Lesson Plan for Spanish 2: Verbo Ser and Describing a Person
Overview
This lesson focuses on the verb ser (to be) and how to use it to describe people. The goal is for students to understand the conjugation of ser and apply it in context to describe themselves and others. The lesson will include vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and writing activities, ensuring an engaging session that lasts for a 90-minute block.
Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
- Conjugate the verb ser in the present tense.
- Use ser to describe physical and personality traits.
- Write a short paragraph describing themselves or a famous person.
- Participate in peer discussions using the verb ser appropriately.
Standards
This lesson plan aligns with the following ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages:
- Communication: Engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions.
- Cultures: Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the culture studied.
Required Materials
- Whiteboard and markers
- Projector / Smartboard
- Printed handouts with vocabulary and verb conjugation
- Art supplies (markers, colored pencils, paper)
- Student notebooks
Lesson Duration: 90 Minutes
I. Introduction (15 minutes)
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Warm-Up Activity:
- Have students brainstorm vocabulary related to physical traits (e.g., alto, bajo, delgado, simpático) and personality traits (e.g., amable, serio, divertido). Students will jot down as many words as possible in pairs (5 minutes).
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Class Discussion:
- Call on student pairs to share their words. Write key vocabulary on the whiteboard. Highlight the connection between the words and how they can be used with ser.
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Lecture on the Verb Ser:
- Introduce and review the conjugation of ser: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son. Explain how the verb is used to describe characteristics and identity.
II. Guided Practice (25 minutes)
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Conjugation Drills:
- Provide students with conjugation worksheets. They will fill in blanks for each conjugation form and complete sentences using the verb ser in context (10 minutes).
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Partner Activity:
- In pairs, students will create sentences using ser to describe each other based on physical appearance and personality traits. Each student must come up with at least five sentences (15 minutes).
III. Independent Practice (20 minutes)
- Writing Assignment:
- Each student writes a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) describing themselves or a famous person using ser. They must incorporate at least three physical traits and three personality traits. Ensure they use correct verb conjugations (20 minutes).
IV. Sharing and Peer Review (15 minutes)
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Peer Sharing:
- Students will pair up with someone else to read their paragraphs aloud. As they listen, partners should take notes and provide constructive feedback focusing on verb usage and vocabulary (10 minutes).
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Class Discussion:
- Regroup and invite a few students to share their descriptions with the whole class. Emphasize correct usage of ser and vocabulary during this sharing time (5 minutes).
V. Closure and Assignment (15 minutes)
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Quick Review:
- Recap the conjugation of ser and the vocabulary learned. Ask students what they found easy or difficult about using ser.
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Homework Assignment:
- Have students create a visual poster that describes a person of their choice. They will include at least 10 sentences using ser and images/drawings that represent their statements. This will be presented in the next class (5 minutes).
Assessment
- Monitor student participation during discussions and activities.
- Collect and grade paragraph descriptions based on correct use of ser, vocabulary, and overall effort.
- Evaluate the homework poster for creativity, content accuracy, and language use.
Additional Notes
- Be sure to accommodate students with different learning needs by providing additional language support or alternative formats for assignments where necessary.
- Consider integrating technology tools for the poster assignment, such as Canva or Google Slides, to enhance creativity and engagement.