Simple Past Tense Lesson: Message in a Bottle-Deductive vs. Inductive Teaching Methods

This past summer I took course work on ESL instruction.  In the course we discussed the difference between deductive and inductive instruction methods.  Deductive refers to a more teacher-centered approach to instruction, where inductive instruction is a more student-centered approach.  For a clearer understanding of these methods visit Dr. Bilash’s page titled Inductive and Deductive Instruction on the University of Alberta’s website.  Dr. Bilash has written a very nice description of the two methods along with a clear explanation of “noticing” as if connects with inductive instruction.

Although I do believe there are times for both deductive and inductive instruction, I do fall more often into an inductive and very student-centered approach to my teaching, and especially for grammar instruction.  The lesson I have attached below is an example of an inductive approach to grammar instruction.  I thought the lesson was a fun activity and wanted to share it here for others to use.  I created this lesson with my middle school Chinese students in mind.  I used an inductive approach where I have students ‘notice’ the grammar for the simple past tense and then do activities using the grammar point. I chose the inductive approach because, although I like this approach for teaching new grammar concepts, I would likely use this lesson as a review to a grammar point and want students practicing the rule.  I also like the inductive approach because is has students discover, or ‘notice’ what the grammar point is through the learning process.

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Simple Past Tense Lesson Plan: Message in a Bottle
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