Past Continuous

Someone Stole A Computer

T explains that sadly someone broke into the school at about 11:30 pm last night and stole one of the computers / tape recorders. Make the SS believe it.

T (or a strong S) is a policeman who finds out what the SS were doing at 11:30.

Who has the weakest alibi?

Are You A Good Witness?

Tell SS you are going to test their memory. Flash a picture, with a lot going on in it, for two minutes. Elicit what was happening, or give questions (written or oral) to test their memory.

Eg) Which way was the woman looking? Who was smoking? What was the boy wearing?

Variation :- SS write down everything that they can remember that was going on.

Variation :- SS pool their knowledge in groups.

Stick Figure Series

T Draws a stick figure story describing things that happened to his / her good friend ‘Bob’ last Saturday, and the times at which they happened.

Eg) At 7:30 Bob was getting ready to out.

He was drinking his second beer when I saw him at 8:00.

At 9:30 he was chatting up the barmaid and asking her for her telephone number.

…..etc.

SS reconstruct the story using the stick figures, the times and (hopefully) the past continuous.

If you’ve found this list useful, please send us your classroom ideas. If they’re any good, we’ll put them on the web page and share them with the world!

Craig Wealand