Tenses Tic-Tac-Toe

Level: A1-A2, A2+ (adaptable for higher levels)

Aim: to practise Past Simple – regular and irregular verbs

Materials: whiteboard and whiteboard markers or a power point slide

A list of 9 regular and irregular verbs is written on the board next to a 3×3 grid. Each field is labeled with one number (1-9). Students are divided into 2 groups and each group is assigned a symbol (e.g. stars against hearts). Students take turns, choose the field, i.e. the corresponding verb, say and write the past simple form and make sentences using past simple (positive and negative). A representative of the group that will start the activity chooses an item, says the answer and writes it on the board. If it is correct the group wins the field whose number corresponds to the number of the item and marks the field with its symbol. If they make a mistake, the other group takes their turn and has to correct the mistake. Once the correct answer is given the verb is to be used in a sentence. It is also important to stress that each turn has to be taken by a different student. The group who succeeds in placing three of their symbols in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row wins the game. The activity can be easily adapted to practise vocabulary and speaking skills (or as a follow-up: tell a story using the sentences created)