EFL - ESL activities and games for 

the present
simple and present continuous
This ESL lesson plan contains activities, games and resources for teaching the present
simple and continuous to intermediate level students (B1). The recommended way to
view these materials is through the TEFL Handbook app, which gives you offline
access to everything on the site.
Lead-in activity
The sample board below can be used to compare and contrast the different functional
uses of the present simple and present continuous. Step through each, explain the
difference and elicit an example sentence. The text in blue implies opportunities to elicit
responses from your students.

ESL classroom activities

Sentence builder
A pairwork writing activity where students make sentences that correspond to a
particular functional use of the present simple or continuous.
Start by adding the following prompts to the board:
1. pilot licence - In progress
2. chef - A permanent state
3. broken arm - Temporary
4. homework - Complaining
5. latest episode - At the moment
6. children - Routine
7. NASA - Developing
Divide the class into pairs and have them create a present tense sentence for each
prompt. When finished, they can compare their work with another duo.
Interview
A role-play activity where students are interviewed by a journalist while at work.
Start by splitting the group into pairs. Tell each pair that one of them is going to pretend
to have a particular occupation and that their partner will play the role of a reporter who
has come to interview them at work.
As preparation, you should go over the different kinds of present simple and present
continuous questions they could ask. Try to elicit the following and add them to the
board:
1. Their routine
a. What time do you start work?
b. How many hours do you work a day/week?
c. What are your main responsibilities?
2. What they are doing at the moment
a. What are you doing at the moment?
b. Why are you doing that?
3. If they are happy with their job
a. Do you like your job?...Why/Why not?
b. What would you change about it?
Before they begin, tell each pair to decide which occupation they will use for the role
play. To avoid repetition, make sure no two pairs select the same profession.
Give the students a few minutes to prepare for the task. When ready, each pair can take
turns performing for the class. For larger classes, you may have to run this part
concurrently. In either case, monitor for the correct usage of the present simple and
present continuous.
Holiday email
A writing activity where students correspond with a friend while on holiday.
In pairs, the students will work on the following scenario as a writing exercise:
You're on holiday with your friends, one of your friends couldn't make it. It's 10 o'clock
and you're all at a party. Write an email to your friend and describe:
1. What you and your friends are doing now.
2. What your daily routine is like. (Use frequency adverbs)
Encourage your students to be as imaginative as possible and let them read their emails
to the class if they wish.

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