1. Visual Verbs: Using Manipulatives to Teach Verb Tenses
Marla Yoshida
UC Irvine Extension • International Programs

2. Verb timelines: A grammar teaching traditionX
Past Now Future

3. Advantages of a 3-D timeline
Real objects keep students’ interest.
Moving “verbs” around on their own timelines keeps students involved and helps them understand. Effective for kinesthetic learners.
You don’t have to redraw it every time.
The “verbs” aren’t static. They can be made to show the qualities of tenses by rolling or stretching.

4. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Gather your materials:
A strip of corner molding (wood or plastic). 2-3 feet is a good length.

5. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Gather your materials:
A metal strip or strips, slightly shorter and narrower than the molding. Hacksaw blades or the metal strips from the top of hanging file folders work well. Magnetic tape is also OK.

6. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Gather your materials:
Hard-drying clay for the ends of the timeline.

7. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Gather your materials:
Hot glue gun and glue sticks or other strong glue.
Paint is optional

8. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Gather your materials:
Verbs

9. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Measure and cut the molding.

10. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Glue the metal strips in place.

11. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Use clay to shape triangular ends.

12. Constructing a 3-D timeline
Mark the ends “past” and “future.”

13. The finished timeline

14. The finished timeline

15. Another way:
Cut a long strip of poster board or cardboard. Keep the little triangles from the ends. Cut a small slit at each end of the timeline.

16. Another way:
Fold lengthwise. Label the ends and glue metal strips inside the “V.” Insert triangle pieces in the slots at the ends to make a base.

17. Smaller timelines for students
The easiest way: Photocopy timeline. Use beans, beads, or pieces of straws to represent verbs.

18. Smaller timelines for students
Or cut and fold paper to make V-shaped timeline.

19. Verb tenses related to the present

20. Verb tenses related to the past

21. Verb tenses related to the future

22. Visual verbs

23. Try these on the timeline:
I ate breakfast at 7:00 this morning.
While I was eating, I spilled some orange juice.
I’ve been here for 20 minutes.
I’ve seen that movie three times.
I had decided to see that movie even before I saw the trailer.
I wear glasses.
I’m wearing glasses.
I’m going to wear glasses again tomorrow.
When you see me again, I’ll still be wearing glasses.

24. Other possible materials
Glue a strip of Velcro to the timeline. Attach fuzzy bits to marbles to show verbs “stuck in time.”
Draw timeline on board. Use Post-It notes to mark the verbs.
Use a flat strip of paper for timeline. Paper clips or binder clips are the verbs.

25. Questions?