Then and Now

By Verda McGraw, M. Ed.

Expected Outcome: The person will correctly use present and past forms of "to be".

Purpose: To increase use of "I am" and "I was" in sentences to define present and past tense state of being.

Target Vocabulary:

1.then
2.now
3.I was
4.I am
5.lion
6.cub
7.chick
8.chicken
9.kitten
10.cat
11.puppy
12.dog
13.caterpillar
14.butterfly
15.duckling
16.duck
17.tadpole
18.frog
19.horse
20.foal
21.baby
22.boy
23.girl

Target Language Skill: Using "I was" and "I am" to describe past and present state of being.

Suggested Objectives:

1.The person will use the correct present tense singular form of the verb "to be" phrase to describe the present state of being, for example, "I am a boy."
2.The person will use the correct past tense form of the verb "to be" phrase to describe a state of being in the past, for example, "I was a baby."

Teaching Activities:

A. Speaking

1.Model and teach the target vocabulary. Make sure the person knows that "I am" is for present tense, and "I was" is for past tense.
2.Look at pictures of community helpers. Ask the person to make up sentences that each one could say, for example "I am a policeman." "I am a doctor."

B. Reading

1.Read the "Then and Now" book at the end of this language lesson. The first time through, encourage the person to read the phrases "I am" and "I was". The next time, let the person read as many of the target words as possible. Model on the device the words the person is not able to read.
2.Find other reading books with some of the target words such as "then" and "now" "I am" and "I was." Let the person help read these books.

C. Writing

1.Connect the device to a computer with a USB cable or Blue Tooth module. Let the person practice writing the target words into a word document using the Unity icon sequences.
2.Read the story again, and have the person write target phrase on the computer using the Unity icon sequences.
3.Use this book as a template for the person to write their own story using their favorite animals, photos of classmates or themselves.
4.Encourage the person to write a personal story about changes that have happened in his or her life. Encourage the use of "then" "now" "I am" and "I was".

D. Generalization

1.Model using the correct past tense form of the verb "to be", was and were, in sentences during "teachable moments". For example after you complete an activity state what had just occurred and how you felt about it, for example "I was playing outside", "I was happy".
2.Use favorite toy activities such as fisher price people and a school bus to elicit phrases after an action. For example put the boy in the driver's seat, push the bus and state "he was driving", "what was he doing?"
3.Model and teach describing words that may come after "I am" and "I was" in a sentence, for example "I am cold" and "I was happy" Give the person lots of practice finding and saying the "I am" and "I was "phrases.
4.Talk about how growing things change from "then" to "now". This lesson could be adapted to fit in with science or history. Get pictures of familiar places or things that have changed. Let the person label the pictures with "then" and "now".

Smart Charts

Supplemental Material

Stage 5 Then and Now