English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes
Past tense (regular and irregular verbs)
Grammar
CCSS L.2.1.DEngland: Y2 GPS (past tense)England: Y3 GPS
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Past tense (regular and irregular verbs).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Past, present and future
Leads to: Present perfect (has/have + past participle); Standard English verb forms; Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Past, present and future). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the verb that matches the time in the sentence. Every morning the cockerel ___. (crowed / crows / will crow) → crowsPrompt: Find the time word: yesterday, tomorrow, every day, right now…
- Choose the verb that matches the time in the sentence. Last Sunday Dad ___ pancakes. (cooks / cooked / will cook) → cookedPrompt: Find the time word: yesterday, tomorrow, every day, right now…
- Choose the verb that matches the time in the sentence. Right now the baby ___. (is sleeping / will sleep / slept) → is sleepingPrompt: Find the time word: yesterday, tomorrow, every day, right now…
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Past tense (regular and irregular verbs). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Write the past tense of "sell". (Today I sell. Yesterday I ___.)
- Step 1: Irregular verbs change their spelling in the past. "sell" becomes "sold".
- Step 2: So the answer is: sold
- Answer: sold
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Write the past tense of "take". (Today I take. Yesterday I ___.) → tookPrompt: This is an irregular verb: it does not add -ed.
- Choose the past tense verb. Last night we ___ (build) after dinner. (builded / building / builted / built) → builtPrompt: The sentence is about the past. Which word shows that?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Write the past tense of "get". (Today I get. Yesterday I ___.) → gotPrompt: This is an irregular verb: it does not add -ed.
- Choose the past tense verb. Last night we ___ (paint) after dinner. (painteded / painting / paints / painted) → paintedPrompt: The sentence is about the past. Which word shows that?
Watch out for
- Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
- Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Past, present and future.
- Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Present perfect (has/have + past participle); Standard English verb forms; Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder