ELL Lessons: Level 3
3.1.1 - Passive: Present Simple
Ben and Moby discuss the problem of endangered species and what is done to help save them. As students learn about the animals, they also learn to identify and practice the passive voice in the present simple.
Grammar Skills:
Passive: Present Simple
3.1.2 - Passive: Past Simple
Ben decides to join a long line of famous inventors. He and Moby discuss some inventions and the problems that were solved as a result. As Ben and Moby discover that being an inventor isn't easy, our students learn the passive in the past simple.
Grammar Skills:
Passive: Past Simple
3.1.3 - Passive: Future and Modals
Ben and Moby create a comic book about life in the future. In it they describe everything from how vacations might be spent, to the ways music will be played. While the two friends explore these ideas, students are introduced to the Passive Voice in the Future and with different Modals.
Grammar Skills:
Passive: Future and Modals
3.1.4 - Passive: Progressives
Ben and Moby are visiting Uncle Joe’s farm. While they help Uncle Joe with farm chores, our students learn about the Passive Voice in the Present and Past Progressive.
Grammar Skills:
Passive: Progressive Tenses
3.1.5 - Review: Passive
Ben and Moby are deciding which music to download to Ben’s new music player. As they listen to different types of music, our students review the Passive Voice in Present and Past Simple, Present and Past Progressive, Future Tenses and Modals.
Grammar Skills:
Passive (Review)
3.2.1 - Conjunctions
While visiting a carnival, a fortune teller uses a crystal ball to tell Ben about his future. While Ben’s future achievements are impressive, Moby’s are even more so. Who is this mysterious fortune teller? Students connect the dots to find out, while also learning about connecting words, or conjunctions.In the lesson plan, students will learn and use new vocabulary in multiple contexts. They will demonstrate an understanding of the different types of conjunctions, and listen for the correct conjunctions in a cloze activity while watching the movie.
Grammar Skills:
Conjunctions
3.2.2 - Negative Prefixes
Where is Moby? The clever robot hides by blending into Ben’s bedroom. Upon revealing himself, the two friends explore camouflage—what it is and why being invisible helps both predators and prey survive. What unusual animal changes color with its mood? Students find out and discover negative prefixes, too.In the lesson plan, students will explore, share, compare, and summarize the new content-specific vocabulary about camouflage in a word map activity. Students will also identify the negative prefixes used in the movie.
Grammar Skills:
Negative Prefixes
3.2.3 - Prefixes
Summer has gone by quickly and Ben and Moby return to school tomorrow. From multi-colored notebooks to prewashed jeans, Ben has gone overboard with his back-to-school shopping! Students review Ben’s purchases and prefixes, too.In the lesson plan, students will sort new vocabulary words into categories in an open word sort. Students will also identify the prefixes in the movie and classify them on a chart, and explain a word with a prefix in a creative presentation.
Grammar Skills:
Prefixes II
3.2.4 - Suffixes
Ben is suffering from a painful tooth. Is it a cavity? He is fearful that it might be. Luckily Moby comes with Ben to the dentist to offer his support. Students discover that a visit to the dentist can be painless as is learning about suffixes! In the lesson plan, students will participate in a Story Impression activity which integrates new vocabulary words. Students will then identify the suffixes in the movie and classify them on a chart, and predict what they think will happen in the movie based on their own background knowledge.
Grammar Skills:
Suffixes
3.2.5 - Review: Affixes and Conjunctions
It’s stormy out and Moby is unhappy. But Ben convinces him that there are endless ways to have fun indoors, too. The friends decide to play a charades game that is both fun and educational. As students play alongside Ben and Moby, they review the unit’s grammatical points.In this lesson plan, students will sort new vocabulary words according to parts of speech in a closed word sort. They will also identify the affixes (prefixes and suffixes) and conjunctions in the movie. Finally, students will write and present a dialogue using the theme of the movie, Fun and Games.
Grammar Skills:
Prefixes (Review)
Suffixes (Review)
Negative Prefixes (Review)
Conjunctions (Review)
3.3.1 - Present Perfect
It’s Ben’s birthday, but Moby has forgotten! At least that’s what Ben thinks. What does Moby have up his sleeve? Students find out while learning about present perfect simple.
Grammar Skills:
Present Perfect Simple
3.3.2 - Past Simple/Present Perfect
Panting and puffing, Moby follows Ben up a mountain. Ben points out that it’s no Mount Everest. But, as Ben shares his knowledge of the tallest mountain in the world, students practice the present perfect and past simple.
Grammar Skills:
Present Perfect and Past Simple
3.3.3 - Present Perfect Progressive
Someone has been playing tricks on Ben and his friends, but who is it? Magnifying glass in hand, Ben plays the part of the detective. Will he crack the mystery? Students find out as they solve the mystery of present perfect progressive.
Grammar Skills:
Perfect Progressive
3.3.4 - Past Perfect
Ben’s day has gone from bad to worse! It all began when he had overslept. As Moby listens to Ben recap one mishap after another, students listen for the past perfect tense.
Grammar Skills:
Past Perfect Simple
3.3.5 - Review: Perfect Tenses
Moby plans to sell a toy train at Ben’s garage sale. But when Ben expresses interest in it, Moby offers it to him for free. As Ben gives a brief history of trains, students review the present and past perfect.
Grammar Skills:
Perfect Tenses (Review)
3.4.1 - Gerunds
“Keep pedaling!” encourages Ben as Moby grunts and groans his way up a big hill. At the top, Moby wonders “What’s the point?” As Ben reminds him of the benefits of exercise and how our heart works, students listen for gerunds. It’s not until they zoom downhill that Moby truly understands why he went through all that hard work.
Grammar Skills:
Gerunds
3.4.2 - Prepositions and Gerunds
Ben and Moby are rowing merrily along when out of the pond jumps a cute, little fish. Moby wants to keep it as a pet, but Ben explains that taking an animal out of its natural habitat can lead to problems. As Moby learns about the pond and food chains, students listen for prepositions and gerunds.
Grammar Skills:
Prepositions + Gerunds
3.4.3 - Infinitives
What’s the probability that Moby will get one of the very few orange gumballs in the gumball machine? Ben calculates and discovers it’s not very likely. Moby’s only hope is that some of the green gumballs disappear. Will that happen? Watch to find out and practice infinitives along the way.
Grammar Skills:
Infinitives
3.4.4 - Gerunds and Infinitives
Moby forgot to prepare an act for the talent show, and it’s almost his turn on stage! What will he do? Tune in to find out, and to review gerunds and infinitives.
Grammar Skills:
Gerunds and Infinitives
3.4.5 - Review: Gerunds, Infinitives
Everyone likes the idea of baking a cake, but no one wants to help. No one helps Ben shop. No one helps Ben bake. And, no one helps Ben clean up. But when it comes to eating the cake, suddenly everyone wants to help!
Grammar Skills:
Gerunds, Infinitives (Review)
3.5.1 - First Conditional and Time Clauses
Ben is trying to paint Moby’s portrait, but Moby won’t stay still! If he can just get Moby to focus on something, then maybe he has a chance. Listen for first conditional and time clauses as Ben shares his knowledge of art history with Moby. This does the trick! The big question is… what style is Ben painting Moby? Watch to find out.
Grammar Skills:
First Conditional and Time Clauses
3.5.2 - Second Conditional
Tired of shoveling snow, Ben and Moby imagine living on a tropical island with its warm, gentle breezes and nothing to do but relax all day, drinking out of coconuts and swimming in the sea. If only it weren’t a dream! As you soak up the tropical sun with Ben and Moby, listen for second conditionals.
Grammar Skills:
Second Conditional
3.5.3 - Third Conditional
As they explore an ancient Egypt museum exhibit, Ben and Moby imagine what life was like at the time of pyramids, pharaohs, and mummies. Watch to find out why mummies and Moby don’t mix. And, practice the third conditional along the way.
Grammar Skills:
Third Conditional
3.5.4 - Wish and Hope
Which toy plane will Ben and Moby enter in the contest? They experiment with each but in the end, Moby comes up with a creative solution. Zoom in on this movie and practice the different forms and meanings of wish and hope.
Grammar Skills:
Wish and Hope
3.5.5 - Review: Conditionals
Fighter the dog digs up a magic lantern. Will Ben and Moby get three wishes and if so, will they use their wishes wisely? Tune in to find out and to brush up on the conditional tenses.
Grammar Skills:
Review: Conditionals, Wish and Hope
3.6.1 - Relative Pronouns and Used To
Lights! Camera! Action! Ben and Moby are filming a movie about their school for new students. The two are having so much fun reminiscing about their school days, that they don’t realize the mistake they’ve made. What is it? Watch to find out, and be sure to listen for relative pronouns and the phrase “used to.”
Grammar Skills:
Relative Pronouns
Used To
3.6.2 - Reported Speech Statements
Ben’s retelling of the classic fairytale as a puppet show has some funny twists and a surprise ending provided by Moby. Enjoy the show as you listen carefully for reported speech.
Grammar Skills:
Reported Speech: Statements
3.6.3 - Reported Speech Questions
A true friend, Ben comes over to help Nikki who is suffering from a whopper of a cold. At first she is grateful for his efforts, but soon her demands spin out of control, leaving Ben feeling exhausted and unappreciated… until the very end. Take note of the questions and demands written by Nikki and reported by Ben.
Grammar Skills:
Reported Speech: Questions
Reported Speech: Commands
3.6.4 - Idioms
From shaking his robot leg to zipping his robot lips, Moby takes Ben’s words a little too literally! This hilarious movie featuring idioms is sure to crack you up… well, not literally!
Grammar Skills:
Idioms
3.6.5 - Review: Unit 6
Glow-in-the-dark wallpaper is just what the old tree house needs to make it a fun place to hang out again. But it’s trickier than it sounds. Ben and Moby will need to use their geometry smarts to calculate out how much wall paper they’ll need to make the tree house glow.
Grammar Skills:
Review: Relative Pronouns
Review: Used to
Review: Reported Speech
Review: Idioms
