Irregular Verbs 3 Forms What Exactly are they? Cutest Free Craft

Here’s what I think: Irregular verbs are those sneaky ones that don’t follow the simple “add –ed” past-tense rule. For example, “walk” becomes “walked”, but “go” becomes “went” and “gone”. 

When you teach the three forms — base form, past simple, past participle — students gain the language tools for:

Speaking about now, then, and what has/have done

Writing more complex sentences (e.g., “I have eaten”, “She has written”)

Understanding patterns and recognising that not all verbs behave the same way

Why this matters for ESL learners:

Many verbs they hear in spoken English are irregular (frequent verbs!). 

Memorising them in isolation is tough. When they see them repeatedly in context (or craft form!), retention improves.

Combining visual, tactile, and verbal work makes a big difference — especially for mixed-ability or younger learners. 

How to Teach Irregular Verbs to Students

Here’s a friendly step-by-step teaching plan you can follow (and adapt!)

1. Start with modelling

Introduce a few common irregular verbs on the board. Example: go – went – gone, eat – ate – eaten. Write them in a row, say each one aloud, ask students to repeat. This helps familiarise the three-form pattern.

2. Visual support & grouping

Use charts, posters or anchor mats that clearly show the base form, past simple and past participle. 

 Then group verbs by pattern (e.g., all unchanged verbs like “put – put – put”; vowel-change verbs like “drink – drank – drunk”). This helps students see patterns.

3. Speaking practice

Have students say sentences using each form. For example: “Today I go to the park; yesterday I went to the park; I have gone to the park many times.” This triplet format reinforces the three forms. Also give partner/small-group tasks: one reads base form, partner gives past two forms.

4. Games and drilling

Use matching games, sorting cards, bingo or memory games to make repetition fun. For example, a matching activity where students match base form to past simple and past participle. 

5. Introduce the craft

Once students are confident with a set of verbs, move into a hands-on craft. This is where the turkey craft comes in (next section!). The craft becomes both a practice activity and a visual anchor for later revision.

6. Display & reuse

Once the craft is built, display students’ work on a wall or in their folders. Use it later as a review prompt: pick a feather, say the three forms, use it in a sentence. This gives long-term value.

🦃 The Turkey Craft for Irregular Verbs – Step by Step

Here comes the fun part. You have the turkey head template (great!) and the plan that you want students to write yellow feather strips with the verb trios. Here’s how to make it smooth and memorable.

Materials

• Turkey head template (provided download it below)

• Yellow paper (or coloured if you like) for feather strips

• Scissors, glue sticks

• Pencils/markers for writing the verb forms

• Brown card or paper as mounting/background (optional)

• Display board, bulletin wall space (optional)

Preparation for the teacher

• Print one turkey head per student (on white or light card).

• Pre-cut yellow strips or provide guidelines (approx. one finger width, maybe 15-20 cm long) so students can customise.

• Prepare a mini-verb list (you already have your list of 20) for students to select from.

• Decide how many feathers each student will do (for example, 6 feathers each; or more advanced students do 10).

Grab your turkey instructions and template below:

Craft instructions (for students)

1. Colour and cut the turkey head
   Students colour the head template (if not pre-coloured). They cut it out carefully.

2. Write the title
   On the head or beneath it, write something like: “Irregular Verbs – 3 Forms”. This anchors the purpose.

3. Select your verb and write your feather strip
   For each feather strip:

   • Write the base form (e.g., fly)

   • Write the past simple (e.g., flew)

   • Write the past participle (e.g., flown)
     You might colour-code each form (optional) for extra support: e.g., base = blue, past = green, past participle = red.

4. Glue the feather to the turkey
   Attach the feather strip behind the turkey head so it sticks out like a real feather. Add 5-10 feathers depending on time and ability. Space them out around the head to form the “feather fan.”

5. Decorate (optional)
   Students can add googly eyes, colour the wattle/beak, draw patterns on feathers, etc. This makes the craft personal and memorable.

6. Read and practise
   When finished, each student presents their turkey: picks one feather, says the three forms, then uses the verb in two sentences (one past simple, one present perfect or past participle). Example: “I flew to the park yesterday. I have flown in a plane.”

7. Display or store
   Mount the turkey craft on a class wall, or store in student portfolios. Later use the crafts for spiral revision.

When to use this craft

• After you’ve introduced irregular verbs and some practice games: as a consolidation activity.

• At a thematic time (e.g., autumn or around Thanksgiving — turkeys tie in nicely).

• As a station or centre activity in ESL/grammar class.

• When you need a creative, hands-on break from worksheets that still supports grammar.

Benefits of this craft

• Hands-on engagement: Cutting, writing, gluing makes the learning tactile and memorable.

• Visual reinforcement: The feather fan remains a visual cue for the three forms of each verb.

• Repetition disguised as fun: Students write, say, use each verb multiple times without it feeling like drilling.

• Differentiation friendly: You can vary how many feathers students do, which verbs they choose, how much help they get.

• Prompt for speaking: Each feather becomes a speaking prompt (“What did you do? I ____. I have ____.”)

• Displayable learning: The final product can be displayed, adding pride and reinforcing the learning environment.

Teaching irregular verbs in three forms doesn’t have to be dull. When you combine clear modelling, visual support, speaking practice and a fun craft like the turkey activity, you give students an experience they’ll remember. They’ll see, write, say and build the verbs. That kind of multi-sensory learning sticks.

So grab your turkey head template, prepare the feather strips, print the verb list, gather your scissors and glue — and watch your class turn grammar into something creative, colourful, and confidently remembered.

Would you like me to format the printable pack layout next (one page turkey head, one page feather strips template, one page verb list, optional teacher instruction page)? I can draft that right away if you’re ready!