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ESL Lesson PlansESL History Lesson Plans

ESL History Lesson Plans

Time travel through history! Our ESL history lesson plans cover world-changing events, ancient civilizations, and iconic figures. With storytelling, debates, and creative projects, students develop language skills while connecting to the past.

B2
Why Do We Still Have Kings and Queens Today?

This ESL lesson plan explores the role of monarchies today through reading comprehension, discussion, and group activities. Students start with a warm-up quiz, read an informative text about monarchies, and answer multiple-choice questions. Vocabulary matching and critical thinking exercises help learners analyze the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy. The lesson concludes with a group debate, encouraging students to practice speaking and argumentation skills. Perfect for developing reading, vocabulary, and discussion skills in an engaging way!

A2-B1
Exploring St. Patrick's Day

This ESL lesson plan is designed for A2-B1 learners in a group setting, focusing on speaking and listening skills. Students will explore St. Patrick’s Day through engaging activities, including picture discussions, vocabulary building, video comprehension, and interactive pair work. The lesson encourages participation with guided questions and a fun cultural exploration.

C1-C2
Secret Societies Throughout History

This ESL lesson plan explores the fascinating world of secret societies throughout history, focusing on vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills. Designed for advanced learners, it includes structured exercises like sentence matching, video-based comprehension, and word-definition activities to build key historical vocabulary and fluency. Students will engage in discussions about the role of secrecy, conspiracy, and initiation in groups like the Illuminati and Freemasons. Perfect for fostering deep, critical conversations on complex topics in English.

A2-B1
Famous Animals

This ESL lesson plan introduces kids to famous animals like Balto and Oscar through individual reading, writing, and listening exercises. In this 60-minute individual lesson for A2-B1 students, learners read stories about remarkable animals, answer comprehension questions, and discuss how animals impact our lives. The lesson encourages vocabulary development and reflective writing on animal heroes, building essential skills in a fun, engaging way.

B2
Bizarre Beauty Standards in History

This lesson plan explores unusual beauty practices from different eras and cultures. It encourages students to engage in thoughtful discussions about the impact of beauty standards on society and reflect on how beauty ideals have evolved over time. Students will expand their vocabulary and improve their listening comprehension by watching a video on historical beauty trends, participating in discussions, and completing vocabulary exercises.

B1
Historical Diets: What Ancient People Ate

This lesson plan engages B1-level ESL students with vocabulary matching, reading comprehension and creative writing prompts activities, focused on how ancient civilizations sourced and consumed their food. Students will learn about the diets of Egyptians, Greeks, and Native Americans, exploring plant-based foods, foraging, and more.

A2
Why Ancient Egyptians Loved Cats

This ESL lesson plan, designed for A2-B1 level teens, explores the unique bond between Ancient Egyptians and cats through engaging reading and speaking activities. Students will uncover historical facts about cats in Egyptian culture, complete fill-in-the-blank dialogues, and discuss the role of pets in history. The lesson enhances reading comprehension and vocabulary while allowing students to reflect on the historical significance of pets and their impact on human lives.

B1-B2
Guy Fawkes Night

This engaging ESL lesson plan focuses on Guy Fawkes Night, targeting listening and speaking skills in a group setting for B1-B2 level adults and teens. Over 60 minutes, students will unscramble words to learn about the celebration, engage in pair discussions on historical events, and watch videos to enhance their understanding. Exercises include fact-checking, answering comprehension questions, and discussing personal reflections on the significance of the event. The lesson is perfect for fostering conversational skills while exploring cultural traditions.

B1-B2
Black History Month

This ESL lesson plan explores the significance of Black History Month in the USA in an individual learning setting, targeting intermediate learners. Students will engage in listening activities, watch videos, and reflect on famous quotes by key historical figures. The lesson focuses on improving listening and vocabulary skills while fostering thoughtful discussions about African American achievements and their ongoing influence on society. It encourages learners to think critically about history’s role in shaping current social issues.

A2
Exploring Famous Historical Landmarks

This ESL lesson plan introduces reading skills and historical vocabulary through individual exploration of world-famous landmarks in a 60-minute session for adults and teens at A2 level. Students will learn key historical terms, read descriptive texts, and practice comprehension with true/false and multiple-choice questions. Through engaging discussion and comparisons, students will develop confidence in reading about historical sites and sharing their opinions on world landmarks.

B2
Ancient Civilizations that Vanished

In this 60-minute ESL lesson, students will delve into the mystery of ancient civilizations that disappeared unexpectedly, focusing on the ancestral Pueblo people. Through reading comprehension, listening exercises, and group discussions, students will explore the challenges faced by these ancient communities. They will practice using the modal verb "might have" to make historical assumptions about the factors that contributed to their downfall, such as social, political, and environmental influences.

Free
B1-B2
What If: Titanic and Conditional Grammar

This ESL lesson plan engages teens and adults in exploring "what if" scenarios using the Titanic's iceberg collision as an example. Over 45 minutes, students will practice grammar skills with a focus on the third conditional through reading and imaginative exercises. Designed for B1-B2 learners, this individual activity encourages reflection on historical events while strengthening their ability to express hypothetical past situations in English.