Subject: ELA (English Language Arts)

Lesson Length: 30 - 45 mins

Topic: Progressive Verb Tenses

Grade Level: 4

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will learn about progressive verb tenses and create a comic to demonstrate their understanding of progressive verb tenses.

Know Before You Start: This is an introductory lesson for progressive verb tenses. Students will recognize that progressive verb tenses indicate a continuing action or action in progress.

Hook:

  • Read and discuss the sample comic.
    • What is taking place?
    • When is the action taking place? 
  • Discuss that even though the character is performing the same action, there is a progression from a past event, to a current action, and finally to a future activity. 
  • Discuss that we use progressive verb tenses to show continuing action or action in progress. 
  • The past progressive describes actions that lasted for an ongoing period of time in the past.
  • The present progressive describes actions that are happening right now and that are still in progress.
  • The future progressive describes actions that will be ongoing in the future. 
  • Have students brainstorm other examples of progressive verb tenses using common verbs such as eating, talking, reading, etc. For example, "I was eating pancakes yesterday. I am eating waffles today. I will be eating muffins tomorrow."

Activity:

  • Using the sample comic as a guide, have students create a three-panel comic showing progressive verb tenses. 

Closure:

  • Allow students to share their comics with others. 
  • Discuss how students can use progressive verb tenses in their writing.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
  • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
  • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
  • Provide a list of progressive verb tenses for learners that need it.
  • Enrichment: Some students may elect to write an entire comic story using progressive verb tenses.

Resources:

  • Comic to print or display