Grammar/Structure: Adverbials and Tenses, Tenses in Peace and Computer Literacy for JSS 3

Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 13-14 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Grammar/Structure
Previous Lesson: Listening and Speaking: Consonant Clusters in Words
Topic: Grammatical Accuracy
Subject Matter: Identification and use of tenses e.g. present, past and future using such topics as: (a) Importance of peace education (b) Need for computer literacy (c) Indiscipline among youths

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Define adverbials and tenses.
• Identify different types of adverbials in sentences.
• Identify present, past, and future tenses in various contexts.
• Use adverbials correctly in sentences.
• Construct grammatically correct sentences using appropriate present, past, and future tenses.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of using correct adverbials and tenses for clear communication.
• Show willingness to practice correct grammatical structures.

Psychomotor Domain

• Construct sentences demonstrating correct use of adverbials.
• Write short passages using appropriate tenses to convey meaning accurately.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers to correct grammatical errors in sentences.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Language textbook for JSS 3
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Whiteboard or blackboard
• Markers or chalk
• Prepared sentence examples on charts or flashcards
• Worksheets with exercises on adverbials and tenses

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding and correctly using adverbials and tenses is fundamental to effective communication in English. This lesson helps students express actions and events with precision regarding time, manner, and place, which is essential for academic writing, everyday conversations, and clear expression of ideas related to important societal issues like peace education, computer literacy, and youth behaviour.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs) and simple sentence structure.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Grammatical Accuracy: Adverbials and Tenses

Adverbials

Adverbials are words or phrases that modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or an entire sentence, providing more information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs.

Types of adverbials include:

1. Adverbials of Manner: Describe how an action is performed.
   • Example: The students discussed peace education enthusiastically.
   • Example: They resolved the conflict peacefully.
2. Adverbials of Time: Indicate when an action happens.
   • Example: We will have computer literacy classes tomorrow.
   • Example: The assembly started early.
3. Adverbials of Place: Indicate where an action happens.
   • Example: The workshop on indiscipline took place in the hall.
   • Example: Children play outside.
4. Adverbials of Frequency: Indicate how often an action happens.
   • Example: Youths often participate in community service.
   • Example: She always completes her computer assignments.
5. Adverbials of Degree: Indicate the intensity or extent of an action or quality.
   • Example: He was very interested in peace studies.
   • Example: The task was quite challenging.

Tenses

Tenses are grammatical categories that indicate the time at which an action or state occurs. The main tenses are present, past, and future.

Present Tense

The present tense is used to describe actions happening now, habitual actions, general truths, or scheduled future events.

1. Simple Present Tense:
   • Used for habits, routines, facts, and scheduled events.
   • Example (Peace Education): Peace promotes understanding among people.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): She learns new software every week.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): Some youths disrupt public gatherings.
2. Present Continuous Tense:
   • Used for actions happening at the moment of speaking or temporary actions.
   • Example (Peace Education): The community is discussing ways to maintain peace.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): We are studying basic coding now.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): The principal is addressing the issue of bullying.

Past Tense

The past tense is used to describe actions that happened and were completed in the past.

1. Simple Past Tense:
   • Used for actions completed at a specific time in the past.
   • Example (Peace Education): They organized a peace rally last month.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): I attended a computer workshop yesterday.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): The school suspended two students for fighting.
2. Past Continuous Tense:
   • Used for actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past, often interrupted by another action.
   • Example (Peace Education): The leaders were negotiating for peace when the news broke.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): She was typing her report all morning.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): The security guard was watching the gates when the incident occurred.

Future Tense

The future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future.

1. Simple Future Tense (using ‘will’ or ‘shall’):
   • Used for predictions, promises, or spontaneous decisions.
   • Example (Peace Education): Our nation will achieve lasting peace.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): Students will learn advanced programming next term.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): The school will implement stricter rules against indiscipline.
2. Future Continuous Tense (using ‘will be’ + -ing verb):
   • Used for actions that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future.
   • Example (Peace Education): By next year, they will be promoting peace in all communities.
   • Example (Computer Literacy): At 10 AM tomorrow, I will be practicing my typing skills.
   • Example (Youth Indiscipline): The counsellors will be speaking with the affected youths next week.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to recall what they know about adverbs and verbs. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Grammatical Accuracy: Adverbials and Tenses,” explaining that today’s lesson will help them speak and write more accurately.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about adverbs and verbs and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to adverbials and tenses

Step 2: Explanation of Adverbials

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what adverbials are, providing definitions and examples of different types (manner, time, place, frequency, degree) using sentences related to peace education, computer literacy, and youth indiscipline. The teacher writes key points on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarification, and copy definitions and examples from the board.

Learning Point: Understanding adverbials and types

Step 3: Practice with Adverbials

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides sentences and asks students to identify the adverbials and state their types. The teacher also gives incomplete sentences and asks students to add appropriate adverbials. For example: “The students learn computer skills _______.” (e.g., quickly, enthusiastically, daily).

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify adverbials and complete sentences orally and in their notebooks, receiving feedback from the teacher.

Learning Point: Identifying and using adverbials

Step 4: Explanation of Tenses

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the concept of tenses (present, past, future) and their basic forms (simple and continuous). The teacher provides clear examples for each tense, linking them to the themes of peace education, computer literacy, and youth indiscipline.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen carefully, observe the examples, and ask questions to clarify their understanding of tense formation and usage.

Learning Point: Understanding present, past, future tenses

Step 5: Practice with Present and Past Tenses

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives sentences or short paragraphs (related to the themes) and asks students to identify the tense used or to change the tense of given verbs to present or past forms. For example: “The community (discuss) peace yesterday.” (discussed)

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils practice identifying and changing tenses in sentences, writing their answers in their notebooks.

Learning Point: Applying present and past tenses

Step 6: Practice with Future Tense

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides more sentences and asks students to convert them to future tense or to complete sentences using appropriate future tense forms. For example: “Next year, many youths (attend) computer literacy training.” (will attend)

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils complete sentences and convert tenses, demonstrating their understanding of future tense usage.

Learning Point: Applying future tense

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is an adverbial? Give two examples.
2. Identify the adverbial in this sentence: “The students learned computer skills quickly.”
3. Explain the difference between simple present and present continuous tense.
4. Change the tense of the verb in this sentence to simple past: “The school promotes peace education.”
5. Construct a sentence about youth indiscipline using the future continuous tense.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Assessment of adverbials and tenses

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on adverbials and tenses into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarizes the importance of using adverbials and correct tenses for clear and accurate communication, encouraging students to apply what they have learned in their daily speaking and writing.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Reinforcing grammatical accuracy

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the following tasks in your notebook:

1. Write five sentences about the “Importance of peace education,” ensuring each sentence contains an adverbial of different type (manner, time, place, frequency, degree).
2. Write a short paragraph (5-7 sentences) about the “Need for computer literacy” using a mix of present, past, and future tenses correctly.
3. Identify the tense of the underlined verbs in the following sentences:
   1. The youths were protesting against indiscipline.
   2. Our school will organize a debate next month.
   3. She always studies her computer lessons.

Lesson Keywords

• Adverbial – A word or phrase that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, indicating how, when, where, or to what extent.
• Tense – A grammatical category that indicates the time of an action or state (present, past, future).
• Present Tense – Describes actions happening now, habitual actions, or general truths.
• Past Tense – Describes actions that happened and were completed in the past.
• Future Tense – Describes actions that will happen in the future.
• Grammatical Accuracy – The ability to use grammar rules correctly in speaking and writing.

Differentiation

For students who struggle, provide simpler sentences for identification and usage exercises, and offer sentence starters. For advanced learners, challenge them to write short descriptive paragraphs incorporating various adverbials and tenses on their own, perhaps on a fourth topic of their choice.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding of adverbials and tenses, students can search on YouTube for:

• adverbials for jss3 english
• tenses in english grammar jss3