write an example sentence using the adverb they found (e.g., “We’ve just found this card!”). Repeat until all cards have been found.
3. The teacher checks their responses.

Purpose: Reinforces recognition, team collaboration, and practice in creating sentences.

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Guided Practice: Spin and Speak (15 Minutes)

Instructions:

1. The teacher uses a "time expressions spinner" with sections labeled "for," "since," "yet," "ever," "never," "just," "only," "recently."
2. A student spins and must create a sentence using the selected word.
3. The remaining students check if the sentence works; if not, the teacher assists in correction.

Variation: To increase difficulty, have the spinner determine whether the sentence must be affirmative, negative, or a question.

Purpose: Encourages spontaneous sentence-building and critical listening.

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Break (5 Minutes)

Let students have a quick mental break and hydrate.

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Group Activity 2: Sentence Relay (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

1. Divide the class into two teams (7 students each).
2. Give each team a stack of index cards with sentence-starting prompts such as:
   • “I have never…”
   • “She has just…”
   • “They haven’t seen…”
3. Each student on the team takes turns completing a sentence using the index card. Once the sentence is spoken, pass the prompt to the next team member.
4. The team with the most correct and creative sentences wins.

Optional Challenge: Each completed sentence must relate to the previous one (creating a connected short story).

Purpose: Builds teamwork, quick thinking, and fluency in using present perfect with adverbs.

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Guided Writing Practice (15 Minutes)

1. Provide students with a short scenario or photo on the board, e.g.:
   • “You just returned from a vacation with your family. Write about five things you have recently done, using the words: for, since, yet, ever, never, just.”
2. Allow 10 minutes for individual writing and 5 minutes for sharing.

Optional: Students can vote on the most creative or descriptive writing.

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Wrap-Up: Exit Tickets (10 Minutes)

1. Distribute small sticky notes or index cards and ask students to write one question and one answer using any of the time expressions (e.g., “Have you ever been to New York?”—“Yes, I have been there twice since 2020.”).
2. Students turn in the "exit tickets" before leaving. This serves as formative assessment to gauge understanding.

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Homework

Students create a mini-paragraph (5–6 sentences) about their weekend using at least 4 of the time expressions or adverbs learned today. Sentences should be connected and cohesive.

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Assessment

• Active participation in group activities and discussions.
• Accuracy and creativity in written tasks.
• Quality of exit-ticket questions and answers.

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Extensions/Adaptations

• For advanced students: Introduce less common adverbs ("already," "lately").
• For struggling students: Pair them with stronger peers for support during group tasks.

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This dynamic and student-centered lesson ensures an engaging approach to mastering the present perfect tense while emphasizing communication skills for real-world application.