| Lesson start ideas | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
| Which subject | English |
| What age group | Year or Grade 6 |
| What topic | Simple past |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Any other preferences |
To engage Grade 6 students in learning about the simple past tense through a creative role-playing activity.
(Have a box or envelope waiting on the desk, sealed and looking antique.)
"Good morning, class! I have something unusual for you today! This mysterious package arrived for us. It doesn't have a sender and is filled with items from the past. Can anyone guess what might be inside?"
Prompt Questions:
Students Share Their Ideas:
Allow a few students to share their thoughts and build excitement about the package!
(Open the package to reveal various items like old photos, vintage toys, postcards, and even a handwritten letter.)
"Wow! Look at these treasures from the past! Each item tells a story. Today, we're going to be time travelers and explore what these items might represent. But here’s the catch: we can only talk about what happened in the past using the simple past tense!"
"Now, let’s dive deeper! We will create our own ‘Time Travelers’ Journals’ where we will write about these items using the simple past tense. For example, if we see an old toy in the package, we might say, 'Someone played with this toy in the 1960s.'"
Instructions:
Divide the class into small groups and let them choose an item from the package.
Ask each group to imagine a story about their item, focusing on what happened in the past.
Each group will then write their story in their journals, using the simple past tense.
"Through this activity, we'll learn not just how to use the simple past tense, but also how to connect with history and the stories of people who came before us. So, who’s ready to start our adventure in time?"
This lesson introduction sets the stage for an engaging exploration of the simple past tense while inspiring creativity and teamwork among students.