Active and Passive Voice Lesson Plan: Conventions of Standard English

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Active and Passive Voice, and supports the standard of forming and using verbs in the active and passive voice. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display the following sentences:

The cat knocked over the glass of water.

The glass of water was knocked over by the cat. 

Ask students:

  • How are these sentences different?
  • Which sentence sounds more clear? Why?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Active and Passive Voice topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “In Depth” or “Language.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Students take the Active and Passive Voice Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about active and passive voice while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a tutorial explaining how to use active voice when writing. 
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying pros and cons of using active and passive voice in different situations. Use examples to support your thinking. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a sorting game where players determine whether a statement uses active or passive voice. 

More to Explore   

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of conventions of standard English with these topics: Prepositional Phrases, Subject and Predicate, and Verbs and their Objects.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Active and Passive Voice, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1d, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.3a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4