Speaking:
News Report: Passive in Action
Grouping:
Time:
Pairs → Small groups
15 minutes
Aim
Students will create and report news stories using passive voice in various tenses.
Materials
• News headlines (e.g., A famous painting has been stolen!).
• Sentence prompts with missing verbs (e.g., A valuable artifact ___ (steal) last night).
Preparation
• Prepare a list of news headlines.
• Create a worksheet with sentence prompts requiring passive transformation.
Activity Breakdown
1. Each pair chooses a news headline.
2. They create a short news report using passive structures.
3. They practice and present their report to the class.
Instructions
1. Choose a news headline.
2. Complete the missing verb forms in passive voice.
3. Write a short news report (5 sentences).
4. Practice with your partner.
5. Present your news report to the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Does the passive focus on the action or the doer?” (The action).
• “Does was stolen mean it happened in the past?” (Yes).
Examples
• A famous painting has been stolen from the museum.
• The suspect was seen near the crime scene.
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students add interviews using passive questions (When was it last seen?).
• Easier: Provide a structured template.
Error Correction
• Teacher writes incorrect sentences from students and elicits corrections.
Writing:
Passive Report
Grouping:
Time:
Individual → Peer review
20 minutes
Aim
Students will write a formal report using passive structures.
Materials
• A list of real-world events (e.g., A school policy change).
• A structured template for writing a report.
Preparation
• Provide a sample formal report using the passive.
Activity Breakdown
1. Students choose a formal topic (e.g., An event, a rule change).
2. They write a short report using passive structures.
3. They swap reports for peer review.
4. They revise their writing.
Instructions
1. Choose a real-world event to write about.
2. Write a short formal report using passive voice.
3. Swap with a partner and check for passive usage.
4. Give feedback and revise your writing.
5. Share a few reports with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Does passive make writing more formal?” (Yes).
• “Does passive focus on the action?” (Yes).
Examples
• The new policy was introduced last month.
• Several complaints have been received about the change.
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students write a news article using passive.
• Easier: Provide sentence stems.
Error Correction
• Teacher highlights errors and asks students to self-correct.
Listening:
Passive Detective
Grouping:
Time:
Pairs → Class discussion
15 minutes
Aim
Students will listen to a crime story and identify passive structures.
Materials
• A short audio clip about a mystery or crime story.
• A worksheet with gap-fill sentences requiring passive verb forms.
Preparation
• Choose an audio clip that contains several passive forms.
Activity Breakdown
1. Students listen to the story and write down passive sentences.
2. They complete a gap-fill worksheet using passive forms.
3. They discuss the case using passive voice.
Instructions
1. Listen to the mystery story.
2. Write down any passive verbs you hear.
3. Complete the gap-fill worksheet with correct passive forms.
4. Discuss with a partner: What happened? Who was involved?
5. Share your theory with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “Does the passive focus on who did the action?” (No).
• “Is was stolen active or passive?” (Passive).
Examples
• The painting was stolen at midnight.
• A suspect has been arrested by the police.
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students write their own detective story using the passive.
• Easier: Provide a word bank with passive verb forms.
Error Correction
• Teacher plays the audio again and reviews passive forms with the class.
Reading:
From Active to Passive
Grouping:
Time:
Individual → Pairs
15 minutes
Aim
Students will rewrite active sentences into passive voice in different tenses.
Materials
• A short news article with active voice sentences.
• A worksheet with active sentences for transformation.
Preparation
• Select an article with clear active-voice sentences.
Activity Breakdown
1. Students read the news article and underline active verbs.
2. They rewrite the sentences in passive voice.
3. They compare answers with a partner.
Instructions
1. Read the article and underline active verbs.
2. Rewrite each active sentence in passive voice.
3. Check your answers with a partner.
4. Compare different possible passive structures.
5. Share your final version with the class.
Concept Checking Questions
• “In the passive, does the object become the subject?” (Yes).
• “Can all verbs be passive?” (No, only transitive verbs).
Examples
• Active: The government announced new policies.
• Passive: New policies were announced by the government.
Extensions/Varations
• Harder: Students rewrite an entire paragraph into passive.
• Easier: Provide sentence starters.
Error Correction
• Teacher reviews difficult sentences and elicits corrections.