Thrills Tenses Slides
Grammar Theme Park
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.B
Grade 4 Language Arts
Thrills & Tenses
Hop into the front car and master progressive verb tenses through rollercoasters, giant snacks, and park lines!
Are you ready to ride? Let's begin the climb!
Slide 1 of 14
Grammar Concepts
Actions in Progress
What is a Progressive Tense?
Think of a rollercoaster when it is moving. It doesn't just instantly start and stop; it is in progress over time.
The Golden Rule:
All progressive tenses use a helping verb (to be) and an action verb ending in -ing.
The Action Timeline
1
PAST was/were riding
2
PRESENT is/are riding
3
FUTURE will be riding
"The verbs describe the ongoing ride, snacks, and lines!"
Are we looking at yesterday, right now, or tomorrow?
Slide 2 of 14
Video Station
Instructional Ride
Progressive Verb Tenses Explained!
Let's take a quick look at this video to visualize how helping verbs and "-ing" work together to build progressive action.
Things to watch for:
- What helping verb is paired with singular subjects?
- How does the verb change when moving between times?
Embedded media
Enjoy the show! Next stop: Station 1, the Past Loop.
Slide 3 of 14
Station 1: The Past Loop
Past Progressive
The Screaming Past
Use the Past Progressive tense to talk about an action that was ongoing in the past. It often got interrupted by another event!
The Magic Formula
was / were + verb + "ing"
"Yesterday, we were waiting in line when it started to pour rain."
"The rollercoaster was climbing the giant hill a minute ago."
Time Clues to Spot:
Yesterday • Last night • Before • While • At 2:00 PM
Singular helper: was
Plural helper: were
What were you doing before you boarded the ride?
Slide 4 of 14
Station 2: The Giant Drop
Present Progressive
The Thrilling Present
Use the Present Progressive tense to talk about actions happening right now, at this exact moment in the park!
The Magic Formula
am / is / are + verb + "ing"
"Look! I am eating a giant funnel cake right now!"
"The riders are screaming as the coaster drops."
Time Clues to Spot:
Right now • Currently • Today • At this moment • Look!
"I" helper: am
Singular helper (he, she, it): is
Plural helper (we, you, they): are
What are you eating or riding at this exact second?
Slide 5 of 14
Station 3: The Next Hill
Future Progressive
The Soaring Future
Use the Future Progressive tense for actions that will be happening over a period of time in the future!
The Magic Formula
will be + verb + "ing"
"Tomorrow morning, we will be riding the speed-coaster."
"Our school group will be purchasing cotton candy later."
Time Clues to Spot:
Tomorrow • Next week • Later • Tonight • Soon
No tricky singular/plural rules here!
Always use will be for all subjects!
What will you be doing on your next summer trip?
Slide 6 of 14
Coaster Challenge
Classroom Speed Run
Conjugation Coaster Speed Run!
Let's put our grammar harnesses on! On the next slides, look at the park sentence and choose the correct Progressive Verb Tense option.
Rules of the Ride:
Read the question, choose from the options, then jump to the next slide to reveal the answer!
Are you ready to test your speed? Let's go!
Slide 7 of 14
Past Tense Question Practice Drop #1
Find the Past Progressive Verb
Fill in the blank:
"Yesterday afternoon, the screaming riders
________________________ (shriek) when the rollercoaster dropped."
A is shrieking
B were shrieking
C will be shrieking
D was shrieking
Look closely at the subject "riders" (singular or plural?)
Slide 8 of 14
Answer Unlocked Past Drop #1 Solution
"Yesterday afternoon, the screaming riders
were shrieking when the rollercoaster dropped."
A is shrieking
B were shrieking (Correct!)
C will be shrieking
D was shrieking
Why? "Riders" is plural, so we use the helper were + the "-ing" verb shrieking!
Great work! Now hold on for Question #2!
Slide 9 of 14
Present Tense Question Practice Drop #2
Find the Present Progressive Verb
Fill in the blank:
"At this very moment, Marcus
________________________ (munch) on hot, sugary churros."
A was munching
B are munching
C is munching
D will be munching
Check the time clue ("At this very moment"). That means it's happening right now!
Slide 10 of 14
Answer Unlocked Present Drop #2 Solution
"At this very moment, Marcus
is munching on hot, sugary churros."
A was munching
B are munching
C is munching (Correct!)
D will be munching
Why? "Marcus" is singular (he) and it is happening now, so we use is + munching!
Incredible! Get ready for the final climb: Question #3!
Slide 11 of 14
Future Tense Question Practice Drop #3
Find the Future Progressive Verb
Fill in the blank:
"Tomorrow evening, we
________________________ (watch) the spectacular fireworks show!"
A were watching
B am watching
C will watching
D will be watching
What are the TWO special helping words we need for future ongoing actions?
Slide 12 of 14
Answer Unlocked Future Drop #3 Solution
"Tomorrow evening, we
will be watching the spectacular fireworks show!"
A were watching
B am watching
C will watching (Watch out! Missing "be"!)
D will be watching (Correct!)
Why? Future progressive always uses the double helpers will be + the "-ing" verb watching!
Triple Crown! You have conquered the Conjugation Coaster Speed Run!
Slide 13 of 14
Mission Accomplished
Safe Return to Station
Back at the Station!
You are now official Tense Masters! Let's do a final review of our coaster safety checks:
P
Past Progressive = was / were + "-ing"
PR
Present Progressive = am / is / are + "-ing"
F
Future Progressive = will be + "-ing"
Next Stop:
Grab your pencil and show what you know on your Coaster Conundrums Sheet!
Complete Your Rider Pass
Grammar ride complete. Unbuckle and start your worksheet!
Slide 14 of 14
Coaster Conundrums Answer Sheet
Grammar Coaster Grade 4 • CCSS 4.L.1b
Coaster Conundrums
Forming and using past, present, and future progressive tenses!
RIDER NAME: ____________________
DATE: ____________________
A
Park Clue Conjugations
(Write the correct progressive verb phrase using the verb in parentheses)
[PAST] Yesterday at noon, our school group ___________________________ (wait) in line for the mega-coaster.
singular / plural help
[PRESENT] Look! A giant orange balloon ___________________________ (float) over the Ferris wheel.
happening right now
[FUTURE] Tomorrow morning, my sister and I ___________________________ (ride) the speed-demon first.
always uses "will be"
[PAST] The heavy metal chains ___________________________ (clatter) loudly before the ride broke.
plural subject help
[PRESENT] Right now, I ___________________________ (munch) on some sticky, sweet churros.
check singular helper
[FUTURE] Later tonight, the beautiful fireworks ___________________________ (illuminate) the sky.
future ongoing action
B
Tense Twister Loop
(Rewrite the sentences below into the requested progressive tense)
1. Original Sentence: "We eat giant buckets of warm popcorn." To Past Progressive
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Original Sentence: "The rollercoaster zoomed through the loop." To Present Progressive
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Original Sentence: "My friends wait in the ticket queue." To Future Progressive
____________________________________________________________________________________
C
Coaster Creative Writer
(Draft your own original progressive tense park sentences)
1. Riding a giant rollercoaster in the PAST PROGRESSIVE: e.g., was flying / were screaming
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Eating sticky, sweet park food in the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: e.g., am munching / is chewing
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Waiting in a long line under the hot sun in the FUTURE PROGRESSIVE: e.g., will be standing / will be waiting
____________________________________________________________________________________
Thrills Tenses Teacher Guide
Educator Resource Grade 4 • Grammar Lesson
Thrills & Tenses Teacher Guide
Facilitation strategies, pacing, and core concepts for Progressive Verb Tenses.
Lesson Overview & Alignment
This high-energy lesson introduces students to the three progressive tenses (past, present, and future progressive) using the fun, sensory-rich theme of an amusement park (riding rollercoasters, waiting in lines, and eating snacks). Students learn that progressive tenses describe ongoing, active situations.
CCSS Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.B: Form and use progressive verb tenses (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking).
Key Materials: "Thrills Tenses Slides" Presentation deck, "Coaster Conundrums" Student Worksheet, pencils, colored highlighters (optional).
Suggested Lesson Pacing (45-50 Minutes)
10 min
Warm-up & Introduction (Slides 1–2): Introduce the concept of "action in progress." Draw a simple rollercoaster on the board and ask: "Is the coaster static, or is it actively moving along the tracks?" Connect physical motion to progressive verbs.
15 min
Direct Instruction (Slides 3–5): Walk through the three progressive stations. Define each tense's formula: helper (to be) + verb-ing. Emphasize time clues (yesterday, right now, tomorrow) and subject agreement (was vs. were, is vs. are).
10 min
Speed Run Guided Practice (Slides 6–12): Facilitate the slideshow speed run. Show each Question slide first, have students vote on options (A, B, C, or D), then advance to the Solution slide to explain the grammar mechanics behind the correct choice.
15 min
Independent Application (Worksheet): Distribute the "Coaster Conundrums Answer Sheet." Students work independently to complete Parts A, B, and C. Walk the room to provide target support. Close with the summary slide (Slide 13).
Common Student Misconceptions
- Dropping the Helper: Students often write "We riding the coaster" instead of "We are riding." Remind them that progressive verbs are a "two-part safety harness"—you need both the helper and the -ing!
- Subject-Helper Mismatch: Choosing "was" for plural past or "are" for singular present (e.g., "The tracks was shaking"). Use physical lines or colors to connect subject quantity to the correct helper verb.
- Spelling of -ing Verbs: For verbs ending in silent "e" (e.g., ride, smile), students forget to drop the "e" before adding "-ing." Provide a brief spelling anchor chart on the whiteboard.
