FORM I
Weeks 1 and 2: Topic 4.0 Expressing Personal and Group Routine Habits
(verb tense: simple present tense)
Weeks 3 and 4: Topic 6.0 Expressing Likes and Dislikes (verb tense: simple present tense)
Week 5: Topic 5 Expressing Ongoing Activities (verb tense: present continuous tense)
Teachers’ notes: In the 2005 English Language Syllabus for Secondary Schools Form I, the first topic is Listening to and Understanding Simple Texts about a Variety of Events and Situations. I do not think this should be taught the first week of class in Form I because the sentence structure and patterns are written in past tense, for example, “There was an accident… The guest of honor was…” I believe one should first teach the simple present tense. For that reason, I believe the teacher should begin with subtopic 4.0 Expressing Personal and Group Routine Habits, which are written and spoken in the simple past tense.
After subtopic 4.0, the teacher should continue with the simple present tense by teaching subtopic 6.0 Expressing Likes and Dislikes.
After subtopic 6.0, the teacher should advance to topic 5 Expressing Ongoing Activities, which are written and spoken in the present continuous tense.
From the English Language Syllabus for Secondary Schools Forms I-IV 2005:
Topic 4.0 Expressing Personal and Group Routine Habits
Subtopic 4.1 Expressing Personal Routine/Habits
Specific Objectives | Patterns/ Structures | Situations | Vocabulary Phrases | Teaching/ Learning Strategies | Teaching/ Learning Materials | Assessment | Periods |
The student should be able to talk about his/her home routine/habits | This is what I do every day. I wake up early at 6:30 a.m. I brush my teeth. I take a bath. I prepare breakfast. | Home, school | Routine, habitual, rotate, borrow. Does he… He does not… | 1.The teacher should show pictures expressing habits of everyday activities by talking about his/her daily routine. 2.Students to imitate and practice by giving an account of their daily activities. 3.The teacher to guide students to write about their daily routine through controlled, guided activities. | Pictures on daily routine/ habits | Is the student able to talk about his/her home routine/habits? | 8 |
WEEK 1/ PERIOD 1
Simple Present Tense
Teacher writes on the board:
Simple Present Tense = actions or situations (mahali) that do not change often.
Teacher says: We use the simple present tense to talk or write about actions or situations (mahali) that do not change often.
Teacher writes on the board: Actions or situations that do not change often = habits (tabia) and routines (utaratibu)
Teacher says: These actions or situations that do not change often include habits and routines.
Teacher says: We use words or phrases in the simple present tense to remind us that we are talking about things that happen often.
Teacher writes: Words or phrases for simple present tense:
Often | Everyday | From time to time | Usually | Each morning/afternoon/evening |
Every morning… |
Teacher says: Can you tell me what these words or phrases are in Kiswahili? (DO NOT WRITE THE ANSWERS UNTIL THE STUDENTS EITHER ANSWER OR TELL YOU THEY CANNOT ANSWER.)
Often Mara kwa mara | Everyday Kila iku | From time to time ??? | Usually Kwa kawaida | Each morning/afternoon/evening Kila asubuhi/mchana/jioni |
Every morning… Kila asubuhi… |
Teacher writes the words under the English.
Teacher says: Here are some example sentences that use simple present tense and talk about habits (tabia) and routines (utaratibu)
Teacher writes:
1. Rehema wakes up every morning.
2. Usually she brushes her teeth.
3. Often she prepares tea for her family.
Teacher says: Can you tell me what these sentences mean in Kiswahili?
Teacher writes the sentences in Kiswahili after students have translated or tried to translate.
1. Rehema wakes up every morning. ________________________
2. Usually she brushes her teeth. __________________________
3. Often she prepares tea for her family. _____________________
ACTIVITY 1.1
Teacher tells the students to form a group of three people.
a. One student asks the questions below.
b. The second student speaks the answers.
c. The third student writes the answers.
Teacher writes the questions on the board:
1. What do you do every morning? Describe five activities that you do every morning.
Example: Every morning I brush my teeth.
2. Begin each answer with some of the words or phrases that show these activities are habits (usually, often)
3. Remember that your verbs will NOT have an –s ending
Example: I brush my teeth. (NOT I brushes my teeth.)
NOTE: If students do not have the English vocabulary to describe some activities, then write them on the board in English and Kiswahili, such as
I brush my teeth. Napigamswaki
BUT LET THE STUDENTS TRY FIRST!
__________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK 1/ PERIOD 2
Teacher asks students to tell their answers. Write down students’ answers beginning with the verb. (See examples below)
Teacher’s note: A note on the difference between the word “routine” and “habits.” A routine is a series of habits or many habits. A person may brush her teeth, comb her hair, feed the cows, get dressed, etc. All of these together become the routine of the person. Each single activity is a habit or activity that is done frequently.
Teacher may write (or whatever the students say) – Do not write the subject “I”. Just begin with the verb:
Brush my teeth
Comb my hair
Prepare the tea
Iron my clothes
Wash clothes
Sweep the ground
Mop the floor
Bathe myself
Bathe my little sister/my little brother
Dress my little sister/my little brother (This means to put clothes on the sister or brother.)
Get dressed (OR put on my clothes)
Feed the chickens/cows/goats
Carry water from the village faucet (bomba)
Buy milk (maziwa)/kerosene (maftataa)/matches (kibariti)/soap (sabuni)
ACTIVITY 1.2
A. Teacher tells the students to form a group of about five or six students. The teacher gives each group a slip of paper that describes an everyday habit or activity (ex. Brush my teeth, comb my hair). When the teacher calls on that group, they must perform or act the habit described. The group that has “sweep the floor” must stand and pretend to sweep the floor.
B. Then the teacher calls on another group to identify the habit. They answer using the subject “I.”
________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK 1/PERIOD 3
Teacher says: We use simple present tense to describe actions or situations (mahali). When do these actions or situations happen?
Answer: every day or often
Teacher asks: What words or phrases do we use to show that these actions happen every day or often?
Answer:
Often | Everyday | From time to time | Usually | Each morning/afternoon/evening |
Every morning… |
Teacher asks: What are three actions that happen every day or often?
(Answers may be any of the following:
Brush my teeth
Comb my hair
Prepare the tea
Iron my clothes
Wash clothes
Sweep the ground
Mop the floor
Bathe myself
Bathe my little sister/my little brother
Dress my little sister/my little brother (This means to put clothes on the sister or brother.)
Get dressed (OR put on my clothes)
Feed the chickens/cows/goats
Carry water from the village faucet (bomba)
Teacher says: In simple present tense, the verb ending changes when we change the subject.
Teacher writes on board:
Example: 1. Every morning I prepare the tea.
2. Every morning he prepares the tea.
3. Every morning she prepares the tea.
Teacher asks: What is the verb in these examples? (What word shows action?)
Answer: prepare
Teacher asks: How does the word “prepare” change in sentences 2 and 3?
Answer: It has an “s” at the end of the word.
Teacher points to the first sentence and repeats it: Every morning I prepare the tea.
Students repeat
Teacher points to the second sentence and repeats it: Every morning he prepares the tea.
Students repeat (Make sure that students make an “s” sound at the end of “prepare”)
Teacher points to the third sentence and repeats it: Every morning she prepares the tea.
Students repeat (Make sure that students make an “s” sound at the end of “prepare”)
Teacher writes a fourth sentence
4. Every morning Rehema _____________ the tea.
5. Every morning Masota _____________ the tea.
Teacher asks: What word should we write in the blanks?
Answer: prepares (make sure students say the “s” sound at the end of the word “prepare”)
Activity 1.3
A. Teacher writes the list of habits here:
Iron the clothes
Wash the clothes
Sweep the ground
Mop the floor
Get dressed
Feed the chickens/cows/goats
Carry water from the village faucet (bomba)
Buy milk (maziwa)/kerosene (maftataa)/matches (kibariti)/soap (sabuni)
B. Teacher says: Write a sentence for each of these habits. Use “he,” “she,” “Mary” or “Masota” for each sentence.
Example: Masota mops the floor.
Teacher’s note: If a verb ends in “s,” “z,” “sh” or “J” sounds, we add “es” to the verb. Examples: “Wash” becomes “washes” as in “He washes the clothes.”
C. After students have completed their sentences, teacher says, “Now you will make your sentences by speaking. Do NOT look at the sentences you have written. I will point to a habit, and you will say the sentence. You must use “he” “she,” “Mary” or “Masota” for each sentence. Make sure you say the “s” at the end of the verb.
Answers:
Mary (or Masota or he or she) irons the clothes.
Mary (or Masota or he or she) washes the clothes.
Mary (or Masota or he or she)sweeps the ground.
Mary (or Masota or he or she) mops the floor.
Mary (or Masota or he or she)gets dressed .
Mary (or Masota or he or she)feeds the chickens/cows/goats.
Mary (or Masota or he or she)carries water from the village faucet (bomba).
Mary (or Masota or he or she)buys milk (maziwa)/kerosene (maftataa)/matches (kibariti)/soap (sabuni).
__________________________________________________________________________WEEK 1/ PERIOD 4
Teacher says: We use simple present tense to describe actions or situations (mahali). When do these actions or situations happen?
Answer: every day or often
Teacher asks: What words or phrases do we use to show that these actions happen every day or often?
Answer:
Often | Everyday | From time to time | Usually | Each morning/afternoon/evening |
Every morning… |
Teacher says: Yesterday we wrote sentences with the subject “he,” “she,” “Mary,” and “Masota.” How do we change these sentences? Use “he” or “she” instead of “I.”
Teacher writes Students answer
I prepare the tea. He prepares the tea.
I wash the clothes. She washes the clothes.
I sweep the ground. He sweeps the ground.
I mop the floor. She mops the floor.
I feed the goats. He feeds the goats.
I carry water from the village faucet. She carries water from the village faucet.
I get dressed He gets dressed.
(MAKE SURE STUDENTS SAY THE “S” AT THE END OF THE VERB – prepares, washes, etc.
Teacher writes: I brush my teeth.
Teacher says: Now how do you change this sentence, using “he” or “she” instead of “I”? You will need to change the subject, the verb ending, and one more word.
Answer: He brushes his teeth.
Teacher says: What does the word “my” mean?
Answer: kwangu (changu, yangu, etc.)
Teacher says: How do you say “Kwake” for a boy?
Answer: his
Teacher says: How do you say “kwake” for a girl?
Answer: her
Teacher writes these sentences:
I comb my hair
I iron my clothes
I bathe my little sister/my little brother
I dress my little sister/my little brother (This means to put clothes on the sister or brother.)
I put on my clothes.
Teacher says: Now change these sentences ( by speaking). Do each sentence two times. Use “he” and then “she” as the subject. Change “my” to “his” (for a boy) and “her” for a girl.
Answers:
He combs his hair. She combs her hair.
He irons his clothes. She irons her clothes.
He bathes his little brother. She bathes her little brother.
He dresses his little brother. She dresses her little sister.
He puts on his clothes. She puts on her clothes.
________________________________________________________________________________________WEEK 1/PERIOD 5
Teacher says: We use simple present tense to describe actions or situations (mahali). When do these actions or situations happen?
Answer: every day or often
Teacher asks: What words or phrases do we use to show that these actions happen every day or often?
Answer:
Often | Everyday | From time to time | Usually | Each morning/afternoon/evening |
Every morning… |
Teacher says: Today we will introduce new habits. What is a habit?
Answer: An action that happens every day or often.
Teacher writes: At school, what do you do everyday?
Teacher says: I will put you into groups. Each group must write six habits that they do at school every day. You can write them in Kiswahili. We will then write them in English.
Possible answers may include
I listen to the teacher.
I write the lesson.
I do my homework.
I collect my books.
I talk to my friends.
I answer questions in my notebook.
I stand up when the teacher enters the room.
I sit down when the teacher tells me to sit.
I talk to friends.
Teacher writes the Kiswahili sentences from the students.
Teacher says: How do you say the first sentence in English?
(Teacher helps the students.)
Then teacher continues in the same way with each sentence.
Activity 1.5
A. Teacher tells the students to form a group of about five or six students. The teacher gives each group a slip of paper that describes an everyday habit or activity that students do AT SCHOOL . When the teacher calls on that group, they must perform or act the habit described. For example, the group that has “sit down then the teacher tells me” must have a teacher who tells the group to sit down and the others sit down.
B. Then the teacher calls on another group to identify the habit. They answer using the subject “I.”
C. Then the teacher calls on another group to change the sentence using the subject “he” or “she.”
