Have You Done It Lesson Plan Have You Done It?
Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
Lesson Plan
Audience
Spanish-speaking Adults & Teens
Duration
90 Minutes
Objective
Identify and correctly use Present Perfect vs. Past Simple for past actions.
Why This Lesson?
Mastering the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses is fundamental for expressing past events and experiences accurately in English, allowing for more precise and natural communication in various contexts. For Spanish speakers, distinguishing "He hecho" vs "Hice" in an English context is a common hurdle that this lesson addresses directly.
Preparation Checklist
Review all generated slide decks and teacher scripts.
Print "Past Tense Practice" worksheets (1 per student).
Print Bingo cards (1 per student).
Ensure projector is functional for slide presentation.
Total prep time: ~15 minutes.
Lesson Sequence
10 min Warm Up
Two Truths and a Lie
Students write 3 past statements. Groups guess the lie. Focus on natural past tense usage.
15 min Direct Instr.
Introduction to Tenses
Use slide deck to compare Past Simple (specific) vs. Present Perfect (experience/ongoing). Focus on keywords like 'yesterday' vs 'ever'.
15 min Guided Read
Reading: Time Travelers
Identify examples of both tenses in context. Discuss why each was chosen by the author.
20 min Practice
Worksheet Practice
Individual completion of tense exercises. Class review using answer key to explain logic.
15 min Group Work
Story Chain
Collaborative storytelling. First sentence: Past Simple. Subsequent sentences: Choice of either tense to build the narrative.
10 min Game
Never Have I Ever Bingo
Reinforces life experiences using the "Have you ever..." structure. Fun, low-stakes practice.
5 min Review
Wrap Up & Q&A
Summary of main differences. Open floor for final questions.
Have You Done It Slides Have You Done It?
Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
Warm-Up: Two Truths and a Lie
Write 2 true statements and 1 lie about your past.
Share with a small group. Can they guess your lie?
Teacher Notes: Use this to get students comfortable with past tense verbs.
Our Goal Today!
Understand the difference between the Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses.
Use these tenses correctly to talk about past actions and experiences.
Communicate more clearly and confidently in English!
Past Simple: What Happened When?
Use
For actions completed at a specific time in the past.
Keywords
yesterday, last week, in 2020, ago, when I was young.
Examples
She visited Paris last year.
I ate breakfast an hour ago.
They finished their homework.
Present Perfect: Experiences
Use
Unspecified time in the past (experiences).
Started in the past and continue to now.
Recently completed with a result now.
Keywords
ever, never, already, yet, since, for, recently, so far.
Examples
Have you ever seen a whale?
I have lived here for five years.
She has already finished her book.
Simple vs. Perfect: Key Differences
Feature Past Simple Present Perfect Focus When it happened (specific) If it happened (experience) Time Finished time Unfinished time / Relevance to now Keywords yesterday, last year, 2005 ever, never, since, for, already Example I went to Madrid in 2010. I have been to Madrid several times.
Reading Challenge
"Time Travelers"
Your Mission
Identify sentences using the Past Simple and the Present Perfect.
Think Deeply
Why did the author choose each tense? What is the context?
Activity: Story Chain
!
Let's create a story together!
Step 1: Start with a Past Simple sentence.
Step 2: Next person adds a sentence using either tense.
Example:
"Last summer, I went to the beach."
"Oh, I have never been to that beach before!"
Bingo Time!
Never Have I Ever...
Eaten Sushi
Broken a Bone
Seen a Whale
If you HAVE done it, mark your card!
First to 5 in a row wins!
Have You Done It Script Have You Done It?
Teacher Instructional Script
Warm Up: Two Truths and a Lie (10 min)
Slide 1
"Hola a todos y bienvenidos. Para empezar, vamos a hacer una actividad divertida: 'Dos Verdades y una Mentira'."
"Each of you will write three sentences about things that happened to you in the past. Two are true, one is a lie. Make sure you use past tense verbs."
"For example: 'I traveled to Japan' (truth), 'I have never eaten sushi' (lie), 'I studied French' (truth)."
Lesson Goals (5 min)
Slide 2
"Hoy vamos a aclarar dos de las formas más importantes de hablar del pasado: el Past Simple y el Present Perfect."
"By the end of today, you will know when to use which one and how to communicate your experiences more clearly."
Past Simple: The Specific Past (10 min)
Slide 3
"Empecemos con el Past Simple. Lo usamos para acciones que terminaron en un momento específico. Es un punto fijo en el calendario."
"Think of keywords like 'yesterday', 'last week', or 'in 2020'. These words tell us WHEN it happened."
"¿Alguien tiene un ejemplo de algo que hizo ayer? (Wait for student examples)."
Present Perfect: Life Experiences (10 min)
Slide 4
"Ahora, el Present Perfect. Este es para momentos no específicos. Nos interesa SI la acción ocurrió, no CUÁNDO."
"Think of life experiences. 'Have you ever...?' Or things that started in the past and still continue. 'I have lived here for 5 years'."
"Keywords are 'ever', 'never', 'already', and 'yet'. It's about the connection to the present."
Comparison & Reading (15 min)
Slides 5-6
"Miren la tabla comparativa. Past Simple es un evento cerrado. Present Perfect es una lista de experiencias o un hilo que llega hasta hoy."
"Now, let's read the 'Time Travelers' story. Your mission: identify which tenses are used and ask yourself why."
Activities & Wrap Up (40 min)
Slides 7-11
"Time for individual practice. Use the worksheet to test your knowledge."
"Next, in groups, let's build the 'Story Chain'. First sentence is Past Simple, the rest is up to you!"
"Finally, Bingo! Listen for 'Never have I ever...' and mark your cards if you HAVE done it."
"Great job today. Remember: Past Simple is specific; Present Perfect is experience. Practice is the key! ¿Preguntas finales?"
End of Script • "Have You Done It?" ESL Lesson Series
Two Truths and a Lie Warm Up Two Truths and a Lie
Student Warm-Up Handout
Step 1: Write Your Statements
Think about your past life experiences. Write down three statements . Two must be TRUE and one must be a LIE. Use past tense verbs (traveled, ate, saw, visited... ).
Statement 1
Statement 2
Statement 3
Step 2: Share & Guess
Read your statements aloud to your group.
Wait for your group members to debate and guess which one is the lie!
Reveal the truth at the end.
"Did you use words like yesterday, last year, or never?"
Time Travelers Reading Reading Comprehension
Time Travelers
A short story of discovery and mystery.
Elara loved old things. She had collected vintage postcards since she was a little girl. She had always been fascinated by the stories they told. Last Tuesday, she found a very strange postcard in an antique shop. It showed a futuristic city, but the postmark said "1923."
"This is impossible," she thought . "Someone has made a mistake, or this is a very clever fake."
She bought the postcard, even though it cost her almost all her savings. When she got home, she examined it closely. She had never seen a city like the one depicted on the card. The buildings were impossibly tall, and flying vehicles zipped between them.
Suddenly, the postcard began to glow. Elara dropped it in surprise. A shimmering portal appeared on her living room floor. She had heard stories of time travel, but she never believed them until now.
"What have I done ?" she whispered . She felt a strange pull towards the portal. Her cat, Whiskers, who had been sleeping peacefully on the sofa, woke up with a start and hissed at the glowing light. Elara knew she had to investigate . She took a deep breath and stepped through the portal, into the unknown future of 1923.
Grammar Mission
Find Past Simple
Actions at a specific time.
Find Present Perfect
Experiences or results now.
Why?
Choose one sentence and explain why the author used that tense:
© ESL Resource Collective • "Have You Done It?" Reading Series
Past Tense Practice Worksheet Past Tense Practice
Simple Past vs. Present Perfect
Name:
Date:
1 Choose the Correct Tense
Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses (Past Simple or Present Perfect).
I (visit) my grandparents last weekend.
She (never / see) a live concert before.
They (live) in New York since 2010.
When you (arrive) home yesterday?
We (already / eat) dinner.
My brother (break) his leg two months ago.
you ever (travel) outside your country?
I (not / finish) my homework yet.
Last night, I (watch) a great movie.
He (study) English for five years, and he still is.
2 Complete the Sentences
Apply the correct tense based on the keywords and sentence context.
My family and I (go) to the beach every summer when I was a child.
Look! Someone (leave) the door open.
I (not / see) John since we graduated from high school.
She (lose) her keys yesterday, so she couldn't get into her house.
How long you (know) your best friend?
Last year, we (take) an amazing trip to Peru.
you (ever / try) skydiving?
They (buy) a new car a week ago.
I (read) three books this month, and I'm still reading more.
When I was young, I (play) a lot of video games.
ESL Grammar Mastery Series • Have You Done It?
Story Chain Activity Story Chain Activity
Group Collaborative Storytelling
Objective
Practice using Past Simple and Present Perfect in a collaborative exercise. Learn to choose the tense that fits the flow of a conversation or narrative.
Instructions
1 Divide into groups of 3-4 students.
2 Student 1 starts with a Past Simple sentence (Specific event).
3 Student 2 adds a sentence using either tense to continue the story.
4 Continue around the circle. Each sentence must make sense with the one before it!
Example Flow
S1:
"Last summer, I went to the beach."
S2:
"Oh, I have never been to that beach before!"
S3:
"I saw a picture of it in a magazine yesterday."
S4:
"Really? I have already booked a hotel there for next year."
Tips for Success
Listen carefully! Your sentence must connect to the one before.
Specific time (yesterday, last month) = Past Simple.
General experience (ever, already, so far) = Present Perfect.
Never Have I Ever Bingo Game Never Have I Ever Bingo
Present Perfect Experience Game
How to Play
The teacher will say: "Never have I ever [action]..."
If you HAVE done that action, mark the square!
First to get 5 in a row (any direction) wins. Shout "BINGO!"
Eaten Sushi
Broken a Bone
Seen a Whale
Been to Asia
Sung Karaoke
Lost my Wallet
Cooked a 3-course Meal
Ridden a Horse
Met a Celebrity
Read a Book in English
Stayed up All Night
Visited a Castle
Free Space
Played an Instrument
Swum in the Ocean
Fallen Asleep in Class
Baked a Cake
Been to a Stadium
Had a Pet Bird
Ridden a Rollercoaster
Forgotten a Name
Written a Poem
Learned to Ski
Tried Skydiving
Volunteered
Winning phrase: "I HAVE [experience] before!"
Past Tense Practice Answer Key Answer Key: Past Tense Practice
Instructor Reference Sheet
Part 1: Choose the Correct Tense
1. visited — Specific time ("last weekend").
2. has never seen — Experience; "never".
3. have lived — Started in past and continues ("since 2010").
4. did / arrive — Question about specific time ("yesterday").
5. have already eaten — Recent with result now ("already").
6. broke — Specific past time ("two months ago").
7. Have / traveled — Life experience ("ever").
8. have not finished — Action not yet completed ("yet").
9. watched — Specific past event ("Last night").
10. has studied — Continued up to the present ("for five years").
Part 2: Complete the Sentences
1. went — Habitual completed action in childhood.
2. has left — Result now (door is open).
3. have not seen — Continued since graduation.
4. lost — Specific event ("yesterday").
5. have / known — Duration from past to now.
6. took — Specific completed trip ("Last year").
7. Have / ever tried — Experience question.
8. bought — Specific time ("a week ago").
9. have read — Within an unfinished period ("this month").
10. played — Completed childhood habit.
Teacher Resource • ESL Grammar: Have You Done It?
