SKU:What happened
What Happened? Past Tenses Level 1
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30 "What happened?" cards for learning the past tense, with audio in 6 languages
What Happened? Past Tenses Level 1 introduces children to talking about things that have already happened. Each card shows the cheeky monkey just after he's done something, such as a pile of banana peels or a freshly painted horse, and asks "What happened?" Children describe it in the past tense: "The monkey ate too much." The verbs are the earliest ones children use, a mix of regular and irregular.
At a glance
- 30 jumbo cards, 14.5 × 10 cm, 30 action words in the past tense
- Each picture shows a completed action, with "What happened?" at the top and the past-tense sentence below
- Early, everyday verbs, a mix of regular (painted, exercised) and irregular (ate)
- Numbered cards: enter the number in the app to hear the question and the answer
- Writing lines on the back for children to practise writing, or for parents to write the sentence in their own language
- Sturdy glossy laminated card with rounded corners
- Audio in 6 languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Punjabi
- Ages 3+
- Follows the developmental sequence of early language
- Chatterbugs app access code included
- Designed by speech and language professionals
Why show the action after it's happened
The past tense is about something that's finished. Each picture shows the result of an action rather than the action itself: the empty banana skins, the painted horse, the sweaty monkey at the gym. Children have to work out what he did, which gives them a real reason to use the past tense rather than just repeating it.
How the audio works
- Go to chatterbugs.app and enter the code from your box.
- Choose a language.
- Enter the card number to hear the question and the answer.
In the app you can slow the audio down, replay the question or the answer, and record your own voice as the model. Audio plays online, so you'll need an internet connection.
How to use the cards
- Cover the sentence and ask, "What happened?"
- Look for the clues, such as the banana peels or the paint drips.
- Model the past tense if needed: "He ate the bananas."
- Check the card. Uncover the sentence or play the audio.
- Talk about your child's day. "What did you eat?"
Who it's for
- Children who use simple sentences and are ready to talk about the past
- Children who mostly use the present tense ("I eat" for "I ate")
- Children with speech or language delays, including children with autism
- Children learning English as an additional language, or a home language alongside English
- Parents, preschool teachers and speech and language therapists
Where it fits
- Before: Verb Sequences, the same action in the past, present and future
- Before: Action Words in Sentences, using verbs in full sentences
- Next: What Happened? Past Tenses Level 2, irregular past-tense verbs
- Next: Learn to Tell Stories, putting events in order to tell a story
- Better value: Sentence Learners Smart Bundle, six decks including this one, for less than buying them separately
Who made it
Brainy Bug Resources decks are designed by speech and language professionals with extensive clinical experience in mainstream schools, special schools and community clinics. Each deck follows how children's language actually develops, from single words to two-word phrases, sentences and reasoning.
Frequently asked questions
What age is it for?
3 years and up.
Are the verbs regular or irregular?
Both. The deck uses the earliest verbs children learn, which naturally include regular forms like "painted" and irregular ones like "ate".
How do I find the audio for a card?
Open chatterbugs.app in your phone's browser, enter your code, choose a language, and type in the card number. There's nothing to download.
What's on the back?
Writing lines. Children can practise writing, or parents can write the sentence in their home language.
Which languages are included?
English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Punjabi.
Do I have to pay for the audio?
No. An access code comes with the deck.
- Who We Are
- What Makes Us Unique
Brainy Bug Resources is built by speech and language therapists with extensive clinical experience in mainstream schools, special schools and community clinics. Because language lies at the heart of all learning, our range goes beyond first words, covering vocabulary, grammar, reasoning, emotions, storytelling, phonics and more. Every resource follows the order in which children's language develops.
- Built in developmental order. Each deck has a clear place in a child's language journey, so you always know the next step.
- Audio in up to 9 languages. Hear every word and sentence through the Chatterbugs app, slow it down, or record your own voice as the model.
- Designed to get children talking. Picture-only sides, a monkey character and contrast sets give children a reason to find the words themselves rather than copy them.
- Space for your home language. Writing lines on the back let parents add words in the language they speak at home.
- Made for home, classroom and therapy. The same cards work for a parent at the dinner table and a therapist in a session.