What’s your favorite way of practicing the present progressive (present continuous)? I’ve tried many methods, from describing pictures or movies to guessing games, but my favorite activity involves acting. I like it because it’s easy to prepare and lots of fun for my students. Our Spotlight lesson on Sprout English this week was Riding the Train: Present Progressive Reading, so I thought it was a great time to share this activity with you. I also had our designer whip up some verb cards so you wouldn’t have to make your own. Feel free to print them out when you try this activity! There is also a blank page of cards for you to add other verbs (or get your students to make their own verb cards). Enjoy!
Verb Cards
Method & Variations
Have a student come up to the front of the class, choose a card, and act out the action. Ask the class, “What is he/she doing?” Students must call out their guesses using the present progressive tense (e.g., “He is dancing!”, “She’s reading!” etc.).
If your students are shy, divide the class into smaller groups (or even pairs) so that it’s less intimidating. Have them take turns acting out the verbs and guessing.
VARIATION 1: To make it more competitive, divide the class into two groups. Choose a student from either of the groups to act out the verb. Whoever guesses the action first gets a point for their group.
VARIATION 2: An alternative is to have one student from each group act out the same verb at the same time, and whichever group gets it first gets a point. (Be aware that the answers are shouted out quickly, so it’s often difficult to tell who gets the point.)
VARIATION 3: A final variation is to time the students. Set a timer for 15 seconds, and have one student from each group come up at the same time and act out as many verbs as their group can guess within that time. (Make sure the cards are shuffled into two different orders so one group can’t overhear the other group say the next answer.)
Related
- Try our reading lesson, Riding on the Train, to see the present progressive in context
- Find 65 Present Progressive (Continuous) lessons in our Grammar School, Library, and Conversation Station sections
- Simple Present Vs. Present Progressive - Grammar & Teaching Tips
- Simple Present Vs. Present Progressive – Grammar Worksheet
- Movie Poster Activity: Practicing the Simple Present & Present Progressive
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