Download the Lessonotes Mobile Liberia app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: English
Semester: 2
Period: 5
Week: 27
School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: English Language
Grade Level: Grade 2
Date: Week 27
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 27, Period 5
Topic: Grammar – Present Progressive & Perfect Tenses
Sub-topic: Using Tenses in Reading and Writing
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Identify and correctly use present progressive tense (e.g. She is running)
Identify and correctly use present perfect tense (e.g. He has eaten)
Read, listen, and respond to nonfiction texts
Complete sentence transformation activities using tenses
Previous Knowledge
Students already know:
Basic verb usage, sentence construction, HF word recognition
Instructional Materials
English Language textbook for Grade 2, sentence cards, worksheets, chart paper
Lesson Development – ABC Model
A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Teacher asks learners to describe what they are doing right now (present progressive). Write example sentences on board.
B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)
Time: 25–30 minutes
- Definitions and Explanations (Expanded & Detailed)
- Present Progressive Tense
Definition:
The present progressive tense (also called present continuous tense) is used to show that an action is happening right now or is in progress at this moment.
Structure:
- Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing
Examples:
- I am eating rice.
- She is writing a letter.
- They are playing football.
- He is drawing a picture.
Key Features:
- Used for actions currently happening.
- Uses “am,” “is,” or “are” as helping verbs.
- The main verb ends in -ing.
- Present Perfect Tense
Definition:
The present perfect tense is used to show that an action has been completed recently or at an unspecified time before now.
Structure:
- Subject + has/have + past participle
Examples:
- I have finished my homework.
- She has eaten her lunch.
- We have visited the zoo.
- He has cleaned the room.
Key Features:
- “Has” is used with he/she/it.
- “Have” is used with I/you/we/they.
- The verb must be in past participle form (e.g. eaten, done, finished, gone, played).
Comparison of Present Progressive and Present Perfect
|
Tense
|
Example
|
When Used
|
|
Present Progressive
|
She is cooking dinner.
|
Right now / currently happening
|
|
Present Perfect
|
She has cooked dinner.
|
Action finished recently / no exact time
|
- Learners’ Activities (Expanded & Interactive)
- Verb Identification & Tense Conversion
- Teacher writes simple present sentences on the board:
- She cooks rice.
- He walks to school.
- They play football.
Activity:
- Learners underline the main verbs (e.g., cooks, walks, play).
- Learners convert sentences into:
- Present Progressive: She is cooking rice.
- Present Perfect: She has cooked rice.
Group Practice:
- Learners work in small groups to change a list of 5–6 sentences to both present progressive and present perfect forms.
- Reading Practice with Focus on Tenses
- Teacher gives out a short nonfiction passage (e.g., about daily routines, weather, or school life). Example paragraph:
Juah wakes up at 6 a.m. She brushes her teeth and gets dressed. Right now, she is eating breakfast. She has already packed her schoolbag.
Activity:
- Students read aloud.
- Underline sentences showing present progressive and present perfect:
- "She is eating breakfast" – Present Progressive
- "She has packed her schoolbag" – Present Perfect
- Sentence Writing & Tense Practice
- Using high-frequency (HF) words like come, go, her, after, live, learners write original sentences in both tenses.
Examples:
- HF Word: come
- Present Progressive: He is coming to school.
- Present Perfect: He has come to class early.
- HF Word: live
- Present Progressive: We are living in Monrovia.
- Present Perfect: We have lived here for three years.
Pair Work:
- Partners quiz each other by reading a sentence and asking the other to say what tense it is and then change it.
- Tense Transformation Exercise
Worksheet Activity:
Convert the following sentences:
- I eat rice.
→ (Progressive): ____________________
→ (Perfect): _______________________
- They walk to school.
→ (Progressive): ____________________
→ (Perfect): _______________________
- He plays football.
→ (Progressive): ____________________
→ (Perfect): _______________________
- Assessment Checks (Formative & Summative)
✅ Tense Identification Check
- Learners correctly identify present progressive and present perfect tenses in reading passages and sentences.
✅ Transformation Accuracy
- Learners successfully convert simple present sentences into both progressive and perfect forms.
✅ Fluency and Expression
- Learners read example texts aloud with proper intonation and fluency, recognizing tense clues.
✅ Grammar Application
- Learners write correct original sentences using tenses and HF words in context.
✅ Quick Oral Quiz:
- Teacher says a sentence:
“He is jumping.”
→ Learners answer: Present Progressive
- Teacher says: “She has danced.”
→ Learners answer: Present Perfect
- Notes (Expanded & Detailed)
- Understanding tenses is vital to help learners express time accurately in both speaking and writing.
- Many learners struggle with the difference between ongoing actions (present progressive) and recently completed actions (present perfect). This lesson addresses both.
- Including HF words in sentence writing allows students to reinforce spelling, reading fluency, and vocabulary in context.
- Using nonfiction reading passages connects grammar to real-world language use, improving comprehension and interest.
- Group and pair activities support inclusive learning, promote peer support, and encourage oral communication skills.
C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary: Present progressive shows ongoing actions, present perfect shows completed actions. Using tenses correctly improves writing and speaking.
Evaluation Method (Expanded)
Exit slip/quiz: Write one sentence in present progressive and one in present perfect.
Teacher will collect slips and provide oral feedback.
Assignment (Expanded)
Write 3 sentences about daily activities using present progressive and 3 using present perfect tense.
Follow-up Activity
Pair learners to share sentences and identify the tense used.
Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies
Provide verb banks for support; challenge advanced learners to write additional sentences and identify tenses in longer passages.
Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
What worked well? ___________________________________________
What needs improvement? ____________________________________
Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low