What Are You Doing? The Present Continuous

Learning Objectives

• Form present continuous sentences with am, is or are and a verb ending in -ing.
• Spell common -ing forms correctly using three simple rules.
• Ask and answer questions about actions happening now with short answers.

How to Use This Resource

• Start with slide 1: mime brushing your teeth and ask, "What am I doing?" Write: You are brushing your teeth.
• Teach am/is/are + -ing, the spelling rules and questions with the slides, checking each step with the matching worksheet activity.
• Play the miming game, then use the quiz to check and send the homework home. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Mime and guess: a student mimes an action card; the class asks "Are you swimming?" and the student answers "Yes, I am!" or "No, I'm not."
• Freeze frame: groups make a still scene (a kitchen, a classroom) and the class describes what each person is doing.
• Window watch: students look out of the window for one minute and say what people, animals or cars are doing.

Differentiation

Support: give a chart with I am / He is / She is / They are and -ing verb cards to build sentences, and focus on verbs that just add -ing. Challenge: use the spelling rules with new verbs (shop, write, swim), write questions with What and Where (What is he eating?), and describe a picture in five sentences.

Assessment

Worksheet activities and the quiz check am/is/are, -ing spelling, questions and short answers (answer key included). The miming game and the homework are checked with the rubric.

Teacher Tips

Use the word now with every example and point to what is happening. Students often forget am, is or are (She swimming), so make the be-verb a different color on the board and clap on it when you say the sentence.

What's Included

• 11-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (8 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (6 activities)
• Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
• Homework practice page
• Printable flashcards: 8 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
• Assessment rubric (4 levels)
• Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
• Editable Word version of all student pages
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Lesson Slides (PPTX)
• Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
• A5 Flashcards (PDF)
• Answer Key (PDF)

Teacher Reviews