GRADE 8 English SCIENTIFIC INNOVATIONS – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:SONGS Notes
English — Listening & Speaking: Songs
Topic: Scientific Innovations (age 13, Kenya)
Lesson focus: Use songs about scientific innovations to practise and study English grammar useful for listening and speaking: tenses, passive voice, modal verbs, imperatives, question tags and reported speech.
Learning objectives
- Identify and name verb tenses heard in a short song (past simple, present perfect).
- Change active lines from the song into passive sentences.
- Use modals (can, may, could) correctly in speaking about inventions.
- Practise reported speech and question tags from sung lines.
Short song (chorus) — listen and read
🎵 Scientists made a bulb to give us light.
Engineers built the trains that carry us at night.
We have used the phone to call our friends far away.
M‑Pesa has changed how money moves every day. 🎵
Grammar focus points (short notes + examples)
1. Past Simple
- Use: completed actions in the past.
- Example from song: "Scientists made a bulb" (made = past simple).
- Use: completed actions in the past.
- Example from song: "Scientists made a bulb" (made = past simple).
2. Present Perfect
- Use: actions that affect the present or happened at an unspecified time before now.
- Examples: "We have used the phone", "M‑Pesa has changed how money moves".
- Use: actions that affect the present or happened at an unspecified time before now.
- Examples: "We have used the phone", "M‑Pesa has changed how money moves".
3. Passive voice (useful when we say who/what receives action)
- Form: be + past participle (tense of be matches original tense).
- Example (from song active → passive): "A bulb was made by scientists."
- Form: be + past participle (tense of be matches original tense).
- Example (from song active → passive): "A bulb was made by scientists."
4. Modal verbs
- Can/could/may/might to talk about ability and possibility.
- Example to practise: "This invention can help farmers", "It may increase access to banks."
- Can/could/may/might to talk about ability and possibility.
- Example to practise: "This invention can help farmers", "It may increase access to banks."
5. Imperatives & question tags
- Imperative (command/request): "Sing the chorus."
- Add a question tag for a polite request: "Sing the chorus, will you?"
- Imperative (command/request): "Sing the chorus."
- Add a question tag for a polite request: "Sing the chorus, will you?"
6. Reported speech (short)
- When we tell someone what was said: change pronouns/time words and usually move past tense back one step.
- Example: Teacher said: "We have used the phone." → Teacher said (that) they had used the phone.
- When we tell someone what was said: change pronouns/time words and usually move past tense back one step.
- Example: Teacher said: "We have used the phone." → Teacher said (that) they had used the phone.
Activities (listening + grammar)
-
Listening cloze (teacher plays the song twice). Fill the gaps while listening:
Scientists ______ a bulb to give us light.
Engineers ______ the trains that carry us at night.
We ______ used the phone to call our friends far away.
M‑Pesa ______ changed how money moves every day. - Identify tense: For each filled sentence, write the tense (past simple / present perfect). - Sentence 1: ________ ; Sentence 2: ________ ; Sentence 3: ________ ; Sentence 4: ________.
- Change to passive voice: - "Scientists made a bulb." → ___________________________________________________ - "Engineers built the trains." → __________________________________________________ (Hint: Use past simple passive: "was/were + past participle")
- Reported speech (pair work): One student reads a line from the song; the partner reports it to a third student. - Example practice: "I have used the phone." → He/she said (that) he/she had used the phone.
- Use modals: Make 2 sentences about inventions using can / may / could. Example starter: - "M‑Pesa can __________." "Electricity may __________."
- Imperative + question tag (speaking): Give a short command from the chorus and add a tag: - Example: "Sing the chorus, will you?" Now practise with a partner.
Answers / Model responses
Listening cloze (filled):
Scientists made a bulb to give us light.
Engineers built the trains that carry us at night.
We have used the phone to call our friends far away.
M‑Pesa has changed how money moves every day.
Tenses: 1 = past simple; 2 = past simple; 3 = present perfect; 4 = present perfect.
Passive forms (models):
- "Scientists made a bulb." → "A bulb was made by scientists."
- "Engineers built the trains." → "The trains were built by engineers."
Reported speech (model):
- Direct: "We have used the phone." → Reported: He/she said (that) they had used the phone.
Modal examples:
- "M‑Pesa can make payments easier."
- "Electricity may help small businesses grow."
Imperative + tag example:
- "Sing the chorus, will you?"
Scientists made a bulb to give us light.
Engineers built the trains that carry us at night.
We have used the phone to call our friends far away.
M‑Pesa has changed how money moves every day.
Tenses: 1 = past simple; 2 = past simple; 3 = present perfect; 4 = present perfect.
Passive forms (models):
- "Scientists made a bulb." → "A bulb was made by scientists."
- "Engineers built the trains." → "The trains were built by engineers."
Reported speech (model):
- Direct: "We have used the phone." → Reported: He/she said (that) they had used the phone.
Modal examples:
- "M‑Pesa can make payments easier."
- "Electricity may help small businesses grow."
Imperative + tag example:
- "Sing the chorus, will you?"
Speaking practice — classroom routine
- Play the short song twice. Students fill cloze and mark tenses.
- Pairs convert two lines to passive and say them aloud.
- Pairs practise reported speech: one sings a line, the partner reports it.
- Small groups make two sentences about a Kenyan innovation (e.g., M‑Pesa, mobile phones, solar lamps) using modals, then perform to class.
Tip for teachers: Choose or write a short simple chorus with clear verbs. Pause after each line for learners to repeat and identify the verb form. Use local innovations (M‑Pesa, solar lamps) to make meaning clear and interesting.
📌 End of notes — focus on grammar while enjoying the song!