Barbie Rocks!
ESL Lesson PlansBarbie Rocks!

Barbie Rocks!

This engaging ESL lesson plan explores the iconic Barbie through listening, speaking, and vocabulary activities. Students discuss trivia, watch movie trailers, and analyze societal themes like beauty standards and gender roles. The lesson includes vocabulary gap-fills, critical discussions, and comprehension questions to enhance fluency and critical thinking. Perfect for sparking lively conversations and cultural exploration in the classroom!

Skills

  • Can account for and sustain their opinions in discussion by providing relevant explanations, arguments and comments.
Online Interactive
Based on CEFR
Fully Customizable
1

What do you know about Barbie? What does she look like? What's her personality like? Guess the answers to the questions below.

Barbie is one of the most famous dolls in the world. She first appeared in 1959 when she was created by Ruth Handler. Ruth was inspired to make Barbie after watching her daughter play with paper dolls. She wanted to make a doll that could be anything a child wanted her to be. Ruth worked with the toy company Mattel to bring Barbie to life. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, and she is from a fictional place called Willows, Wisconsin. When Barbie was first sold, she wore a black and white swimsuit and had blonde hair. She was different from other dolls because she was an adult, not a baby or young child. Barbie had a variety of clothes and accessories, letting children imagine different adventures for her. She quickly became popular, and soon, many people were buying her. Over the years, Barbie changed with the times. Her fashion and even her careers have evolved. She has been an astronaut, doctor, athlete, and even a president! Barbie's music career is also famous. She appeared as a rock star, rapper, and more. This shows kids that they can imagine all kinds of futures. Barbie also celebrates diversity. Today, Barbie dolls come in many different skin tones, body shapes, and with various hairstyles. This change helps more children relate to Barbie and feel included. Barbie's story continues to grow as new dolls and ideas are released. Barbie has taught generations of kids about dreaming big and exploring endless possibilities. She encourages everyone to follow their dreams, no matter how big they may seem. With her ever-changing styles and roles, Barbie remains a beloved toy for children around the world.
1
Who created the Barbie doll?
2
What made Barbie different from other dolls when she was first introduced?
3
What does the text suggest about Barbie's purpose?
4
How has Barbie changed over the years?
5
Where is Barbie supposedly from?
6
What is one way Barbie now celebrates diversity?
2

Watch one of the 'Barbie' movie trailers. Split into pairs and discuss the following questions. Be ready to share with the rest of the group.

3

Read the words and collocations, do you know their meanings? Try to fill in the gaps and determine the meaning of these collocations based on the context in the sentences.

4

Watch another short video about the Barbie movie and answer the questions.

5

Discuss the questions in groups or pairs.

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