Irregular Verbs - 5 Activities to Support Teaching (Dominoes, Bingo Game, Flash Cards, Cloze Procedure, Loop Game)

Following the publication of our five activities to support the teaching of irregular verbs in the past and present tense, we have included all five in a bundle to save you money.

The bundle includes:

• Past and present tense irregular verb dominoes
• Past and present tense irregular verb loop game
• Bingo game for 30 players (a whole class)
• Flash cards for 35 past tense and 35 present tense irregular verbs
• Past tense irregular verb cloze procedure activity - 12 passages using 43 verb choices

Dominoes

This Dominoes game was devised by us to support our children develop a greater knowledge of irregular verbs when changed from present to past tense and vice versa.

This game contains 36 pairs of words which the children must link together by playing the game of dominoes. Playing is easy. Print the words for the game and cut the cards into the 36 playing cards. The game is for 2 - 6 players, and the cards should be shuffled and dealt out equally to every player until all of the cards are shared out. Select a child to lay down the first card. The next player looks at the present and past tense verbs on the card (they will be different). They then look at their cards and see if the can match either of the words to the alternate words on their cards. If they can, they lay down the card and the next player plays. If they can't, they must miss their turn and the play carries on with the next player. The game ends when one player lays down all of their cards.

As the children play this game, they will be learning all 36 pairs of words! Once the children have played it a few times and understood the rules, swap the cards around the children. Play again.

You will find that children will start learning and reciting the words when children reveal what is on their cards. In UK schools, this game is great for preparation of SPAG!

To extend the game, we have included the template to add further pairs of words to the set. This will allow you to develop the game further for the needs of your children, or add words which you have identified from your assessment that need to be worked on. Make sure that the past and present verb forms are not placed on the same card!

Loop Game

This loop game was devised by us to support our children develop a greater knowledge of irregular verbs when changed from present to past tense and vice versa.

This loop game contains 36 pairs of words and can be used to change from present to past, or vice versa. Playing is easy. Print the words for the game and cut the cards into the 36 playing cards. Each child receives at least one card - ensuring that all the cards are handed out. Select a child to read the present verb on their card. The children then look at their cards to see if they have the past tense verb for that word on their card. If they do, they read the answer, and then read out the new present tense verb. The game continues until all of the cards have been used.

As the children play this game, they will be learning all 36 pairs of words! Once the children have played it a few times and understood the rules, swap the cards around the children. Play again.

You will find that children will start learning and reciting the words when children reveal what is on their cards. In UK schools, this game is great for preparation of SPAG!

To extend the game, we have included the template to add further pairs of words to the set. This will allow you to develop the game further for the needs of your children, or add words which you have identified from your assessment that need to be worked on.

To further develop the game, why not:

• Start with the past tense verb first and the children change to the present tense.
• Use the cards as dominoes for a learning centre.
• Time the children with a stopwatch - what is the fastest time the children can complete the loop game in?
• Using the spare cards - why not ask the children to research present and past tense irregular verbs collected from their reading or their writing.

Our children love this game, and we know that they understand how the present and past verb forms link together - and can spell them correctly.

Bingo Game for up to 30 players

We devised this game of Irregular past tense/present tense game to support our children learn the pairs of words to support them in their speaking and writing tasks.

This game provides the children with 35 pairs of words to embed their learning within this objective.

Instructions for preparing and playing the game of Bingo are included within the resource. The key learning element occurs in the way the words are called out by the "caller". In the normal game of Bingo, the player simply matches the number called with the numbers on their playing card. This game is different. The 35 word cards which the caller has are written in the present tense. When the caller selects a word and reads the word out, the children must identify the past tense of the irregular verb and look for that on their card. If the children have the word, the must cover the word up with counters, or cross the word off with a whiteboard (removable) marker.

There are three ways of winning the game.

1. The first child to fill a row or three words
2. The first child to fill a column of past tense verbs
3. The first child to fill the entire card

The game is a fair game as each card has six different words removed.

There are thirty different cards, allowing 30 children to play their own card. If there are less than thirty in the class, the children can have more than one card. This will certainly keep them on their toes watching for the correct verbs to be called.

Flashcards

As part of the objective for children to understand how language changes when irregular verbs move from present to past tense, these flash cards can support the children in their speed reading.

Once purchased and downloaded, print the word cards in colour (they have been produced in two contrasting colours (orange for present tense irregular verbs and green for past tense irregular verbs) making them eye catching for display, sorting and game playing. To ensure the cards stand up to the rigours of the classroom environment, it is worth laminating the cards to keep them clean and tidy for longer.

In our classrooms, we have used these flashcards for a variety of activities:

• Speed read present verbs
• Speed read past verbs
• When showing the present verbs, children must read the past verb and vice versa.
• Speed pairing - children must take a card and try and find the belonging pair from the 70 cards.
• Game of fish - all cards placed face down in two separate piles (past and present verbs). Take one card from one pile and try to find the matching card from the second pile.
• Display the words in the classrooms for children to learn.
• Display one set of words, give the children a word card from the second set and ask them to match their word to the display.

These cards have been designed to support the development of language and knowledge of past and present irregular verbs.

Cloze Procedure activity (12 passages and 43 verb choices - present into past)

Using 12 slides, we have written 12 short paragraphs with present tense irregular verb clues for children to identify the 43 missing past tense verbs from the sentences.

Through discussion, the children should be able to identify the words to fit the gaps. As an extension, the slides can be printed off and the children can embed their learning in a paired or independent piece of learning. It can also be sent home for a home learning activity.

This activity allowed us to assess the progress in learning, and we could also identify the next steps in the children's learning, and use further paragraphs to embed future learning.

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Best wishes

INSPIReducation