Mastering Future Tense

Overview

This 3-minute micro-lesson introduces 11th-grade students to expressing future actions using the future tense. The plan aligns with the IB Language B curriculum, focusing on the grammar criterion and communication skills. It incorporates differentiation, dyslexia-friendly materials, and extension activities to engage all students.

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Objectives

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

• I can identify and form future tense verbs in English.
• I can use the future tense to describe plans and predictions clearly.
• I can apply future tense forms in different contexts relevant to my life.

IB Alignment

• Language B Guide (2020), Criterion A (Comprehending Spoken/Visual Texts): Understand and interpret language features for time and tense.
• Criterion B (Comprehending Written/Visual Texts): Identify grammatical structures, specifically future tense indicators.
• Criterion C (Communicating in Written and/or Spoken Forms): Convey meaning effectively using accurate future tense.
• Learner Profile: Communicators, Reflective

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Materials

• Dyslexia-friendly printed cards with sentences in present, future (will/going to), and continuous future tense
• Mini whiteboards and markers
• Timer
• Visual chart showing future tense structures (simple future, going to, future continuous) with color-coded parts of speech

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Lesson Steps

Time	Activity	Details & Differentiation
0:00 - 0:30	Intro & I Can Statements	Teacher briefly states: “Today, I can use the future tense to talk about my plans and predictions.” Visual aid projected showing "I can" statements in large, dyslexia-friendly font.
0:30 - 1:15	Quick Matching Game	Students work in pairs. Each pair receives future tense sentence cards mixed with present tense cards. They sort into two piles: future tense vs. other tenses. Teacher circulates for support. Differentiation: Give extra hints or sentence starters to students needing help. Advanced students create their own future tense sentences using mini whiteboards.
1:15 - 2:30	Create Your Future: Speaking Activity	Prompt: “Tell your partner two things you will do tomorrow and one prediction about next year using ‘will’ or ‘going to.’” Pairs share aloud. Dyslexia-friendly option: Students write or draw ideas before speaking if needed. Teacher models with an example.
2:30 - 3:00	Wrap-Up & Quick Assessment	Each student writes one future tense sentence about their weekend on a mini whiteboard. Teacher performs rapid formative assessment by scanning responses, providing instant feedback. Extension: Advanced learners write one sentence in the future continuous tense.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use sentence starters and visual aids for struggling learners.
• Allow use of speech-to-text apps for students with writing difficulties or dyslexia.
• Pair students strategically so advanced learners can support peers.

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Extension Activities

• Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) describing your goals for the next year using a variety of future structures.
• Identify future tense verbs in an authentic IB Language B reading passage and explain their function.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation during matching and speaking activities.
• Mini whiteboard responses for rapid feedback.
• Oral use of future tense checked against “I can” objectives.

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By engaging students actively and providing supports, this lesson fosters confident communication in the future tense while respecting IB standards and diverse learner needs.