Using Ser and Estar
Pre-viewing
• :00 Warm up: Quickly review pronouns.
2 minutes
• :02 Pre-test: Write the following phrases on the board.
I am Julia I am a doctor I am pretty
I am happy I am in the kitchen I am tired
Ask the students to tell you what information each sentence gives (names, occupations, descriptions, locations, moods, etc.). Point out that in English we use the verb “to be” to provide all this information. Ask them if they know whether Spanish is similar in this respect. Go over the learning objectives.
4 minutes
Viewing
• :06 Playing Video: Hand out Viewing Guide. Go over viewing questions and expectations and tell the students to pay attention to the program and answer the viewing questions while watching. Don’t hesitate to stop the program and review if the students seem confused.
15 minutes
Post-viewing
• :21 Question & Answer Session: Ask the class for the answers to the viewing questions. See if any parts of the program were difficult or confusing for the students. Ask a few questions to check their understanding of the key topics.
5 minutes
Sample Questions
1. What is one example of when to use ser ?
2. What is one example of when to use estar ?
3.
¿Estás cansado(a)?
Handouts
• :26 Practicing Material: Hand out the Worksheet and give the class 6-8 minutes to complete it. Students are allowed to use their Viewing Guide. Monitor the students’ progress, helping where needed. Go over Worksheet as a class.
10 minutes
• :36 Applying Material: Ask the students to turn over their Viewing Guide and hand out the Activity. Choose either activity to complete in class.
10 minutes
• :46 Wrap-up: Briefly sum up what has been covered in class, using the students to do the summary. Have the students translate the sentences from Pre-testing into Spanish and show them they now know the differences between ser and estar . Assign any homework.
4 minutes
Viewing Questions Answer Key
1. What kind of word is horrible ?
a cognate
2. What is the feminine form of bonito ?
bonita
3. In the example estamos en la luna , why don’t you need to use nosotros ?
it’s implied

Using Ser and Estar
Learning Objectives
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
• conjugate ser and estar
• distinguish whether to use ser or estar in a sentence
• construct sentences using estar to describe the characteristics of a person, place, or thing that are subject to change
• construct sentences using ser to describe a permanent condition
• define, pronounce and correctly spell all vocabulary words
Materials
• Video : vocabulary, ser, estar; 15 minutes long
• Viewing Guide: vocabulary, verb charts and examples; 3 Viewing Questions
• Worksheet : translation, true or false, fill-in-the-blank biography
• Activity Sheet : sentence construction, biography writing
• Check Your Knowledge: translation, pronouns, short essay; 50 points
Background
Students should be familiar with Spanish pronouns.
Preparation
None required.
Extension:
Sketch a six-room house on the blackboard (if you want to do the activity in small groups, have each group sketch the house on a piece of paper). Have the students label each room in Spanish. Then split the class into two teams. One person rolls a die. The first team to say where they are in the house gets a point. Play for class participation points.
1.
la sala de estar – living room
2.
el comedor – dining room
3.
la cocina – kitchen
4. el cuarto de baño – bathroom
5. el dormitorio – bedroom
6. el garaje – garage
Example:
(Student from Team One rolls a 3.)
Team Two: “¡Nosotros estamos en la cocina!”
(Student from Team Two rolls a 6.)
Team Two: “¡Nosotros estamos en el garaje!”
(Team One just isn’t doing to well. Better luck next roll!)

Using Ser and Estar
Ser – to be
I am you (informal) are you (formal) are you (plural) are he/she is we are they are yo soy tú eres usted es ustedes son
él/ella es nosotros/as somos ellos/as son
VOCABULARY antiguo(a) – antique el árbol – tree bonito(a) – pretty cansado(a) – tired la cocina – kitchen confundido(a) – confused de – from la desordenada – slob en – in; on la escuela – school el/la estudiante – student feliz – happy la galleta – cookie el granjero – farmer gratuita – free guapo(a) – handsome la hija – daughter horrible – horrible lo siento – I’m sorry el loco – fool loco(a) – crazy la luna – the moon la panadería – bakery el perro – dog el pollo – chicken el/la profesor(a) – teacher la silla – chair triste – sad
USING SER
Ser usually refers to a permanent condition:
1.
Ser describes the origin of a person or thing.
Yo soy de los Estados Unidos
I’m from the United States
2.
Ser describes people and things.
El perro es bonito
The dog is pretty
3. Ser states identity and professions.
Ella es Maria
She is Maria
Soy profesor
I am a teacher
USING ESTAR
Estar usually refers to a temporary condition
1.
Estar describes location.
El loco está en el árbol
The fool is in the tree
2.
Estar describes emotions and physical conditions.
Estoy feliz/triste
I am happy/sad
Él está cansado
He is tired
Estar – to be
I am you (informal) are you (formal) are you (plural) are he/she is we are they are yo estoy tú estás usted está ustedes están
él/ella está nosotros/as estamos ellos/as están
Viewing Questions
1. What kind of word is horrible ?
2. What is the feminine form of bonito ?
3. In the example estamos en la luna , why don’t you need to use nosotros ?

Using Ser and Estar
Translate the following sentences into Spanish.
1. I’m sorry.
2. You (informal singular) are from Mexico.
3. They are pretty.
4. She is a teacher.
5. Are you (formal singular) tired?
6. We are in the kitchen.
Look out! Some sentences below paid attention to the program and used ser and estar correctly. Reward those sentences for their good behavior and circle CORRECT. Some sentences did not pay attention and used ser and estar incorrectly. Show them the error of their ways and circle INCORRECT.
Eres bonita.
Soy feliz.
La hija está en el árbol.
El loco está desordenada.
Ellas están de New York.
Somos estudiantes.
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
Fill in the blanks to complete his biography.
Ricardo
Él profesor. Él feliz porque ( because ) él de Wisconsin. Él en la escuela.
alto ( tall ) y guapo.

Using Ser and Estar
Translate the following sentences into Spanish.
1. I’m sorry.
2. You (informal singular) are from Mexico.
3. They are pretty.
4. She is a teacher.
5. Are you (formal singular) tired?
6. We are in the kitchen.
Lo siento.
Tú eres de Mexíco.
Ellas son bonitas.
Ella es profesora.
¿Usted está cansado?
Nosotros estamos en la cocina.
Look out! Some sentences below paid attention to the program and used ser and estar correctly. Reward those sentences for their good behavior and circle CORRECT. Some sentences did not pay attention and used ser and estar incorrectly. Show them the error of their ways and circle INCORRECT.
Eres bonita.
Soy feliz.
La hija está en el árbol.
El loco está desordenada.
Ellas están de New York.
Somos estudiantes.
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
CORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
INCORRECT
Fill in the blanks to complete his biography.
Ricardo es
Él está profesor. Él es de Wisconsin. Él feliz porque ( because ) él está en la escuela.
es alto ( tall ) y guapo.

Using Ser and Estar
Get into groups of three. In each group, one student chooses a pronoun and one student chooses an adjective (like feliz ) or a noun (like la luna or el profesor ). The third student must choose the correct form of either ser or estar and make a sentence with the three words. Switch roles until each person has made a sentence twice.
Example:
Student 1: “ Yo ”
Student 2: “ de México ”
Student 3: “Hmm...
Yo soy de México .”
Like the description of Ricardo in the Worksheet, give a short description of yourself. Write one Spanish sentence to answer each question below.
Who are you?
Where are you from?
What do you do?
How would you describe yourself? (You may need a bilingual dictionary for this question.)
How are you?
Where are you?

Using Ser and Estar
Translate the following sentences into Spanish. (4 points each)
1. I’m sorry.
2. I’m from the United States.
3. Is he handsome?
4. The chickens are in the tree.
5. The chairs are free.
6. You (plural) are confused.
5.
6.
7.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate pronoun(s). (2 points each) está en la luna.
somos los pollos.
son antiguos.
estamos cansados.
están locas.
eres de Panamá.
estás en la panadería.
1.
2.
3.
Using ser and estar , write three sentences describing yourself. (4 points each)
Total Score
/ 50

Using Ser and Estar
Translate the following sentences into Spanish. (4 points each)
1. I’m sorry.
2. I’m from the United States.
3. Is he handsome?
4. The chickens are in the tree.
5. The chairs are free.
6. You (plural) are confused.
Lo siento.
Soy de los Estados Unidos.
¿Es guapo?
Los pollos están en el árbol.
Las sillas son gratuitas.
Están confundidos.
Fill in the blank with the appropriate pronoun(s). (2 points each)
5.
6.
7.
3.
4.
1.
2.
Usted / Él / Ella
Nosotros
Ellas
Nosotros
Ellas
Tú
Tú está en la luna.
somos los pollos.
son antiguos.
estamos cansados.
están locas.
eres de Panamá.
estás en la panadería.
Using ser and estar , write three sentences describing yourself. (4 points each)
1.
Example sentences:
Soy escritor.
2.
Soy alto y loco.
3.
Estoy cansado.
Total Score
/ 50