foot + print =
A mark made by a foot
sea + floor =
The floor of the sea
4
Happening Now
Write the verb with is or are and -ing.
Example: Maya (swim) down. → Maya is swimming down right now.
1. Leo (scan) the big door.
Right now: Leo
the big door.
2. The bright stones (glow) on the wall.
Right now: The bright stones
on the wall.
3. The friends (collect) the rocks.
Right now: The friends
the rocks.
5
Write 2 short sentences about the comic. Use 2 words: bright, enormous, collect, create, discover.
Sentence Starters: "Maya and Leo discover _______." • "The door is _______."
Graphic Novel Sleuths • Student Mission Sheet Page 2 of 2 • Foundations Mastery
1
1. bright → B (Shining with lots of light)
2. enormous → E (Very, very big; gigantic)
3. collect → D (To gather items together)
4. create → A (To make something new)
5. discover → C (To find for the first time)
2
Setting Clues (Any 2): • Dark ocean / deep water
• Big stone door in the rock
• Bright glowing crystals
• Sandy seafloor with footprint
Character Actions: • Maya wears backpack, spots clues, collects stones.
• Leo holds light, discovers door, creates map.
3
• flash + light = flashlight
• back + pack = backpack
• foot + print = footprint
• sea + floor = seafloor
4
1. Right now: Leo is scanning the big door.
2. Right now: The bright stones are glowing on the wall.
3. Right now: The friends are collecting the rocks.
5
Student Exemplar Sentences (200L-300L):
"Maya and Leo discover an enormous door. The stones are bright and blue. Maya is collecting rocks on the seafloor."
3 • Proficient Uses 2+ target words, writes short 200L-300L sentences, answers character and setting.
2 • Approaching Uses 1 target word, basic sentence fragments, minor spelling or tense errors.
1 • Novice Isolated words only, lacks target vocabulary, requires heavy one-on-one modeling.
Graphic Novel Sleuths Facilitator Guide Page 2 of 2 • Complete Master Key
Solo (1)
Use with 1 person or thing (he, she, it):
• The ninja was jumping.
• The monster truck was crushing cars.
• The gamer was streaming.
Squad (2+)
Use with 2 or more (they, we, you):
• The players were running.
• Aliens were invading the base.
• The cars were speeding.
Quick Trick: 1 player = was • The whole squad = were!
Head-to-Head
Simple Present (Habit)
The drone flies over the field.
The cars race on the track.
Leo streams every Saturday.
Past Progressive (Past Action)
The drone was flying during the game.
The cars were racing when it rained.
Leo was streaming yesterday afternoon.
Notice the endings: -s or base verb vs. was/were + -ing!
Lightning Round
Round 1:
"The race car was drifting."
→ Past Progressive! (was + drifting)
Round 2:
"Kai builds forts every day."
→ Simple Present! (daily habit)
Round 3:
"Three players were running."
→ Past Progressive! (were + running)
Round 4:
"Skaters grind on the metal rail."
→ Simple Present! (regular action)
Ready to test your skills? Open your Action Showdown Worksheet!
Mission Debrief
Tells daily habits, sports rules, and game facts.
Example: Alex plays games. The goalie blocks.
Tells past actions frozen in the middle of happening.
Example: Alex was playing. The cars were racing.
Great job, Action Masters!
3. The battle droid [ was / were ] firing.
4. Kai and Leo [ was / were ] building.
5. The monster truck [ was / were ] jumping.
6. All the fans [ was / were ] cheering.
3
was / were + verb-ing
Change the Simple Present verb into the Past Progressive.
1. The ninja (leap) high. → Yesterday, the ninja
high.
2. The cars (speed) down the road. → Yesterday, the cars
down the road.
3. The skater (grind) on the rail. → Yesterday, the skater
on the rail.
4. The gamer (stream) his game. → Yesterday, the gamer
his game.
5. Aliens (invade) the base. → Yesterday, aliens
the base.
4
Write 2 sentences about your favorite video game, sport, or activity:
A. Simple Present (What you do regularly): "I play..." or "The player runs..."
B. Past Progressive (What was happening yesterday): "Yesterday, I was..." or "The team was..."
Action Showdown • Student Practice Sheet Page 2 of 2 • Mission Complete!
5. Skaters drop... → Simple Present (fact)
6. Drone was flying... → Past Progressive
2
1. The goalie → was diving
2. Three players → were running
3. The battle droid → was firing
4. Kai and Leo → were building
5. The monster truck → was jumping
6. All the fans → were cheering
3
1. Yesterday, the ninja was leaping high.
2. Yesterday, the cars were speeding down the road.
3. Yesterday, the skater was grinding on the rail.
4. Yesterday, the gamer was streaming his game.
5. Yesterday, aliens were invading the base.
4
A. Simple Present Model: "I play soccer with my brother every Saturday afternoon."
B. Past Progressive Model: "Yesterday at 4 PM, my squad was playing Minecraft together."
4 • Advanced All 17 items correct; writes both tenses accurately with gaming/sports detail.
3 • Proficient 14–16 correct; minor was/were slip on plural subject; writes both sentences.
2 • Developing 10–13 correct; occasionally omits was/were and writes only -ing verb.
1 • Novice Fewer than 10 correct; confuses past and present; needs teacher modeling.
Action Showdown Facilitator Guide Page 2 of 2 • Complete Master Key
16. The truck was crushing the cars. [ SP • PP ]
17. Creepers explode in the dark. [ SP • PP ]
18. The ninja was leaping high. [ SP • PP ]
19. Goalies block fast shots. [ SP • PP ]
20. Two cars were speeding. [ SP • PP ]
5
1 = was • 2+ = were
21. The gamer [ was / were ] streaming his game.
22. Three drones [ was / were ] flying in the sky.
23. Maya [ was / were ] diving deep down.
24. Robot guards [ was / were ] marching.
25. Kai and Leo [ was / were ] building a base.
26. The skateboarder [ was / were ] grinding.
6
was/were + verb-ing
fast.
loud.
quickly.
to win.
for help.
7
Write 1 sentence about what you were doing yesterday. Use was or were and a verb with -ing.
Graphic Novel Sleuths • End-of-Week Review Page 2 of 2 • 32 Practice Questions Complete!
19. Goalies block... → SP (Simple Present)
20. Cars were speeding... → PP (Past Progressive)
5
1 pt each
21. The gamer → was streaming
22. Three drones → were flying
23. Maya → was diving
24. Robot guards → were marching
25. Kai and Leo → were building
26. The skateboarder → was grinding
6
1 pt each
27. Yesterday, Kai was running fast.
28. Yesterday, the fans were cheering loud.
29. Yesterday, water was rising quickly.
30. Yesterday, drivers were racing to win.
31. Yesterday, Leo was calling for help.
7
1 pt
Exemplar Student Response:
"Yesterday after school, I was playing video games with my friend."
29–32 pts (90%+) Advanced Sleuth • Ready for next unit
25–28 pts (80%+) Proficient • Solid tense & vocab control
20–24 pts (65%+) Developing • Review was vs. were
Below 20 pts Needs Reteach • Small group support
Weekly Review Teacher Key Page 2 of 2 • 32 Total Points
down the rocks.
for our team.
Past Progressive Power Review • Student Practice Page 1 of 2 • Turn over for Part 4 & Free Practice
Find the missing verb part and write original action sentences.
Name:
4
Fill in the 1 Missing Word
Each sentence is missing ONE word to be in the Past Progressive. Figure out what is missing (the helping verb was/were OR the -ing verb) and write it on the blank!
playing Roblox with his squad yesterday.
(run) fast down the court.
jumping over old crushed cars.
(drift) around the sharp turn.
diving into the deep ocean water.
(cheer) loudly in the stadium.
5
Your Turn
Pick one exciting scene below. Imagine you saw it yesterday. Write 4 original sentences about what was happening. Use was and were with -ing verbs!
🎮 Mission A: Video Game Battle
⚽ Mission B: Soccer Match
🛹 Mission C: Skatepark Showdown
Helpful Action Verbs: jumping • scoring • running • building • grinding • dodging • cheering was (1) / were (2+)
Sentence 1 (Use "was" with 1 player or thing):
Sentence 2 (Use "were" with 2 or more players or things):
Sentence 3 (Tell what someone was doing when something happened):
Sentence 4 (Your choice - write any past action sentence):
Past Progressive Power Review • Free Practice Mastery Page 2 of 2 • Mission Accomplished!
Page 2 Solutions
4
6 Practice Items
1. Kai was playing Roblox with his squad yesterday. Explanation: Kai is 1 person → requires helping verb "was".
2. The players were running fast down the court. Explanation: "run" doubles the 'n' before adding -ing → "running".
3. The monster truck was jumping over old crushed cars. Explanation: "monster truck" is 1 thing → requires "was".
4. Two race cars were drifting around the sharp turn. Explanation: "drift" adds -ing → "drifting".
5. Maya was diving into the deep ocean water. Explanation: Maya is 1 person → requires "was".
6. All the fans were cheering loudly in the stadium. Explanation: "cheer" adds -ing → "cheering".
5
Sample Student Responses
Mission A: Video Game
1. Kai was dodging laser fire.
2. The aliens were attacking our base.
3. I was building a shield when it broke.
4. My squad was winning the match.
Mission B: Soccer Match
1. The striker was shooting the ball.
2. The fans were cheering loudly.
3. The goalie was diving when I scored.
4. Two players were running fast.
Mission C: Skatepark
1. Leo was grinding on the rail.
2. The skaters were practicing tricks.
3. Maya was jumping off the ramp.
4. Friends were clapping for Leo.
4 • Advanced All 4 sentences use correct was/were + -ing; clear singular/plural subject distinction.
3 • Proficient 3 of 4 sentences completely accurate; minor was/were slip on plural subject.
2 • Developing 2 sentences correct; frequently omits was/were and writes only -ing participle.
1 • Novice Incomplete sentences; isolated words; needs direct 1-on-1 sentence-strip modeling.
Past Progressive Facilitator Key Page 2 of 2 • Complete Master Key
