ESL Uncaged

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): Is laughter really the best medicine? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Laughter is a behaviour we share with chimpanzees, gorillas, mice and even parrots. We laugh to show amusement and agreement. But is it really as good for our health as the old adage would have us believe? In this B2+ worksheet, students will  Study a video about the science of laughter Learn six laughter-related  idioms Discuss three phrasal verbs: laugh at , laugh with , laugh off See advanced adjectives to describe a group of laughing friends  Read and answer questions about "laughing yoga" Differentiate between to + infinitive  vs.  the gerund  after certain phrases  Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Click  HERE   f or the worksheet answers  Lesson objectives: 1) To match six pictures with LAUGH-related phrasal verbs (to l...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): What causes your leg to fall asleep? -   BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content If you've ever sat cross-legged for too long, you'll know how quickly your leg can lose sensation. Inevitably, that numbness is followed by an oh-so painful case of pins and needles as your leg "wakes up".  In this B2+ worksheet, students will  Study a video about the science of pins and needles Learn six leg-related  idioms Match six pictures with  phrasal verbs based on STEP See  pun-ny leg-related jokes  Read and answer questions about innervated prosthetic legs Learn how to use the verb "wish" in unreal and real situations Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Click  HERE   f or the worksheet answers  Lesson objectives: 1) To match six pictures with STEP-related phrasal verbs (to step down, to step in, step on it, step back, to step...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): What was life like for British coal miners? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Imagine endless hours of stooping over, crawling and squatting in dark and dank coal mines. Over one million men worked as coal miners in 1920s Britain, digging up fuel for the nation's fireplaces and factories.  In this B2+ worksheet, students will  Study a video about coal mining in Britain Choose between  "used to" vs. "would" for past narratives Learn four phrasal verbs based on DIG Study six coal mining-related  idioms Read and answer questions about a George Orwell essay on coal mining See advanced adjectives to describe coal miners' working conditions Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Click  HERE   f or the worksheet answers Lesson objectives: 1) To learn four phrasal verbs based on DIG (to dig into, to dig up, to dig out, dig in!) 2) ...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): What is Dolly the Sheep's scientific legacy? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content When the news broke in 1996 that scientists had cloned a sheep, dire and fantastic predictions were made: humans would be cloned, lost children rebirthed and diseases cured. Now, 25 years later, we are asking: what is Dolly the Sheep's scientific legacy?  In this FREE B2+ worksheet, students will  Study a video about Dolly the Sheep Learn six sheep-related  idioms Complete sheep-related sentences using either the definite or indefinite articles See  pun-ny sheep jokes   Read and answer questions about stem cell research Practise using prepositions to complete a spot-the-difference exercise Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Click  HERE   f or the worksheet answers. Lesson objectives: 1) To practise using prepositions to complete a spot-...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): Why are some people passionate about puppetry? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content How do puppeteers use a hunk of wood, some string and subtle hand movements to create the illusion of life? Puppetry is an ancient art, and the people who still practise it today have accumulated not only a great amount of passion, but also many tricks and techniques. In this B2+ worksheet, students will  Study a video about puppetry Insert the correct dummy subjects  into sentences Learn six string-related  idioms See  pun-ny jokes  about puppets Read about the Macy's Day Parade inflatable dirigibles Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Click  HERE   f or the worksheet answers Lesson objectives: 1) To complete a spot-the-difference exercise, using prepositions of place to locate the stand-out features 2) To insert dummy subjects into s...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): What do your fingerprints say about you? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Police have long been able to identify suspects from their fingerprints. Now, scientists are pioneering a technique that tells police what suspects were touching before the crime - be it drugs, food, petrol or any number of other substances that could help detectives piece together a profile. In this B2+ worksheet, students will learn finger-related idioms; they will revise subject, object and reflexive pronouns; and they will match common hand gestures with their names. They will also put their comprehension skills to work on an article and video about how scientists are pioneering new fingerprint technology. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!     Lesson objectives: 1) To match six hand gestures with their names (to flip someone the bird, to do jazz hands, to give...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): Why frogs sometimes fall from the sky -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content The weather forecast for today: cloudy, cold and with a chance of frog rain. Frog and fish downpours have been widely reported across the world for hundreds of years. But is there any scientifc explanation? In this B2+ worksheet, students will study frog-related puns, a poem and rain-related idioms. They will also put their comprehension skills to work on an article and video about frog rain. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Lesson objectives: 1) To understand nuance and puns with six frog-related jokes. 2) To practise pronunciation and comprehension by reading a tongue-twister poem about a two-toed tree toad (who loved a three-toed ground toad).  3) To explain the mystery of frog rain, using information collected from a short Sci-Show video. 4) To expand the students' r...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): How eggs are used to make flu vaccines -   BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Could an egg save your life? Is it possible to hatch a supermarket egg? Can you make cakes without eggs? Find out the answers to all these questions and more in this week's lesson plan! Plus, six egg-related idioms, an exercise involving the subjunctive form of "to be" and some egg-related puns. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!    Lesson objectives: 1) Understand colloquial language/puns related to eggs through the study of jokes and idioms 2) Practise explaining scientific concepts and stepwise processes (the production of flu vaccines) using adverbs of sequence (firstly, next, after, then, lastly) 3) Understand how to use "to be" in the subjunctive mood 4) Express one's own opinion about an ethical issue (eating eggs) in response to a text about hatchin...

Advanced lesson plan (B2+): How to win friends and influence people -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content In 1937, arguably the most influential self-help book ever was published: How to Win Friends and Influence People , by American author Dale Carnegie.  But how relevant are its lessons in the modern world? Decide for yourself in this week's worksheet, which also introduces six friend-related idioms and phrasal verbs, as well as a mountain of advanced vocabulary. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will complete five quotes from Carnegie's best-seller, using vocabulary from a list. They will then discuss their thoughts about the advice.  Key vocabulary: to dangle, bristling, temper, shun, vanity, rattlesnakes, to be fond of, incessantly. 2) Students will watch a video (9:00) entitled "How to win friends and influence people - a summary of C...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): The language of pain -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content OUCH! How would we describe an ear ache, an ant bite, giving birth or being kicked in the testicles? It can be difficult even in your native language.  Fortunately, doctors in pain clinics have designed the McGill Pain Questionnaire to help patients put their feelings into words - a tool we can also use as ESL teachers. In this B2+ worksheet, students will learn lots of vocabulary related to pain, as well as studying a Ted-Ed video about the nervous system and an article about fibromyalgia. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will read a short extract from Elaine Scarry's 1987 book The Body in Pain . They will have to match underlined words with their definitions.  Key vocabulary: fragmentary, coax, bypass, perceive, amplify, unreliable narrator. 2...

Advanced lesson plan (B2+): Why don't country flags use the colour purple? - BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content    A nation's flag symbolises the homeland of millions of people. But why, of the 195 national flags currently in existence, do only two countries (Dominica and Nicaragua) feature the colour purple? Find out in this week's B2+ worksheet. In addition, students will learn six flag-related idioms, read an article about the British Union Jack and give a short presentation on the history of their own nation's flag.  Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will match 12 flags with the correct countries, as well as naming two things they associate with each of the countries. They will then match four "pun-ny" jokes about flags with the correct punchlines. Key vocabulary: pole, plus, hang out, to wave. 2) Students will watch a s...

  Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): How to survive the apocalypse -    BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Who are the "doomsday preppers"? In light of the global pandemic of 2020, should we all start stockpiling and making contingency plans for future catastrophes? In this B2/C1 worksheet, students will learn some survival tips, discuss the psychology of "doomsday preppers" and learn phrases related to the topics (e.g. "better safe than sorry", "tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists"). Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will label nine survival items and discuss which three they would want in an apocalyptic scenario. Key vocabulary: axe, backpack, sniper rifle, gas stove, torch, compass, thermos flask, gloves, first aid kit. 2) Students will watch a video (8:41), offering tips on how to survive in the wilderness - fr...

   Advanced lesson plan (B2): What's that ringing in your ears? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content 1 in 8 people have tinnitus. So what causes it? And is there a cure? In this B2+ worksheet, students will study a Ted-Ed video on the causes of tinnitus, as well as the subtle differences between the verbs "to listen", "to hear", "to overhear" and "to eavesdrop". Six idioms related to ears will also be presented to students. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!     Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will match four images of people in various situations with the verbs "to hear", "to listen", "to eavesdrop" and "to overhear". They will then find the correct punchlines for four pun-ny jokes related to hearing. Key vocabulary: handy, symptoms, to shine, tip of the iceberg. 2) Students will watch a video (5:38) en...

  Advanced lesson plan (B2): Why are planes painted white? -   BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Ever wondered why planes are nearly always painted white? In this FREE B2/C1 worksheet, students will find out why white is the bigwig of the aeronautical world. They will also learn vocabulary related to planes and idioms about flying. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will label an image of the inside of a plane. Then, they will match three pun-ny jokes about clowns with their punchlines. Key vocabulary: to take off, to land, altitude, flight attendant, head rest, arm rest. 2) Students will watch a video (6:02) entitled "Why are planes usually painted white?" and answer the comprehension questions.  Key vocabulary: paint job, false economy, first-world problems. 3) Next, students will see  six flying-related idioms: to fly in...

Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): How salmon find their way back home -    BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Join these tenacious salmon on their epic journey from the depths of the oceans, all the way back to the rivers where they hatched. In this B2/C1 worksheet, students will learn fish-related vocabulary, see six idioms related to salmon and study an article and video about these tenacious globe-trotting fish.  Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will match six pun-ny jokes related to fish with their punchlines. In the process, they will learn about fish anatomy and wordplay. Key vocabulary: scales, gills, hook, loan shark, borrow. 2) Students will watch a short video (4:37) about the lifecycle of a salmon, and how they help sustain an entire forest creek ecosystem. Key vocabulary: sloppy eater, perilous, influx. 3) Next, ...

Advanced lesson plan (B2): Why are we afraid of clowns? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Give your students a fright this Halloween with a creepy lesson plan about clowns! In this B2/C1 worksheet, students will learn how clowns morphed from friendly sideshow goofballs to the terrifying villains of blockbuster horror films.  Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will match six pun-ny jokes about clowns with their punchlines. They will discuss their earliest memories of clowns and their own feelings about them.  Key vocabulary: juggler, to crack someone up, to have big shoes to fill.  2) Students will watch a video (10:37) entitled "Why are we afraid of clowns?" and answer the comprehension questions.  Key vocabulary: slapstick comedy, trope, down-and-out, steep price.  3) Next, students will see  six clown-rela...

  Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): What was the Golden Age of Piracy? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Arrr you ready to be transported back to the times when Blackbeard and his men terrorised merchants crossing the Caribbean sea?  In this B2/C1 worksheet, students will learn how pirates came to be associated with parrots and peglegs, as well as six pirate-related idioms and some prepositions of direction for navigating the high seas in search of plunder! Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will use prepositions of direction to guide a cartoon pirate to his treasure; in addition, they will match four pun-ny jokes about pirates with the correct punchlines. 2) Students will watch a video (7:30) about the Golden Age of Piracy (1650s-1730s).  Key vocabulary: treaty, stamp out, backfire, put an end to (something). 3) Next, stud...

    Advanced lesson plan (B2 and above): How to make a decision -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Ever found it difficult to choose between two paths? This week, we're talking about those crossroads moments in life... In this B2+ worksheet, students will discuss Robert Frost's famous poem, 'The Road Not Taken', look at idioms related to decision-making and watch a video about how to make difficult choices. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!   Lesson activities: 1) To begin, students will read possibly the most famous poem in the English language: The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost, and discuss their interpretations. 2) Students will learn  six decision-making idioms/phrases: my way or the highway; to sit on the fence; to take a back seat; the lesser of two evils; all things considered; to flip flop/ They will then answer questions containing these phrases.  3) Ne...

  Advanced lesson plan (B1 and above): Why elephants never forget - BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Elephants have famously long memories: they can remember people who have hurt them and helped them many decades after the event.  In this B1/C1 worksheet, students will learn a host of astounding facts about these gentle giants. Also, they will study six elephant-related idioms, read an ancient Indian allegory about the flappy-eared beasts, and more! Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee! Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will read six pun-ny jokes about elephants, and discuss times they've seen elephants in person or on TV.  2) Students will watch a short video (5:22) from Ted-ED about elephants and their fantastic memories.  Key vocabulary: companions, boast, encephalisation quotient, matriarch, to exact revenge. 3) Next, students will see  six elephant-related...

  Advanced lesson plan (B1 and above): How intelligent are crows? -  BUY ME A COFFEE if you like my FREE ESL content Learn why scientists think crows are as smart as seven-year-old children. In this B1 and above worksheet, students will watch a video about the unique way crows react when a member of their species dies; in addition, they will read a short, cryptic story about a scarecrow; they will study bird- and crow-related idioms; and they will read an article that summarises scientific research on the immense intelligence of these strange corvids. Educational materials shouldn't be paywalled. Show your support for my ESL content by  buying me a coffee!      Lesson activities: 1) To warm up, students will read a cyrptic story by Lebanese-American writer Kahlil Gibran about a scarecrow and discuss how they interpret it.  Key vocabulary: lasting joy, stuffed, straw, to belittle. 2) Students will watch a short video (4 minutes 34 seconds) about ho...