Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify and correctly form the past continuous tense in short reading passages.
- Describe past events using the past continuous in both written and spoken tasks.
Listening
Warmer
Look at the picture. Describe what you see.
Comprehension Questions
Text
Last night, Emma was reading a book in her bedroom when she heard a strange noise. It was coming from the kitchen.
She got up quietly and walked downstairs. The lights were off, and everything was dark. As she was walking into the kitchen, the noise got louder.
Her brother Max was in the kitchen. He was looking for cookies in the cupboard and was dropping pots and pans everywhere.
“What are you doing?” Emma asked.
“I wasn’t trying to be loud,” he said. “I was just looking for a snack.”
Emma laughed. “I thought a thief was breaking into the house!”
While they were talking, their dog Rocky ran into the room. He was barking loudly and was chasing his tail.
Now they were all laughing. Emma went back to her room, and Max finally found the cookies.
Listening
Warmer
Look at the picture. Describe what you see.
Comprehension Questions
Text
Carlos was walking to the bus stop yesterday morning when he noticed something strange. A woman was looking around nervously near the bench.
She was holding her bag open and was searching inside. Carlos stopped and asked, “Are you okay?”
“I think I lost my phone,” she said. “I was texting my friend when I got off the bus, and now I can’t find it.”
Carlos smiled. “Let me help.” While they were talking, another man walked by. He was holding a phone and was looking at it carefully.
“That’s my phone!” the woman said.
The man apologized. “I’m sorry. I was trying to find the owner.”
She thanked both men. As Carlos was walking away, he felt good about helping someone.
Listening
Warmer
Look at the picture. Describe what you see.
Comprehension Questions
Text
It was raining heavily yesterday morning. Olivia and her sister Mia were waiting for the bus. They were wearing raincoats and were holding umbrellas.
Many cars were driving past them, and water was splashing on the sidewalk.
“I was hoping we could stay home today,” Mia said.
As they were standing in the rain, a car drove by quickly and splashed water all over their legs.
“Ugh!” they shouted.
While they were drying off with tissues, the bus finally arrived. The driver was smiling and was playing cheerful music on the radio.
They got on the bus and found a dry seat.
By the time they got to school, the rain was stopping and the sun was shining.
- What were you doing last night at 8 p.m.?
- What was your family doing while you were eating breakfast this morning?
- What were your classmates/colleagues doing during summer break/vacation?
- What were people doing in your neighborhood the last time it rained heavily?
- What were you thinking about the last time you couldn’t sleep?
- What were you doing the last time you heard surprising news?
- What were you wearing and doing at your last birthday party?
- What were your friends doing while you were on vacation (or taking a day off)?
- What were you doing when your phone last rang unexpectedly?
