Day 3: Present and Past Tenses: Simple vs Continuous

30-Minute Teacher-Led Lesson Plan | Low B2 (Upper-Intermediate) Level

Lesson Details

  • Duration: 30 minutes

  • Grammar Focus: Present Simple vs Present Continuous; Past Simple vs Past Continuous

  • Themes: Sports, technology, friends/family, travel (varied for engagement)

  • Materials: Whiteboard/markers, handouts (optional worksheet below), student notebooks

  • Objectives: Students can choose correct tense forms and explain uses (habits/routines vs ongoing actions)

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Goal: Engage students and contrast tense uses

Teacher Script & Steps:

  1. Hook (2 min): Ask: “What are you doing right now? What do you usually do at 8 PM?” (Elicit: I’m eating vs I eat dinner.)

  2. Overview (2 min): “Today we compare Simple (habits, facts) vs Continuous (now, temporary) in present and past tenses.”

  3. Demo (1 min): Board: “She play football” (habit) vs “She is playing now” → Correct & discuss.

2. Instruction (15 minutes)

A. Present Simple vs Present Continuous (8 minutes)

Key Point: Simple = habits/routines/facts; Continuous = happening now/temporary.

Board Table:

Tense

Use

Example (Sports/Technology Themes)

Present Simple

Habits, facts

She plays tennis every weekend.

Present Continuous

Now, temporary

She is playing tennis right now.

Time Expressions: always/usually (Simple); now/currently (Continuous)

Steps:

  • Model: “I live in Paris (fact). I am living with friends (temporary).” (Friends theme.)

  • Quick Pair Check: “He ___ (work) on a new app” → works (job) vs is working (now).

B. Past Simple vs Past Continuous (7 minutes)

Key Point: Simple = finished actions; Continuous = ongoing in the past (often interrupted).

Board Table:

Tense

Use

Example (Travel/Family Themes)

Past Simple

Finished/complete

We visited Rome last summer.

Past Continuous

Ongoing/interrupted

We were visiting Rome when it rained.

Steps:

  • Model: “I cooked dinner when the phone rang.” → was cooking (ongoing) + rang (interruption).

  • Elicit: “They ___ (watch) TV when I ___ (arrive).” → were watching / arrived.

3. Practice (10 minutes)

Goal: Controlled practice then freer use

Activity 1: Tense Swap (Pairs, 4 min — Technology/Sports Themes)
Board these; students rewrite in opposite tense:

  1. “She reads books every evening.” → She is reading a book now.

  2. “I was studying when you called.” → I studied every evening last week.
    Share 1 aloud per pair.

Activity 2: Story Build (Individuals/Pairs, 5 min — Personal Choice Theme)

  • Write 4-5 sentences about a recent trip or hobby (e.g., “Yesterday, I was running in the park when my phone rang.”).

  • Mix Simple + Continuous (2 each).

  • Swap & underline tense uses; peer feedback.

Wrap-Up (1 min): “When do you use Continuous most?” Homework: Weekend diary (mix tenses).

Optional Worksheet (Print as Handout)

Student Copy — Simple vs Continuous Practice

  1. Fill: She ___ (go) to the gym every day, but today she ___ (relax).

  2. Correct: “I waited for the bus when it started raining.” → __________________

  3. Write: 3 sentences on family or health mixing present/past tenses.

Answer Key (Teacher Only):

  1. goes / is relaxing

  2. I was waiting… when it started…

Notes for Teacher: Use timeline drawings on board for visual contrast. Links to prior noun/article lessons. Timing flexible for whole-class feedback.