Make phrases in past tense using irregular verbs 1  

Paper, pens or pencil (for adult only), photos of events that have happened during the day (optional)

See this list of common irregular past tense verbs for some examples. (http:en.commtap.org/content/common-irregular-past-tense-verbs)

1. Make a visual timetable by writing or drawing each past day's activities on a board/sheet so that the child can see what happened. It can bring the past tense more alive if you use photos of activities that did actually happen on the previous day or earlier in the current day.

2. Ask 'What did you do here?' as you point to a picture/photo. The child may say 'Rided my bike.' You can confirm with 'Yes, you rode your bike.' Add emphasis to the correct form of the verb. You can invite the child to say rode.

Lotto boards with pictures of activities the children have done recently - say four or six pictures per board. One board per child.

Matching set of picture cards.

If the boards are in black and white and the picture cards are in colour, this makes the game more rewarding.

You can vary how you play this game - this is one way you can do it.

For the first game, you can be the caller, for subsequent games a child can have a go.

1. The caller takes a card. Ask the child to complete this sentence at each turn (using the verb in their picture): 'Yesterday, I ...' (For example: 'Yesterday I rode my bike.'). You could use a question, such as "What did you do yesterday?", "What did Max do yesterday?"

2. The child who's got it says they have got it, and they get the card;

3. Continue until all the boards are covered up.

Two matching sets of pictures of activities the children have done recently - say 20 cards in all.

1. Turn all the cards face down;

2. Each player takes it in turns to turn over two cards;

3. For each card they turn over they say what they (or another child) did in the picture;

4. If the cards are the same they keep them, otherwise they turn them back over;

5. Continue until there are no more cards left.

See this list of common irregular past tense verbs for some examples. (http:en.commtap.org/content/common-irregular-past-tense-verbs)

1. Ask the child to act out a verb from your list of irregular verbs (e.g. 'Simon says run').

2. Ask the child what they have just done after each action and encourage them to remember to use the correct past tense for each word (e.g. 'I ran/ drank/ slept/ fell/ ate/ gave/ flew/ broke' etc.)

Paper, pens or pencil (for adult only)

See this list of common irregular past tense verbs for some examples. (http:en.commtap.org/content/common-irregular-past-tense-verbs)

1. Go round each person in the group including the adults asking them for two things they have already done that day;

2. For each person write their name on the sheet and a key word for each activity they have done along with a very rough picture to help the children remember what each person did;

3. Each person then takes it in turns to recall what one other person has done today - using the pictures to help them to remember.

Props to support a sequence of actions you will perform (optional)

See this list of common irregular past tense verbs for some examples. (http:en.commtap.org/content/common-irregular-past-tense-verbs)

1. Ask the child to describe a sequence that you carry out, as you are doing it. You could use props such as food to buy from a shop, etc. For example, you drive a car and buy some milk. Include as many of your irregular verbs as possible in your story but start with only two things in the sequence and build it up. The child should provide the commentary (e.g. 'You're driving a car' etc.)

2. After the action and commentary has finished, ask the child to tell it again but to talk about what has 'just happened'.

3. Encourage the use of the correct irregular past tenses (e.g. 'First you drove the car, then you bought some milk').