A2-B1: Simple Past Irregular Verb Story Reconstruction

Age: 18-100

ESL Level: CEFR A2-B1

Type: three pages in PDF format to be printed and cut up into 16-16 cards

Target language: simple past irregular verbs

Description of activity:

This activity has three rounds.

Students work in pairs. Give a set of cards (cut up in advance) to each pair (page 1). Give them 10 minutes to reconstruct the story.

Ask for feedback, and drill pronunciation.

Before the second round, you might want to swap partners.

In the second turn, give a set of cards to each pair (page 2) and ask them to reconstruct the story while completing the missing simple past forms.

Monitor the pairs.

Finally, give a set of cards to each pair (you might want to mix them up again) with the key words (page 3) and ask them to remember the story based on these.

You can ask one or two students to retell the story in front of the entire class.

With B1 classes, you might skip the first step and start with the second round.

Variation: Do the first phase in open class. Read the first one or two cards to the class and elicit ideas about what could go wrong that day. Then add another card and repeat the question. Step by step, give more and more details about the day and see how well the students have guessed the events.

Follow-up: Ask your students to tell each other about a horrible day/holiday in their lives or a story that started badly but ended well.

Time: 2/3x20 min

Font: Academy Engraved LET, Garamond