Sample Lesson Plan about Subject Verb Agreement
As an English teacher, one of the most important lessons you can teach your students is about subject-verb agreement. This concept refers to the match between the subject of a sentence and the verb that follows it. Correct subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear communication in both oral and written forms of English.
Here is a sample lesson plan on subject-verb agreement that you can use to guide your teaching:
Objective: Students will be able to identify the correct subject-verb agreement in a sentence.
Materials:
– Whiteboard and markers
– Handouts with practice sentences
– Answer key
Procedure:
1. Introduction (5 min.)
– Begin by introducing the topic of subject-verb agreement. Explain the importance of this concept in clear communication and how incorrect usage can lead to confusion or misunderstandings. You can use examples to illustrate this point.
– Ask students if they have encountered any difficulties with subject-verb agreement in their own writing or reading before.
2. Lecture (10 min.)
– Explain the basic rule of subject-verb agreement: singular subjects must have singular verbs, and plural subjects must have plural verbs. Provide examples of both types of sentences.
– Then, introduce some exceptions to the rule, such as words that appear to be plural but are actually singular (e.g. “mathematics,” “news,” “politics”), or phrases that contain “or” and “nor” (e.g. “Neither the teacher nor the students were”). Provide examples of each exception type.
– Use the whiteboard to write down the rules and examples as you explain them.
3. Practice (30 min.)
– Distribute the handouts with practice sentences to the students. The sentences should be varied enough to include different kinds of subjects and verbs, as well as some exceptions to the rule.
– Instruct students to work independently to identify the subject and verb in each sentence, and check whether they agree or not.
– After they have completed the handout, go over the answers together, discussing any questions or confusions that came up.
– Lastly, ask the students to write five sentences of their own, using both singular and plural subjects, to demonstrate their understanding of the topic. You can collect these sentences for assessment purposes.
4. Conclusion (5 min.)
– Summarize the key points of the lesson and review the main rules of subject-verb agreement.
– Ask the students if they feel more confident about identifying and using the correct subject-verb agreement in their writing.
– Provide feedback to students as necessary and answer any last-minute questions.
By following this lesson plan, your students will gain a solid understanding of subject-verb agreement and be able to apply this knowledge in their own writing and speaking. Remember to keep the lesson engaging and interactive to maximize their learning experience!