The Present Continuous Tense: A Free ESL Lesson Plan

This lesson plan on the present continuous tense should be used to teach elementary-level students a basic understanding of how to use verbs in the present simple form. This lesson will require students to speak, read, listen and spell in English but not at a particularly advanced level. In any case, it is suitable for group or individual classes. It is a very fun lesson that can be used for concept checking and test review.

If you want additional lesson plans and support, including teachers’ notes, be sure to register for a free Off2Class account.

Transcript

1. VC1.1 – Present continuous (I am playing) Lesson 1/5 I he / she / it we / you / they am playing is doing are speaking ESL Lesson Plan
2. Thank you for downloading your free Off2Class lesson plan! This teacher-led lesson plan is designed using the communicative approach - perfect for teaching students online or in any screen- enabled classroom. To access the Teacher Notes and Answer Key, or to assign homework, click here to set up your free Off2class account. Don’t forget to join the discussion on Facebook to get access to other great tools for online ESL instruction.
3. Say words to describe the picture.
4. Make a sentence. What is Jason doing?
5. Match pictures to sentences. A B C The boy is riding a bike. Jane is cleaning the window. Jennifer is playing football.
6. The present continuous subject am / are / is verb -ing I you he she it we they am are is is is are are singing reading painting watching snowing coming leaving subject am / are / is verb -ing
7. Spelling changes rule base verb verb -ing ends in -e dance remove the -e danc + ing (dancing) ends in -ie lie -ie changes to y ly +ing (lying) For most verbs, base verb + ing (jump + ing = jumping). But: Tell your teacher the -ing form for these verbs: make come write die tie
8. One-syllable verbs ending in vowel + consonant rule base verb verb -ing one syllable verbs with vowel + consonant stop double the consonant stopp + ing (stopping) one syllable verbs with vowel + vowel + consonant wait do not double the consonant wait + ing (waiting) one syllable verbs ending in -y or -w play do not double the consonant play + ing (playing) For one-syllable verbs, we sometimes double the consonant: Tell your teacher the -ing form for these verbs: run get shout swim hop snow read
9. Longer verbs ending in vowel + consonant rule base verb verb -ing last syllable is stressed prefer double the consonant preferr + ing (preferring) last syllable is unstressed visit do not double the consonant visit + ing (visiting) For longer verbs, we double the consonant if the last syllable of the verb is stressed: Tell you teacher the -ing form for these verbs: happen begin listen
10. In British English, note the following exceptions: base verb American English British English travel traveling travelling cancel canceling cancelling
11. Practice the present continuous. 1. Andrew _____ the guitar with Steve. play 2. Jane _____ down the street. walk 3. Grandpa _____ his favorite book. read 4. I _____ for clothing. shop Example: You are listening to music in your bedroom.
12. Practice the present continuous. 5. Alex _________ piano lessons this year. take 6. Janice _________ to swim at the pool. learn 7. The wind _________ through the trees. blow 8. This week the Grade 6 class _________ math. study
13. Practice the present continuous. take listen play grow 9. The children _____ football all day. 10. The population _____ very quickly. 11. They _____ to a concert. 12. He _____ a driving class today.
14. Practice the present continuous. 13. Please be quiet, I _____ a magazine. 14. I want to improve my French, so this year I _____ to French radio stations. 15. My mother is trying to lose weight, so this year she _____ to work. bike listen read
15. Unfinished events ▪ This morning, Andrea, Jenny and Karen went shopping. ▪ At 5pm they arrived at the bus stop to return home. ▪ It is now 5:15pm and they are still at the bus stop. What can you say about Andrea, Jenny and Karen now?
16. ▪ This morning, Andrea, Jenny and Karen went shopping. ▪ At 5pm they arrived at the bus stop to return home ▪ It is now 5:15pm and they are still at the bus stop. They are waiting for the bus.
17. They are waiting for the bus. ▪ They went to the bus stop at 5pm. ▪ They will get on the bus at 5:30 pm. ▪ Now they are waiting for the bus. 5pm 5:30pm Waiting for bus Now
18. What about this picture? ▪ Kate started her book on the July 1st. ▪ Today is the July 10th and she is on page 87 in the book. What can you say about Kate today?
19. What about this picture? ▪ At 6:59 pm Kate is on page 103. ▪ At 7pm Julie calls Kate. ▪ Kate tells Julie what she is doing today. What does Kate say to Julie?
20. Kate says, “I am reading a book.” ▪ Kate started her book on July 1st. ▪ On the July 10th she is halfway through the book. ▪ On the 20th of July she finishes the book. July 1 July 10 July 20 Reading a book
21. What is Andrew doing? ▪ Andrew is in high school. ▪ Every Saturday he works a part time job. ▪ Today is Saturday. What can you say about Andrew today?
22. Andrew is working today? ▪ Today is Saturday. ▪ Andrew starts work at 9am. ▪ Andrew finishes work at 6pm. 9 am 6 pm Working now
23. Now what about these pictures? What is Andrew doing now? Now 8 pm Now 6 pm What are the children doing now? What are Karen and Tim doing today? Morning Evening A B C
24. Your Turn Today is Wednesday. What are Luke and Dan doing today? Monday Friday work week begins work week ends
25. Your Turn It is the December 2nd. What can you say about Julie? Nov 15 Dec 5 Starts studying Takes final exam
26. Your Turn December January April Ski lessons begin It is January, what can you say about the Grade 6 class? Ski lessons end
27. What are these people doing now? play the violin ride a bike Tim The Family play a game A B C Mike
28. What are these people doing? A B C D
29. Practice the present continuous. 16. My father is watching a TV show. 17. I want to visit Japan so I _________ some Japanese words. 18. The world _________. Nothing seems to stay the same. Use a verb you know to complete each sentence.
30. Practice the present continuous. 19. I _________ in New York City now. 20. The sun _________. It’s so warm outside. 21. He is not feeling well, so he _________ home Use a verb you know to complete each sentence.
31. Make your own sentences about the pictures. Practice the present continuous. A B C E F D