Funky Ed Teacher Guide The Funky -ed Verb Hunt
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade Level
4th Grade
Objective
Students will identify and correct incorrect regularizations of irregular verbs (e.g., 'sleeped' to 'slept') in writing.
Duration
45-50 Minutes
Materials
Lesson Slides & Video
Editor's Desk Worksheet
Red Pens (Crucial!)
Poster Paper
Instructional Sequence
1. Warm-up: The "Ouch" Paragraph
5 MIN
Project the warm-up slide. Read the paragraph aloud. Ask students: "Does anything here make your ears feel a little itchy?"
"I builded a fort. I keeped my promise. I sleeped all day."
Key Question: Why did the writer add '-ed'? (They are following the standard rule for regular verbs like 'walked' or 'talked').
2. Video: The Funky -ed
5 MIN
Watch the Khan Academy video. Focus on how these "funky" verbs still want to make the /t/ sound, but they do it with a 't' instead of an 'ed'.
Teaching Tip: Pause at 1:28 and do a "Call and Response." You say "Not sleeped!" and students shout "But slept!"
3. Main Activity: Editor's Desk
20 MIN
Distribute the Editor's Desk Worksheet.
Hand out Red Pens to every student. This is important for the "Editor" persona!
Students must find the 7 "regularized" errors in the letter, cross them out, and write the correct irregular form above them.
Then, they rewrite the final paragraph correctly at the bottom.
Answer Key: Editor's Desk
builded built
keeped kept
leaved left
sleeped slept
spended spent
losed lost
leaped leapt
Extension: "Don't Say This!" Posters
Students pick one "Funky -ed" verb and create a warning poster for other students. It should feature a large "X" through the incorrect version and a gold star or trophy for the correct version.
X builded
✓ built
Editors Desk Worksheet Editor Name
Date
Editor's Desk
"Correct the mistakes before we go to press!"
Editor's Assignment
Read the letter below. Find the 7 verbs that have the wrong past-tense ending.
Use your red pen to cross out the mistake and write the correct "Funky -ed" form above it.
Rewrite the corrected version of the letter at the bottom.
Dear Mom,
Yesterday was so busy! I builded a massive fort in the backyard. I keeped all my secret snacks inside. I leaved my socks in the grass by accident.
When it got dark, I sleeped in the fort with my flashlight. I spended all my energy digging the moat. I think I losed my favorite hat somewhere near the trees. I leaped over the fence to find it, but I couldn't!
Love,
The Final Corrected Draft Funky Ed Slides Irregular Verbs
The "Funky -ed"
Grammar Detectives: Grade 4
Ear Test: Does this sound right?
"Yesterday, I builded a giant fort. I keeped all my secret toys inside. Then, I sleeped all afternoon."
What's wrong with these words? Why did the writer use them?
The Regular Rule
Present Tense
Walk
Past Tense
Walked
Most verbs are Regular. We just add -ed to the end.
But some verbs are Funky...
Watch: The Funky -ed
Khan Academy Grammar
Embedded media
Listen for the /t/ sound at the end of the past tense words!
Not this, but THAT!
The Teacher Says...
Sleeped
Builded
Losed
Leaved
The Class Shouts!
Slept!
Built!
Lost!
Left!
Your Mission: Editor's Desk
01
Grab your Red Pen and the worksheet.
02
Find all 7 "Funky" errors in Charlie's letter.
03
Rewrite the letter correctly as a Pro Editor!
Verb Villain Poster Template Verb Villain Alert!
A Guide to the "Funky -ed" Irregular Verbs
Never Say...
Wrong
Write the incorrect verb here...
It breaks the "Funky -ed" pattern!
Always Say...
Correct
Write the correct verb here...
That's the funky way to say it!
Your Task:
Pick one irregular verb from today's list. Fill in the boxes and draw a picture for each side!
