Procedure
1. Warmer: I like to use the "X is made from X" warmer. Students in groups of 2-3 have to brainstorm sentences using this model, for example "Cheese is made from milk", "Pencils are made from wood", etc. The group with the most will be the winner.
2. Review the passive form: subject + is/are + v3. Check the meaning. Does the cheese make something or does someone make the cheese? Does it say who makes the cheese? Why not? (The subject does not do the action, but receives it. It is not necessary to say who does the action because we are more interested in the results.)
3. Explain that you are going to watch a video about how something is made. Elicit any predictions or prior knowledge from the students.
4. Students watch the video and take notes on the process, especially any passive sentences they hear.
5. Check unfamiliar vocabulary and watch again if necessary.
6. Students in pairs construct passive sentences describing the process.
7. Have students write their sentences on the board and correct errors with the class.
8. Students write up the process in full to be handed in and marked.
Videos to use
Processes are an ideal context for the present passive, so you can easily find lesson material by typing "how [anything] is made" into YouTube according to your students' interests. Here are some I've tried before.
1. How ice cream is made
A slightly dated educational BBC clip. My students weren't thrilled by it, but it worked for the lesson.
2. How orange juice is made
They liked this one more. Lesson I learnt: don't use clips that are older than your students.
3. How bread is made
Weirdly hypnotic.
4. How olive oil is made
Delicious.
5. How glass is made
Quite interesting.
Happy process writing!
