Science fair week is the setting for this 5th grade verb tense story. Students fill ten blanks from a word bank of twelve phrases, such as has built, had forgotten, and will have presented. Time clues like since, by yesterday, and tomorrow point to the right form, and two phrases are extras. Two short sentences to write follow the story. The 3-page sheet addresses L.5.1.b and L.5.1.c. The answer key prints the completed story and names the distractors.
L.5.1.b
“Form and use the perfect (e.g., I had walked; I have walked; I will have walked) verb tenses.”
Every blank in Science Fair Prep and both Your Turn sentences use has, have, had, or will have with a past participle.
L.5.1.c
“Use verb tense to convey various times, sequences, states, and conditions.”
Time clues such as "For the past month," "By yesterday afternoon," and "by the time Friday afternoon arrives" decide which form fits each blank.
Twelve phrases in a table. Ten fit the story, and will work and finished are the two extras.
Three paragraphs about the class projects. Leo builds a space shuttle model, Sarah and Mia forget the Mars rover pictures on their poster, and Mr. Davis eats three space-themed cupcakes.
Students write a sentence about an imaginary homework assignment with had finished and a sentence about next year with will have learned.
Time clue hunt
Before students fill any blanks, have them underline every time clue in the story. The blanks then become a matching job.
Tricky pair
Had finished and finished both sound right in the poster sentence. Point to "By yesterday afternoon," which calls for the had form.
Take-home page
Most students finish the story in about 15 minutes, and the two Your Turn sentences are quick to check. Send it home the night after your lesson on these tenses.
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