3.1.1 Passive Voice Lesson Plan

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, K-3

In the BrainPOP ELL movie, Endangered Species (L3U1L1), Ben and Moby visit the aquarium where they see some endangered species and discuss how people can help save them. In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades K-8, students discuss endangered animals as they practice the passive voice in the present simple through listening, speaking, and writing activities.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Listen to each other, and report, using the present simple passive.
  2. Use the present simple passive voice to answer questions based on the movie.
  3. Research and present information using passive voice.

Materials:

Vocabulary:

Academic Vocabulary:
Passive, active, present simple, third form of the verb, past participle
Species, endangered, endangered species, habitat, law, extinct
Fish, penguin, seal, harp seal, panda bear

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Family Chores. Write the following sentences on the board. Instruct the students to change these active sentences to passive. If necessary, model the first example (Food is bought by Mom.).

    Mom buys the food.
    Dad makes dinner.
    Robert washes the dishes.
    Susana and Maria clean the kitchen.
    Kim feeds the dogs.

    Next, have partners ask each other questions about their families’ chores. Have the listener take notes and then use the passive voice to report back to the class on his or her partner’s chores.
  2. The Movie. During a repeated viewing of the movie, use the Close-Viewing Questions Learning Strategy to help students listen and watch carefully to find answers to questions about the movie. Have students answer questions in the passive voice.
    Some suggested questions:
    a. Where are penguins found?
    b. When is a whole species extinct?
    c. Why are harp seals endangered?
    d. What can be done to help save endangered animals?
    e. Explain why penguins / harp seals / panda bears are endangered.
  3. Passive Voice Picture Prompts. Display the Penguin, Seal, Fish images and ask questions about each one using the passive voice. Encourage students to answer using the passive voice.
    For example: Which animals are found in arctic habitats? Why are they mentioned in the movie?

RELATED

BrainPOP ELL Movies
Music Genres (L3U1L5)

BrainPOP Movies
Extinction
Pandas
Dinosaurs

BrainPOP JR Movies
Extinct and Endangered Species
Rainforests
Arctic Habitats
Ocean Habitats
Freshwater Habitats

Filed as:  3-5, 3.1.1 - Passive: Present Simple, 6-8, BrainPOP ELL, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1a, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1d, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1e, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1b, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.7, K-3, Passive Voice, Verbs