Writing: Structure Patterns, Past Actions and Question-and-Answer Passages for Primary 2

Class: Primary Two
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 7 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Previous Lesson: Grammar: Indicating Plurals with “We Are” and “You Are”
Topic: Writing: Structure Patterns, Past Actions and Question-and-Answer Passages
Subject Matter: Illustrating the use of the various structures at patterns (i) Passage describing past actions (ii) Passage connected with asking answering questions

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify verbs used to describe past actions.
• State simple past tense forms of common verbs.
• Formulate simple questions based on a short passage.
• Provide simple answers to questions from a passage.

Psychomotor Domain

• Write simple sentences describing past actions.
• Write questions and answers related to a given passage.

Affective Domain

• Participate actively in describing past events.
• Show interest in writing clear and coherent sentences.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable English Studies textbook for Primary 2
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Recorder
• Textbook
• Notebook
• Chart showing examples of past tense verbs
• Chart with a simple passage and questions
• Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important because it introduces pupils to fundamental writing structures, enabling them to communicate events that have already happened. It also develops their comprehension and critical thinking skills by teaching them how to ask and answer questions about written information, which are essential for academic success and everyday communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should be able to identify present tense verbs and construct simple sentences in the present tense.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Writing: Structure Patterns, Past Actions and Question-and-Answer Passages

Passages Describing Past Actions

When we talk or write about things that have already happened, we use words that show past actions. These words are called past tense verbs.

Examples of past tense verbs:

1. Walked (from walk)
2. Played (from play)
3. Ate (from eat)
4. Slept (from sleep)
5. Ran (from run)
6. Wrote (from write)

Example of a passage describing past actions:

Yesterday, I walked to school. My friend, Bola, played football during break time. After school, I ate my lunch and then slept for an hour. Later, my mum read me a story.

Writing Question-and-Answer Passages

A question-and-answer passage helps us understand information better. We read a passage and then ask questions about it, or answer questions that are asked.

Example passage:

My name is Emeka. I live in Abuja. Last Saturday, I visited the zoo with my family. We saw many animals like lions, monkeys, and giraffes. I liked the monkeys the most because they were funny.

Questions and Answers:

1. Question: What is the boy’s name?
2. Answer: The boy’s name is Emeka.
3. Question: Where does Emeka live?
4. Answer: Emeka lives in Abuja.
5. Question: What did Emeka do last Saturday?
6. Answer: He visited the zoo with his family.
7. Question: Which animals did Emeka like the most?
8. Answer: Emeka liked the monkeys the most.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Engaging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to mention some things they did yesterday or over the weekend. The teacher writes a few of their responses on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by mentioning activities they did yesterday or over the weekend.

Learning Point: Recalling past actions

Step 2: Introduction to Past Actions

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Illustrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that when we talk about things that have already happened, we use words that show past actions (past tense verbs). The teacher presents a chart with examples of present and past tense verbs (e.g., walk/walked, play/played, eat/ate). The teacher guides pupils to describe past actions using these verbs.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the chart, listen to the explanation, and repeat the past tense verbs.

Learning Point: Understanding past tense

Step 3: Identifying Past Action Verbs

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Correcting

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides simple sentences, some with present tense verbs and some with past tense verbs, and asks pupils to identify the verbs showing past actions. The teacher corrects any errors in their identification.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify past action verbs in the sentences provided by the teacher.

Learning Point: Identifying past verbs

Step 4: Constructing Sentences about Past Actions

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Facilitating/Demonstrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to construct their own simple sentences describing past actions, using the verbs discussed. The teacher writes some correct examples on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils construct and say sentences about past actions. Some pupils write sentences in their notebooks.

Learning Point: Writing past sentences

Step 5: Introduction to Question-and-Answer Passages

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Introducing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the concept of question-and-answer passages. The teacher reads a short, simple passage aloud (like the one in the Board Summary) and explains that we can ask and answer questions about what we read.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively to the passage and the explanation.

Learning Point: Understanding Q&A passages

Step 6: Practicing Question and Answer

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Responding

Teacher’s Activity: Using the passage from Step 5, the teacher asks simple questions and guides the pupils to find and state the answers from the passage. The teacher also encourages pupils to ask one or two simple questions about the passage.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer the teacher’s questions and attempt to ask their own questions about the passage.

Learning Point: Answering and asking

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. Give two examples of verbs that show past actions.
2. Write a sentence about something you did yesterday.
3. Read the short passage on the board and answer this question: “What did the boy see at the zoo?”
4. Ask one question about the passage on the board.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Assessing writing patterns

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes on past actions and question-and-answer passages into their notebooks.

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

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising/Reinforcing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds pupils about the importance of using correct verbs for past actions and how to ask and answer questions from a passage. The teacher praises their participation and concludes the lesson.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the summary.

Learning Point: Consolidating lesson understanding

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the following tasks in your English notebook:

1. Write three sentences about what you did last Sunday. Remember to use past action verbs.
2. Read the short passage below and answer the questions that follow:

My pet dog, Bingo, loves to play. Yesterday, he chased a butterfly in the garden. He barked happily when he caught it. Then, he brought it to me.

3. What is the name of the pet dog?
4. What did Bingo chase yesterday?
5. How did Bingo bark?

Lesson Keywords

• Past actions – Things that have already happened.
• Past tense verbs – Words that show actions that happened in the past (e.g., played, ate, ran).
• Questions – Sentences that ask for information.
• Answers – Responses that give the information asked for.
• Passage – A short piece of writing.

Differentiation

For pupils who are struggling, the teacher will provide simpler sentences and more direct guidance in identifying past action verbs and formulating answers. Advanced learners will be encouraged to write longer sentences or create their own short passages with questions for a partner to answer.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further learning, search on YouTube for:

• “Primary 2 past tense verbs”
• “Primary 2 reading comprehension questions and answers”