After looking at the Sample Lesson, you may now want to create a PACE lesson of your own. Let's go through each step and look at some things to keep in mind when designing your own PACE lesson.
Before you Start
Before you start your lesson, it can be a good idea to do some preparation activities. This can include: going over key vocabulary that will appear in the story, having students discuss their own experiences regarding the topic of the story, allowing students to brainstorm and predict some of the things they are going to hear. For example, in our travel lesson, you could ask students to discuss their own experiences traveling, things they do and see when traveling, and what they would like to do or see if they were to travel to Paris. These questions get students thinking about the topic at hand.
Presentation
Because your entire PACE lesson will revolve around the story you choose in the Presentation stage, it is important to choose an effective story that allows you to incorporate many examples of the grammar point. You can use authentic fairy tales, teacher-created stories, songs, or even puppet shows to engage students in the Presentation phase. Just remember, that it must sound natural. Find props, create slideshows, show pictures, play music, and be lively! Don't forget to somehow include your students in the Presentation phase. This step must be interactive so that the students are engaged! The purpose of this step is for the students to focus on the meaning of the story. They should be trying to understand what is happening in the story, and you need to make sure that they do!
Attention
This stage is the simplest. Ask a few guiding questions to get the students thinking more about the language (or grammar) than about the storyline. Now that they have heard and understood the story, ask them what they heard in regard to the use of language. Having them work in pairs or small groups, ask about the ways words sounded or how they were used in the story. Ask them if they noticed any patterns or similarities in when certain words were used. Ask if they noticed how the meaning may have changed if a word changed. Ask any question that gets them thinking about the use of the grammar rule. You can show them typed sections of the story's script if they need help seeing the pattern! But, don't spoil it! Never give them the rule in this stage! They are to figure that out in the next step!
Co-Construction
This step works most effectively by showing the students typed sections of the script with blanks where the grammar point would go. After seeing the same script in the Attention phase, they will likely be able to fill in some of the blanks themselves. If not, ask them more probing questions to get them thinking about the patterns they noticed in the previous two steps. Always have them do this stage in pair or small groups. Color-coding the blanks on the script can help them to see the pattern even more clearly. Do your very best to avoid giving them any of the answers. If necessary, you can help them out by providing them with one or two of the blanks so that they can see the pattern. Offer students help as needed. Always let them try to complete the task on their own first. Assistance in this step depends on the individual student. You must be on your toes for this stage offering help and assistance on-the-fly as you monitor students' comprehension and performance.
Extension
These activities help students to put the grammar into action. Give them activities that continue the main theme of the lesson. Do not give random fill-in-the-blank activities that have nothing to do with the theme of the lesson. Go from more guided to more open-ended activities. Provide them real opportunities to communicate. You can have them write diaries, keep journals, perform role-plays and sketches, write newspaper or magazine articles, give news reports, write and perform songs, perform dialogues, or design a website (Google Sites is free and easy!). The possibilities for this stage are endless. Be creative! Give the students opportunities to express their feelings and opinions. Let them use the language for real purposes! These activities can take time. They can even take place over several classes.
Before designing your own PACE lesson, be sure to visit the PACE Lesson Checklist.