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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses

Grammar

CCSS L.3.1.EEngland: Y3 GPS (tense)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses.

  • 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 tense (regular and irregular verbs); Past, present and future

Leads to: Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running); Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must)

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 tense (regular and irregular verbs); Past, present and future). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Write the past tense of "see". (Today I see. Yesterday I ___.) → sawPrompt: This is an irregular verb: it does not add -ed.
  2. Choose the verb that matches the time in the sentence. Last Sunday Dad ___ pancakes. (cooked / cooks / will cook) → cookedPrompt: Find the time word: yesterday, tomorrow, every day, right now…
  3. Choose the past tense verb. Yesterday I ___ (leave) all afternoon. (leaving / leaves / lefted / left) → leftPrompt: The sentence is about the past. Which word shows that?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses. 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: Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? The bus stops outside the library.
  • Step 1: The tense of the verb shows WHEN something happens.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: present
  • Answer: present
  • 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.
  1. Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? Bees make honey. (past / present / future) → presentPrompt: Find the verb (the action or being word).
  2. Choose the verb in the right tense. Last night, the wind ___ loudly. (howls / howled / will howl) → howledPrompt: Look for time words: yesterday, last, ago, next, tomorrow, every…

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.
  1. Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? We will visit the aquarium on Friday. (past / present / future) → futurePrompt: Find the verb (the action or being word).
  2. Choose the verb in the right tense. Yesterday, Maya ___ a poem about the sea. (wrote / will write / writes) → wrotePrompt: Look for time words: yesterday, last, ago, next, tomorrow, every…

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 tense (regular and irregular verbs).
  • 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: Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running); Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must).
  • 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-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Rewrite the sentence in the FUTURE tense using will. Type the whole sentence. The kitten sleeps on the sofa.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? My sister plays the violin.

    • A. past
    • B. present
    • C. future

  3. Question 3

    Choose the verb in the right tense. Two days ago, Sam ___ his tooth.

    • A. loses
    • B. lost
    • C. will lose

  4. Question 4

    Rewrite the sentence in the FUTURE tense using will. Type the whole sentence. We plant sunflowers.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? It will snow tomorrow.

    • A. past
    • B. present
    • C. future

  6. Question 6

    Choose the verb in the right tense. Last Tuesday, it ___ all day.

    • A. rains
    • B. rained
    • C. will rain

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Answer key: Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses

  1. 1. The kitten will sleep on the sofa.

  2. 2. B. present

  3. 3. B. lost

  4. 4. We will plant sunflowers.

  5. 5. C. future

  6. 6. B. rained