Past continuous & Past simple story

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 2

Please grab your laptops/phones and enter this lessonup. 

You also need a pen

Today:

Remember this?  (10 min)

Introduction (10 min)

Task in groups (20 min)

Present (5 min)

Remember this? (10 min)

Aim chapter 1: students can use the past continuous correctly and know the difference between the past simple and past continuous 

Charlie and the chocolate factory - Roald Dahl

Mr Wonka was standing all alone just inside the gates of the factory. What an extraordinary little man he was! 

Mr Wonka was standing all alone just inside the gates of the factory.
Which part is in the past continuous tense?

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

George Orwell, 1984

George Orwell is een van de beroemdste schrijvers van Engeland. Twee van zijn meest beroemde boeken zijn Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) en Animal Farm.

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
Which part is in the past continuous tense?

I know the difference between the past simple and the past continuous.

The difference between the past simple and the past continuous:

Introduction (10 min)

AIM: I can write the beginning of a story in the past.

Success Criteria:

I know the difference between the past simple and the past continuous.

I know how to use the past simple and the past continuous.

I can use the past simple and past continuous to write the beginning of a story in the past.

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

Using the past continuous is a great way to create atmosphere and set the mood of a story.

You can do one or more of the following things to begin your story:

1. Describe the Weather

Common verbs: rain, pour, snow, howl, blow

It was snowing heavily and I could barely see a thing.

Rain

Pour

Howl

Blow

Snow

Drops of water from clouds

To flow quickly and in large amounts

blows hard and makes lots of noise.

Air moving or being moved.

Small, soft, white pieces of ice that fall from the sky.

2. Describe the Scene

Common verbs: hurry, walk, rush, talk, greet

When I arrived, the group members were greeting one another enthusiastically.

3. Describe Clothing and Accessories

Common verbs: wear, carry

She was carrying a red briefcase. That’s the first thing I noticed as my lawyer rushed into the courtroom.

4. Describe the Action

Common verbs: drive, go, run, walk, talk

John Smith was driving along a long, winding road one foggy afternoon.

5. Add a Surprising (Short) Action*

*the short action will be in the simple past tense (whereas the longer, continuing action will be in the past continuous tense). 

Common verbs: appear, ring, hit, crash, go out

Maya was walking home along a dark, deserted street when a huge UFO appeared in the sky.

TASK

- Groups of 4

- Each of you will get 1 worksheet.

- Start at the top. Come up with a sentence in the past continuous about the given topic. (4 minutes)

- Fold your part over and hand the paper to the person on the right.

- Write again (4 min), fold and pass etc. 

Present (10 min)

When everyone had written 4 times, unfold the papers.

Each member of the group reads their paper to rest of the group.

Together, choose which story is the best.

How to decide:

Check	Story must include:
1	Use of past continuous
2	All elements are there

Plus: Is it engaging?

PRESENT

1 group member will read the best story to the class.