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Grammar: Verb - past progressive continuous

Example: I was reading a book then.

Parts of Learning: S L R W

Time: 35~50 min.

Story Time

Submitted by: Raegina Taylor     Borrowed from: Far and beyond the space of time

 
 

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Brief Outline:  Students utilize intreresting photographs to formulate a past tense story.


Materials Needed:

  • StoryTime worksheets - there are two: pictures and worksheet


Detailed Explanation:

  1. Split the class into seven person groups. There are seven photographs in the attachment below. Each group receives a set of pictures and a worksheet to compliment it.
  2. Their goal is to create a comprehendible story for each picture. Also, explain that each story must be written in the past tense.
  3. While the pictures are not thematically connected, the students should strive to relate each sentence to the previous member’s sentence to eventually form a complete story.
  4. It doesn’t matter which picture the student selects first because they will eventually have to write about every picture.
  5. Give students a 2-3 minute time for each picture. They can use that time to study the picture, read the previous member’s sentence and create their own sentence. Additionally, if they have time, let them know they can write more than one sentence.
  6. When the 2-3 minute time limit expires, the student must pass the picture to another person in their group and receive a picture they haven’t yet received.
  7. When the pictures have been passed completely around, the students formulate a title for their stories.

 

Variations and Options:

  • When the activity is complete, have the students read their stories to the class and vote on the best story.
  • Collect the stories and grade them according to spelling and grammar mistakes, grammar difficulty, creative theme and/or length of the story.
  • Display the stories on your English bulletin board or somewhere else in the school for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

 

Tips or Cautions:

  • This is an activity that can be difficult for lower level students. If you have a class with high and low level students, mix the high and low level students.
  • Some students may not participate, but having a rotating order may help solve this problem.