Verb Garden Activity

Grade: 6

Duration: 53 minutes

Class Size: 21 students

Language: Spanish

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Common Core Alignment

This lesson aligns primarily with the following Common Core State Standards for ELA-Literacy and Language acquisition for grades 6-8:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard Spanish grammar and usage when writing or speaking, including verb conjugations in different tenses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening to comprehend and produce effective language in different contexts.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1
Engage effectively in collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Learning Objectives

• Students will accurately conjugate regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs in the present tense (Marzano Level 2: Basic Application of Knowledge).
• Students will demonstrate their understanding of verb conjugation by creating and decorating “verb flowers” with correctly conjugated verbs.
• Students will collaborate to build a collective “Jardin de Los Verbos” (Garden of Verbs) with their completed flowers, explaining their conjugations to peers.
• Students will use descriptive language to color and personalize their flowers, promoting engagement and creative expression while practicing vocabulary.

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Materials Needed

• Pre-cut flower templates with blank petals (7 petals per flower)
• Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
• Glue sticks or tape
• Large bulletin board or wall space for the “Jardin de Los Verbos” display
• Verb list for conjugation practice (regular verbs: hablar, comer, vivir, plus two irregular verbs such as ser, ir)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Student notebooks or paper for notes

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Introduction & Objective Review	Briefly explain today’s goal: create a flower by conjugating one verb per petal in present tense, then decorate and assemble the flower to add to the class garden. Quick review of present tense verb endings (-ar/-er/-ir).
10 min	Guided Practice	Model conjugation of “hablar” (to speak) on the whiteboard. Ask students to help conjugate ‘yo hablo’, ‘tú hablas’, ‘él/ella habla’, etc. Clarify endings for -ar verbs, then briefly cover -er and -ir verbs with examples. Write verbs on board for student reference.
3 min	Explanation of Flower Activity	Show the flower template and explain the petals represent different person forms (yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos). Explain how each petal should be filled by conjugating the assigned verb for that form. Students will color petals after writing conjugations.
23 min	Student Work: Create Verb Flowers	Students choose one regular verb from the list (or get assigned), conjugate it in the present tense on each petal, and color their flower creatively to represent their verb personality. Teacher circulates to support accurate conjugations and answer questions (Marzano Level 3: Strategic Thinking).
7 min	Collaborative “Jardin de Los Verbos” Assembly	Students glue or tape their completed flowers on the garden bulletin board/wall. Each student volunteers to explain their chosen verb and one or two conjugations in Spanish to a partner or the class (activating language production and peer learning).
5 min	Reflection and Exit Ticket	Students write a quick exit ticket answering: “¿Cuál es la terminación de un verbo en -ar para ‘nosotros’ en presente?”, reinforcing conjugation knowledge. Teacher collects them for informal assessment.

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Assessment

• Formative: Teacher observation during guided and independent practice to ensure conjugation accuracy.
• Summative: Exit ticket quiz on conjugation endings for verb types.
• Peer Assessment: Students explain verb forms when assembling the garden, demonstrating comprehension orally.

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Classroom Management Tips

• Group students so those strong in Spanish can support peers with conjugations.
• Use a timer for each activity segment to maintain pace and engagement.
• Incorporate positive reinforcement when students share their creations and explanations.

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Extensions and Differentiation

• For advanced learners: Include irregular verbs (ser, ir) for conjugation.
• For learners needing extra help: Provide a verb conjugation chart or partner them with a peer tutor.
• Incorporate technology by having students take photos of their flowers to create a digital verb garden slideshow for the class.

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Reflection for Teachers

This activity merges grammar practice with artistic creativity, contextualizing verb conjugation in a meaningful and memorable way. It encourages speaking, writing, and collaboration, aligning well with the Marzano framework and Common Core standards. The physical “Jardin de Los Verbos” remains as a persistent visual reminder in the classroom to reinforce learning.