| LESSON OVERVIEW
The main objectives of this ESL lesson on past tenses are:
- practise past tenses in different situations;
- discuss the use of technology in emergencies;
- watch a promotional video where people share times they used tech in emergencies.
This lesson enables students to explore different past tenses (Past Perfect Continuous, Past Continuous, Past Simple and Past Perfect Simple), discuss the role of tech tools in emergencies and watch a video where people talk about times they dealt with danger. They also read a rescue story and create their own story with a partner using past phrases.
C1 / Advanced60 minStandard LessonPremium Plan
WARM-UP AND VIDEO
This ESL lesson on past tenses starts with a warm-up. Students choose which tech tools (e.g. first-aid kit, defibrillator, water purifier, etc.) they would take to a desert island and explain why. After that, they talk about situations (e.g. Someone is trying to get out of freezing water.) and discuss what accidents or emergencies might have caused them. Then, students watch a video in which people describe times they faced danger. They tick the situations mentioned in the video. Afterwards, students discuss how technology aids or complicates emergencies and explore its portrayal in advertising.
GRAMMAR PRACTISE
At this point in this ESL lesson on past tenses, students read a text about a plane crash and a smartwatch helping to call for rescue. They find examples of different types of past forms. Following that, students match examples of parts of statements (e.g. …she called for help.) with the names of tenses (Past Perfect Continuous, Past Continuous, Past Simple and Past Perfect Simple). Then, they match the tenses with their uses (e.g. to talk about a finished action in the past). Afterwards, students read a story about a drone and lifeguards rescuing a boy. They say what key factors led to the successful rescue of the boy. After that, they read the text again and choose the correct tense to complete it.
DISCUSSION
In the last part of this ESL lesson on past tenses, students complete sentences about emergency situations (e.g. I was trying to call the police when…) with their own ideas. They use different past forms. Finally, with a partner, students choose a title (A Day Like No Other, False Alarm, The Disastrous Party) and tell a story using phrases to describe past events (e.g. …for five days…, As I was…, By the time…, etc.) and their own ideas. They add one sentence at a time. Each time students add a sentence, they use a different phrase to keep the story going.
HOMEWORK/REVISION
This lesson plan also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students complete gaps with the correct form of the verbs. Then, they answer the questions using a different tense. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.
WORKSHEETS
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Thank you for the lesson, but I have a question. Why do we use Past Perfect Tense in this sentence: At a beach in Sagunto, Spain, a 14-year-old boy had got into the sea, even though a yellow flag warning of danger was sticking out. These two actions happen at the same time, so why we can’t say “the boy got into the sea”?
Thank you for your question! Using the Past Simple in this context could slightly change the meaning but it is a possible option, and that’s why it isn’t included among the options to choose from. The Past Perfect tense, however, is used here to emphasize that the boy entering the sea happened before the focus shifts to the main sequence of events in the story. I hope you find this helpful!
I used this lesson 1-on-1 and online with a B2-C1 student. It was very engaging and interesting. My student especially liked the advertisement video. It was a very helpful review of past tenses as well. Thank you for this lesson! I will be using it again soon.
We’re so happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 😊
The video shows up as unavailable. Maybe show another video or find a link to the same video.
Hi, thanks for letting us know! We’ve changed the video and updated the lesson.
The video is no longer available 🙁
Hi, thanks for letting us know! We’ve changed the video and updated the lesson.