LESSON TITLE: _Passive vs Active Voice: In the News ____________ Lesson #: __2___

TEACHER NAME: __Duc Le____________________ DATE:___________________

Attach any handouts or materials required for this lesson.

Preparation/Planning
ESL Course: ESOL XX
Topic/Theme: Active vs.
passive voice (in News)
Listening
Objectives
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Bridging
Slide #1: Class discussion of
active voice (R, S, L, W)
(L, S): Pair/small groups
guessing what passive voice
looks like.
Engagement with New Material
Slides #2-3: Going over Introduce real-world examples of passive voice (slide #2: signs). Ask if
passive voice (R, S, L) students have seen similar signs.
Level Beginning Intermediate Advanced Multilevel
Listening for grammatical cues for active and passive voice such as by
in passive voice
Speaking in active and passive voice to describe real life events
Reading of a real news article for specific grammar content
Breaking down examples, coming up with examples of active and
passive voice
Introduce passive versus active voice via PowerPoint/Google slides
(link to Google slides). Have printed version of slides for students.
While going over active voice, have students share examples using the
formula on slide #1. The examples should use whichever tense the
class just went over (past/present/future). Have students write examples
down (for activity later).
Have students get into pairs/small groups and guess what the passive
voice looks like, what it is used for, and some examples.

Go over when passive voice is used. Connect back to any examples

students mentioned previously (S#3).
S#4-5: Practicing forming How to form passive voice (S#4 +5). Have students try and change
passive voice (R, W) their active voice sentences from before into passive voice. Model on
board (active voice examplepassive voice example).

Have students write both sentences on the board and label the parts of
each (agent/doer, verb, subject). Have students check their neighbors
work. Address any questions students have.
Application
S#6-8: A real news article (R, Offer more examples of when passive voice is used instead of active
W, S, L) voice (S#6-7). Introduce the article on Steve Jobs by asking students if
they have an iPhone or any apple products. Have students read the
article (individually, pairs, or groups) and circle instances of active
voice and underline instances of passive voice.
 Go over the article as a class, labeling the parts of the examples
students bring up.
Assessment
S#9: News script activity (R, Have students get into pairs. Hand out charade strips (Appendix A) to 1
W) student in each pair. Student with card will act out the action on the
card while their partner guesses what is happening. The guessing
partner must write a passive sentence explaining what is happening (as
if they were reporting the news).

When students are ready, have each pair come up and act as if they are
reporting the news (i.e. acting partner does the charade action while
guessing partner sits facing the audience and reading what they wrote
about event).

Ex: Hit by a car while riding a bike

Closing
S#10-11: Homework and exit Assign Homework. Go over sample news script. Students will go home
slip (W) and write down, in passive voice, some real life event in their life. The
event can be as mundane as the sample. They must write a one
paragraph news report about the event (5 minutes worth). They will
share that next class.

Have students write on a sheet of paper 1 active sentence and 1 passive

sentence about a certain topic (should be humorous and relevant to
what has gone on in the class).

Exit slip ex: Duc was injured by the falling mango. The mango fell
from the tree and hit Duc.
Technology/Materials
PowerPoint slides (link to google slide)
Board/screen
Markers
Printouts: slides and news article
Charade strips (Appendix A)

Notes
For lower level students, use
visual charade cards.
 Appendix A

Hit by car while riding a bike

Burned by hot stove

Chosen as winner of gameshow

Being eaten by a monster

Being chased by a dog

Stung by a bee

Followed by a stranger

Slowly being frozen by the snow

Being selected President of the

United States

Struck by lightning