10(ish) hour grammar camp

[flasyb]

At the request of my co-teacher, I made a grammar camp for Spring Break. I taught 24 hours in total (2 classes, 12 hours each class) so I padded it out with games (K-pop slam being an obvious favourite). Even running the camp for 10 hours, you might end up doing some filler games anyway. Conversely, the lessons can be used as stand-alone lessons but you will likely require a double lesson period for some of them at least.

Grammar covered.
1. Sentence Parts and Pronouns
2. Basic Verb Tenses (Simple past, future, present and present continuous)
3. Present Perfect
4. Infinitives vs Gerunds.

My co-teacher actually worked me in some extra pay based on producing a "camp book." For the camp book, I went through my powerpoint slides and deleted the answers to various questions. This meant the students could answer the questions as we went along by writing them in their books and also have a complete set of notes after the camp. It also meant extra pay for a small amount of extra work  ;). It worked well and helped the students engage by giving them time to write and think throughout the lessons.

It's important for me to state that these were the best up and coming first grade students (the new guys) and second grade students in the school.

For the purposes of my explanations, I assume that you have deleted some of the answers and made books out of the powerpoints too.

Lesson 1 Sentence Parts and Pronouns

First we need sentences where we can identify subjects, objects and verbs and later substitute the subjects and objects for the appropriate pronouns.
Run through the first few slides giving the students time to write their answers.
Next, go through the powerpoint and show how to identify subjects, objects and verbs (they might already have some inclination like my students did).
Next, elicit the pronouns from the students.
Next, show them some pronoun substitution using the powerpoint.
Next, give them the 6 sentences to substitute pronouns into. (the reason I did pronoun substitution is because it involves deciding whether or not to use the subject or object pronouns and is thus directly connected to the sentence parts bit)

Next check answers and play "sentence structure game" (instructions there). The game works well - it produces some ridiculous sentences and you might need to tell the students to use a specific tense but I always think that if the students know that a sentence is funny, why it's funny and laugh, then they have understood. This game might be best played or at least improved upon after the next lesson: Verb Tenses.

(I've included a powerpoint with the answers removed. Print this off as the first part of the camp book)

[flasyb]

Lesson 2: Basic Verb Tenses

This lesson is divided into sections based on verb tenses. Just run through the powerpoints, pull answers from the students where you need to and at the end of each section give them 10 minutes in their groups to answer the questions (if you're using camp books, then they have them, if not, you can display them).*

*the present continuous questions are a bit rubbish. You could always play one of my favourite games called "action/freeze." For this, the class is divided into 2 and the students line up at opposing walls. One side faces away, the other side thinks of an action. You say "action" they do the action. You say "freeze" and they stand motionless in mid act. Then the side that had faced away turns and tries to guess what the frozen side is doing. Then switch roles. Repeat until the actions that the students are doing become too ridiculously hard to guess.

[flasyb]

Lesson 3: The Present Perfect

My favourite verb tense to teach! This lesson is actually re-post (unchanged) of one of my old lessons).

Again, just work through the powerpoint and break off every now and then to take a break, ask the students some "have you ever...?" questions. It's a long one but worth it. Use the second part of a double lesson to play present perfect games.


Here''s a present perfect perfect game:
Yes/No Lie Game

One student sits in a chair in front of the board (or is somehow separated from the other students). Another student asks that student a question. Let's say, "Have you ever had a girlfriend?" That student then draws a yes/no card. Whatever the card says is the student's answer. The rest of the class may then ask questions (probably not in the present perfect) in order to get more information and help them decide if the answer is the truth or a lie. "Who was she?" "When?" "How old were you?" etc etc. When they are done asking questions, you should then ask the class if they think he is telling the truth or lying. Then, next student.

It's best to demonstrate this game by answering a few questions yourself. Explaining it is a waste of time because it's complicated when explained but easy when played. When you think they have it, invite your best student to play next.

The students love this game because they find out more about each other and you. You also find out more about them. It's great for getting to know students.

[flasyb]

Lesson 4: Gerunds and Infinitives

Go through this lesson as the ones before. It explains the basic concepts and differences between gerunds and infinitives as well as showing how some verbs take only gerunds some only infinitives, some both with the same meaning, some both with a difference in meaning.

I also have a gerund/infinitive jeopardy game that I downloaded elsewhere (I didn't make this). It's not great but it was good practice for the students after the powerpoint. It's a bit difficult at times and you might want to check it but I suggest you use it (maybe after improving it).