Lesson Plan –Foundational skills
Subject:
English
Level/Grade : Pre-Intermediate /Middle school
Lesson Time: 1 hour
Lesson goals
Content/Subject Matter
Before this lesson students have practiced describing their daily routines using the Present Simple tense.
In this lesson students will learn how to describe actions that are happening now using the Present
continuous tense. They will analyze example sentences, discover the grammatical rule and practice using
the structure in speaking activities. Students will also compare Present simple and present Continuous in
order to understand when each tense is used.
Language Goals
Students will recognize the differences between Present Simple and Present Continuous.
Students will learn the structure of Present Continuous : am/is/are +verb-ing
Students will use Present Continuous to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking.
Students will ask and answer questions using the Present Continuous Tense
Students will be able to
-identify the structure of the Present Continuous tense
-distinguish between Present Simple and Present Continuous
-produce correct Present Continuous sentences
-ask and answer questions about actions happening now.
Materials
Whiteboard and markers
Pictures showing people performing different actions
Example sentences written on the board
Handout for discovering grammar rules
Tic Tac Toe vocabulary grid
Exit ticket questions
Introduction (10 minutes)
I will begin the lesson by reviewing the Present Simple tense. I will ask students about their daily
routines using questions such as: “ What do you do after school?” or “Do you watch TV every day?”
Students will answer using the Present Simple sentences.
Next, I will show a picture of a person doing an activity, for example a student reading a book. I will ask
the class: “What is he doing now?” After students try to answer , I will introduce the structure “He is
reading”. I will explain that we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening right
now.
Practice and Application
Task 1: Discover the rule (15 minutes)
Students will work in small groups. I will write pairs of sentences on the board.
She reads a book every day./She is reading a book now.
They play after school./ They are playing football now.
He watches TV every evening. / He is watching TV now.
Students will discuss guiding questions such as : Which sentences talk about routines? Which sentences
talk about something happening now? What words appear in the Present Continuous sentences?
Students will identify the pattern am/is/are +verb-ing. I will monitor and guide discussion before
confirming the rule with the whole class.
Task 2: Speaking Practice (20 minutes)
Students will work in pairs. Each pair receives pictures showing people doing different activities
(running, eating, studying, writing, playing football)
Student A asks: “What is he/she doing?”
Student B answers using the Present Continuous : “He is running”, or “She is studying”.
Students then switch roles. I will move around the classroom, monitoring and providing feedback.
Task 3: Game activity- Tic Tac Toe (10 minutes)
I will draw a 3x3 grid on the board. Each square contains a verb such as run, eat, write, read, play, drink,
study, or walk. Students are divided into two teams. To mark a square student must create a Present
Continuous sentence with the word. For example: “He is running in the park”. If the sentence is correct,
the team places X or O in the square. The first team to make three in a row horizontally, vertically, or
diagonally wins.
Review and Assessment ( Exit Ticket-5 minutes)
Students answer two questions individually:
1. Write one sentence using the Present Continuous tense.
2. What is the structure of the Present Continuous tense?
Explanation of the lesson
This lesson was designed to build on students` previous knowledge of the Present simple tense and
introduce the present Continuous tense through an inductive approach. Students analyze examples,
discover the rule themselves, which helps consolidate their understanding of grammar structures.
The lesson integrates grammar with speaking activities, encouraging students to practice the target
structure in meaningful communication. Group discussion, pair work, and a game activity improve
interaction and increase student engagement. The use of pictures and example sentences provides
comprehensible input that supports language learning.
Materials
Task 1 Example sentences (Board examples)
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
1. She reads a book every day.
She is reading a book now.
2. They play football after school.
They are playing football now.
3. He watches TV every evening.
He is watching TV now.
4. I study English every day.
I am studying English now.
5. We eat lunch at school.
We are eating lunch now.
Task 1 Brainstorming Handout.
Directions: Look at the example sentences on the board and discuss the questions with your grup.
1. Which sentences describe daily routines?
2. Which sentences describe actions happening right now?
3. What two words do you se in the Present Continuous sentences?
4. What is the first word in the Present Continuous tense?
5. What happens to the verb in the Present Continuous form?
6. Write the rule for Present Continuous :
Subject+_____________+______________
Task 3 Tic Tac Toe Grid
run eat write
read play drink
study talk watch
Students must make a Present Continuous sentence.
Example:
Word: run
Sentence: He is running in the park.
Task 4 Exit Ticket
Students answers individually.
1. Write one sentence using Present Continuous.
2. What is the structure of Present Continuous?
Example answer:
Subject+ am/is/are+ verb+ ing
