aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type	Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson
Which subject	Spanish
What age group	Year or Grade 9
What topic	Present tense er ir verbs
Quantity	1
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Beginning a Spanish Lesson on Present Tense - ER and IR Verbs

Objective:

Engage students in understanding and using the present tense of regular ER and IR verbs in Spanish.

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Hook Activity: The Verb Relay Challenge

Materials Needed:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Slips of paper with different ER and IR verbs written on them (e.g., comer, aprender, vivir, escribir, correr, compartir)
• Timer or stopwatch

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Step 1: Setup (5 minutes)

1. Create Teams: Divide the class into small teams of 4-5 students each.
2. Prepare the Slips: Place the slips of paper with verbs in a bowl or hat at the front of the classroom.

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Step 2: Introduce the Activity (5 minutes)

• Explain the Challenge:

  • Tell the students that they will participate in a Verb Relay Challenge.
  • Each team will take turns sending one member to the front, where they will draw a slip of paper with an ER or IR verb.
  • The student must return to their team and, within 30 seconds, work with their teammates to create a grammatically correct sentence using that verb in the present tense.

• Example: If a student draws "comer," their team could say, “Yo como pizza” (I eat pizza).

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Step 3: The Relay (15 minutes)

1. Start the Timer: Have the first team send a member to draw a verb, and start the timer.
2. Rotate: Once a team completes their sentence, it is the next team's turn to draw a verb.
3. Encourage Participation: Remind students to take notes on the sentences created by each team for later discussion.

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Step 4: Class Discussion (10 minutes)

After the relay, gather the class back together and ask each team to share one or two sentences they created.

• Discuss:
  • What patterns do they notice with ER vs. IR verbs?
  • How do the endings change based on the subject pronouns?
  • Highlight correct usage and clarify mistakes as necessary.

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Conclusion:

By the end of this interactive activity, students will have not only practiced present tense ER and IR verbs but will also be warmed up and ready to dive deeper into the lesson. Transition into the explanation of conjugation rules and further examples, supporting the learning objectives for the day!

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This engaging start to the lesson will make students feel excited and motivated to learn more about the present tense in Spanish!