Have your students sit in a circle. The first student chooses a verb, either by drawing a card out of a hat, or by rolling dice and matching the number to a verb chart. The student then creates a question with the verb in the "Have you ever..." format and asks the second student in the circle. The second student answers, and then chooses a verb and asks the third student a question. Continue around the circle. Each correct question or answer rewards one point.
Divide the class into two groups representing fish and cats. Create a number of cut-out fish out of construction paper. Write a verb on each and place the cut-outs in a fish bowl. Create a number of cut-out cats, each with a verb written on it, and place them in a small box. One of the "fish" students draws a verb from the fish bowl and forms a sentence with it. If the sentence is in correct past-tense format, the fish goes back into the fish bowl. If the sentence is incorrect, the fish goes into the cat box and a "cat" draws a verb from the cat box. The game continues back and forth until either all the fish are "eaten" by the cats, or all the cats are "wet" from falling in the fish bowl.
Draw two checkerboard-style diagrams on the board and label each square with a number. Label one diagram "one" to "12" to represent verbs and the other "one" to "12" to represent nouns. The first student rolls two dice twice, the first roll for a verb and the second roll for a noun. Challenge the student to create a past tense sentence with the two words. If the sentence is correct, the student gets a point. Continue until each student has a chance to create a sentence. Use humorous words to help get students into the game.
Create two sets of 14 playing cards each. One set should be a red suit, ace through king, and one set should be a black suit, ace through king. Label one set of cards with infinitive verbs, and the other set with past-tense verbs, making sure that the verbs on the first set coincide numerically with the verbs on the second set. Lay the cards face down in separate groups. Challenge a student to flip over one card from each group and decide if the verbs -- one in infinitive form and the other in past tense -- match or not. If the student does not get a match, the cards are returned to their places and the game continues. If they match, the student keeps the cards. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
Divide the class into pairs. Each pair will be given a list of auction items, which are sentences that use the past tense, and an imaginary amount of money, represented on paper or by play money. The auction list should include a 50/50 ratio of correct and incorrect sentences. After the students review the auction list, begin the auction. Pairs will bid on each sentence based on whether or not they think it is correct. A correct sentence means you get your money back; an incorrect sentence means you lose your money. Check answers and count up the money after all the sentences are auctioned off. The pair with the most money at the finish wins the game.