"This Land is Your Land"

Objectives:

• The learner will define lesson vocabulary.

• The learner will identify the past and present continuous tenses in speech and song.

• The learner will write sentences using the present and past continuous tenses with 100 percent accuracy.

• The learner will complete a WebQuest about America's experience with the Great Depression and the Dustbowl.

• The learner will sing "This Land is Your Land" and demonstrate comprehension of the song's meaning.

Duration:

    4 hours

Materials:

• Computer work station

• CD player

• "This Land is Your Land," by Woody Guthrie (cassette or CD)

• "This Land is Your Land" lyrics

• "This Land is Your Land" vocabulary sheet

• "This Land is Your Land" WebQuest

• "This Land is Your Land" WebQuest worksheet

• White board and markers

Activities:       

1. Teacher tells learners that they will listen to a popular American song to help teach the past and present continuous tenses. Learners will also learn about a very important time in American history called the "Great Depression."

2. Teacher introduces continuous tenses by writing the terms on the board with an example of each. "Continuous" is then defined as action that goes on and on for a period of time in the past, present or future.  Teacher gives examples of the present continuous tense by walking around the room saying, "I am walking (in the present for a period of time)," mimicking driving and saying, "I am driving (in the present for a period of time), pointing to a learner and saying, "I am looking (in the present for a period of time)." Teacher asks learners to identify the structure of the continuous tense (a form of "to be" plus a verb with an "ing" ending.) Teacher uses think-pair-share to give learners the chance to change "I am walking," "I am driving" and "I am looking" to the past continuous tenses. 

3. Teacher allows for independent practice by writing a list of verbs on the board next to a list of proper nouns and personal pronouns. Learners mix and match any three pairs, writing three sentences in each tense. Sentences can be as long or short as they like, but learners are encouraged to make the sentences as long as they can. Learners then share their list with the person on their left, who reads and helps correct any mistakes. Teacher provides assistance where necessary. Learners read their sentences aloud. 

4. Teacher distributes "This Land is Your Land" vocabulary sheet and defines terms. Learners practice pronunciation, first as a class, then in pairs, and again as a class.

5. Teacher introduces "This Land is Your Land" WebQuest and distributes "This Land is Your Land" WebQuest worksheet, explaining the directions and giving a brief background of the history of the period and of Woody Guthrie's role during the depression years. Learners complete the WebQuest; teacher assists where necessary.

6. Learners discuss the WebQuest as a class and compare answers.  

7. Learners pronounce vocabulary again, then listen to "This Land is Your Land, " putting a checkmark beside each vocabulary word as they hear it. 

8. Teacher distributes p.2 of the lyrics sheet and assigns learner pairs. As the CD plays a second time, learners fill in the blanks on their lyrics sheet with the help of their vocabulary sheet, and underline the passages in the past continuous tense. Taking two lines at a time, learners read aloud the completed lyrics, citing the past continuous passages where applicable. Teacher plays the CD again, allowing learners to check their work. Teacher distributes p.2, the completed lyrics page, for learners to compare with their work.

9. Class sings "This Land is Your Land" with the help of the lyrics sheet.  Repeat if class desires.

10. Teacher refers to the "Dustbowl Diary" portion of the WebQuest. Teacher introduces the diary as an example of how Americans speak everyday. Learners read the diary by taking turns, identifying the sentences in the past and present continuous tenses as they go. Teacher allows time for feedback, answering grammatical and historical questions as needed.

Assessment:

Teacher monitors verbal and written responses of individual learners, evaluates all written work and WebQuest.