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Latin “To Be” — Sum, Es, Est

Sixth graders learn to conjugate the most important Latin verb — esse (to be): sum, es, est, sumus, estis, sunt — their first real step into Latin grammar and building sentences.

Grade 6Sum, Es, Est50 minutes1 class periodClassical LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Conjugate esse.
  • ✓Say “I am, you are.”
  • ✓Match forms to meanings.
  • ✓Build sentences.
Essential Question

Every sentence needs a verb — and the most important Latin verb is “to be.” How do you say I am, you are, he is?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Form of “To Be”

Project this and match each form of esse to its English meaning — tap the Latin, then tap the English.

⚡ Match each form of “to be” to its meaningTry it
Latin
English
Now tap the English!
The Lesson · Classical Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — The Most Important Verb

5 min

Every sentence needs a verb — how do you say I am, you are, he is in Latin?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “I am.”
  • Ask how in Latin.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Sum, Es, Est

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present the conjugation.
  • Say them aloud.
  • Note the endings change.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Repeat.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Match Them

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Form.
  • Match each one.
  • Use in a sentence.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Use it.
  • Explain.
4

Speak — Speak

12 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “Sum discipulus.”
  • Say “Est amicus.”
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a form of “to be.”
  • Say its meaning.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Give one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Standards for Classical Language Learning (ACL/ACTFL, Introductory).

ACL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand verb forms.

ACL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: use “to be.”

ACL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare verb conjugation.

ACL
Connections 3.1

Connect to sentence-building.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Conjugation cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Sum ___.”
  • Use a verb chart.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with sum and est.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add estis.
  • Write three sentences.
  • Explain the endings.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ⚡A verb chart
  • 💻Match the Form of “To Be”
  • 🗣️Audio
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

esseto besumI amesyou areesthe/she/it issumuswe areestisyou all aresuntthey areverbumverb
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does “sum” mean?
I am.
QUESTION 2
What does “est” mean?
He/she/it is.
QUESTION 3
What does “sunt” mean?
They are.

Reflect: esse.

Have students say one sentence in Latin using a form of “to be” (like “Sum discipulus” — I am a student). A printable “to be” sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Latin “To Be” (Sum, Es, Est)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Latin “To Be” (Sum, Es, Est)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Latin “To Be” (Sum, Es, Est)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: es, esse, est, estis, sum, sumus, sunt, verbum
  1. he/she/it is
  2. you are
  3. verb
  4. we are
  5. you all are
  6. I am
  7. to be
  8. they are

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does “sum” mean?
  2. What does “est” mean?
  3. What does “sunt” mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) est · 2) es · 3) verbum · 4) sumus · 5) estis · 6) sum · 7) esse · 8) sunt
Part B: 1) I am. 2) He/she/it is. 3) They are.