Teaching Passive Voice? Get the Hacks!
Learning grammar doesn’t have to be a drag for students! With a little twist and creativity, students can quickly become Grammar Gurus! In this article, you’ll find teaching hacks that will ignite your students’ enthusiasm and will help them learn the passive voice so well they’ll never forget it. We’ll explore techniques that involve using music, projects, and games to make learning grammar a breeze.
Hack 1
Use Song Lyrics for language awareness: Choose a popular song and provide the lyrics to your students. Ask them to identify the passive voice used in the lyrics. You can then discuss the use of passive voice in the context of the song. Check out these lyrics!
- “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics
- “She Will Be Loved” by Maroon 5
- “All you need is love” by the Beatles – Download the worksheet HERE.
- “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
Hack 2
Guess the Country Quiz! While watching this video students write down their answers on a sheet of paper. When the presentation is finished, they compare their answers. For every correct response, each team will earn a point – the highest scorer wins! This game makes a great addition to any ESL classroom. Watch the video HERE.
Hack 3
Scavenger Hunt: The teacher reads aloud a sentence and then students have to locate examples of the same sentence turned into passive voice. This game is perfect to consolidate and recognize the underlying structure of sentences. This game is great for learners with an intermediate level of English.
Hack 4
Encourage students to find real-world examples of passive voice in newspapers, and advertising, and then share their findings. Ask them to analyze the examples, and compare active and passive voice. This activity is suitable for upper-intermediate learners of English.
Check out the following online newspapers:
BATIMES / BBC / USA TODAY / VOA NEWS
Hack 5
Mini Project: Crime scenes! In small groups, students create a mock crime scene using materials found around the classroom. The scene will be inside a shoebox. Then, they write a list with the evidence using passive voice. Finally, students exchange boxes with another group and use the clues in the list to construct a report. My students had lots of fun doing this!
Before you Go …
Wondering how to teach passive voice through memorable and fun activities?
This resource includes a variety of interactive worksheets and a creative project that will bring grammar to life! Plus, all materials are ready-to-use, so you can spend more time inspiring your class and less time prepping lesson plans. Make the passive voice anything but passive with this incredible resource! Grab this resource HERE!
By using a creative and interactive approach to teaching the passive voice, your students can develop a deep understanding of this grammar concept, gain a greater appreciation for the English language, and have fun along the way. So why not try this fun activity and engage your students in active learning today?
