Simple Present
Click on the link to watch the animation: Simple Present Story
Hi! I’m Mr. Orange. I am bright orange because I have a lot of energy. I can do many things. I can run, skip, jump, talk, walk, sign, dance, and much more. I can also do quiet activities like sleep, think, dream, rest, and more. I like talking about these things. I can tell you a lot about habits--my habits and everyone else’s. I can tell you about my habits, your, habits, our habits, and other people’s habits. All habits are easy to talk about. (If you are using the Smartboard set up pages to animate the story, move Mr. Orange around the pond as you tell the story and show what he can do.)
Now I have a confession to make. It is my little secret. Would you like to know it? Here it is. When I talk to people who are my close friends, like you and I, I feel calm. When I talk to many people or more than one person, I feel shy. But when I talk to just one person, I feel mischievous. (If you are so inclined, you can make this more dramatic by putting on devil’s horns at this point.) When I am alone with one person, I always take out the rubber snake that I keep in my pocket. I jump at the person and stick the snake it their face. It almost always scares them! It is so funny! (You can add drama by pulling a rubber snake out of your pocket and throwing it towards a student whom you feel would enjoy this. You can retrieve it and do it a few times, or you can hold onto it and lunge it towards one or two of the braver students).
When I write, I show my habits like this: (show the corresponding Smartboard page)
(This is when I am calm or shy)
I jump
You jump
We jump
They jump
(This is when I am mischievous)
(Show the Smartboard page with the snakes)
It is hard to draw these snakes, though, so we write them as an “s”.
(Show the Smartboard pgae with the words written with the letter “s” at the end. Use the orange rods at the top of the page to show how Mr. Orange is placed under the verb in the sentence. Move the orange rods under each verb on the page.)
Let’s look at this one more time. Here’s the verbs with and without “s” on the end: (Show this on the Smartboard page)
See the “s” on the end of “he,” “she,” and “it”? That is my snake!! I hope it scares them!
The Smartboard files and a pdf version are attached below
Dynnelle acting out Mr. Orange's story
(You can use this instead of using the animations if you would like.)
Practicing with Mr. Orange
Mr. Orange talks about himself:
Make the outlines (like a blueprint) of a house using rods. Move Mr. Orange (an Orange rod) around the house. Tell what Mr. Orange does in each room (his daily habits), as Mr. Orange talks about himself.
Ex: (Moving in the bedroom)
I get up at 7:00 a.m.
I take a shower.
I get dressed
(Going to the kitchen)
I eat breakfast.
I pack my lunch.
ETC.
Challenge to students to memorize Mr. Orange’s habits. Have them become Mr. Orange and repeat the dialogue while moving around his house. Then in teams have them write the dialogue. Have the students draw an orange box around each verb.
Using Mr. Orange to talk about a school day schedule.
Watch the slides and then have the students write about their own day.
Click on the link to watch the slides: A School Day
Mr. Orange talks about YOU
To practice conjugating simple present verbs with “you”, use a story (this can be on paper, overhead transparency, or on the board) such as this:
Mr. Orange has been watching a video of your habits. The video shows what you do everyday after school. Now he wants to tell you what he saw you doing in the video. Fill in the blanks to tell the story.
First, you .
Second you_.
Third, you_.
Fourth you_.
Finally, you ___.
Have students draw an orange box around each verb.
Mr. Orange talks about animal habits
Click on this link to watch the story: Animal Habits Story
To practice conjugating simple present verbs with “he, she, it”, have students find a picture of their favorite animal and make a poster explaining its habits. Have students write orange boxes around each verb and circle the “snake” (s).
Ex:
My favorite animal is a dog. It digs in the dirt. It chews on bones. It wags its tail. ETC.
Mr. Orange talks about himself and his friends
To practice conjugating simple present verbs with “we”, have the students make up a story about what Mr. Orange does with his friends every weekend. They can make an illustration to go with the story. Have them draw orange boxes around the verbs.
Sample Story:
We drive to the mountains. We canoe in the lake. We walk in the woods. We pick flowers. We collect wood. We make a campfire. We cook dinner. ETC.
Mr. Orange at a party
To practice conjugating simple present verbs with mixed subject-verb agreement, have the students complete a story about Mr. Orange at a party. First use their ideas, then fill in the blanks.
Mr. Orange (have) a birthday party every year. He (buy) food. He (clean) his apartment. He (put)
balloons around the apartment.
When you (arrive), he (smile) and (shake) your hand. “I (love) giving parties,” Mr. Orange says.
“I (can) get you a drink if you would like. It is so nice that you could come. We (see) each other only
once a year.” Mr. Orange (put) the gifts on a table. He (serve) the food.
“We (think) your parties are great,” (say) his friends. “You are a great cook and you (plan)
great activities.”
“Thank you,” (say) Mr. Orange. “I (hope) you all have fun.”
Simple Present Lesson Plans, Worksheets, and Activities
All attached below
Game for lesson 1: S or no S?
Click on the link to practice: Internet practice: Which is Correct?
