Grammar
Elementary level
Materials
Main Aims
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To provide clarification of "can" and "could" to talk about ability in the present and past in the context of changing technology.
Subsidiary Aims
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To provide practice opportunities for students to use "can" and "could" accurately in sentences about technology. To foster discussion and critical thinking about the impact of technology on daily life. Present clear explanations of when to use "can" and "could" to talk about present and past abilities. Use visual aids, such as pictures or diagrams, to reinforce understanding of the vocabulary.
Procedure (31-41 minutes)
Teacher projects pictures of old TVs and asks students about their family's experience with similar TVs. Then, prompts a discussion about what watching TV was like back then. -Project the images of old TVs and ask the lead-in questions. -Encourage students to share their experiences and opinions. CCQs: "Did your family have a TV like any of these?" (Yes/No) "When do you think watching TV was like back then?" (Encourage students to speculate on the past.)
Students read a short article titled "Our First TV" and complete a 5-question quiz on Google Forms to check comprehension. -Share the article with students and direct them to read it (2 min) . Afterwards, provide the Google Forms quiz link for them to complete. (3 min) _Review answers later. ICQs: "How many minutes do you have to do the quiz?" (To confirm understanding of the quiz task.)
Teacher projects sentences from the article and explains the structure of sentences using "can" and "could." -Project the sentences on the screen and highlight the elements of each sentence. Explain the usage of "can" and "could" in context. Form: Subject (noun or pronoun) + can + base form of the verb (infinitive) Subject (noun or pronoun) + could + base form of the verb (infinitive) CCQ's: "What is the subject of the sentence?" (To check understanding of sentence structure.) "What verb form comes after 'can' and 'could'?" (To reinforce understanding of verb usage.) "When do we use 'can'?" (To talk about present ability) "When do we use 'could'?" (To talk about past ability)
Students complete an 8-question quiz where they fill in missing parts of sentences with "Can, can't, could, couldn't." -T provides students with the quiz and set a time limit for completion. ( 5 min) - Afterwards, review the answers together as a class. CCQs: "What words do you use to complete the sentences?" (To ensure understanding of the task.) "Can you use 'can' to talk about past ability?" (No, it's 'could.')
Students engage in pairs to discuss three things they can or can't do as an adult and three things they could or couldn't do as a kid. -Teacher pair up students and provide them with the discussion prompts. -Encourage them to use the target language in their discussions. "3 things you can or can’t do as an adult and 3 things you could or couldn’t do as a kid." They will have 6 minutes to discuss with their partner.