Thankful Hearts
ESL Lesson PlansThankful Hearts

Thankful Hearts

This ESL lesson plan celebrates Thanksgiving with engaging reading and speaking activities focused on gratitude. Students will explore holiday vocabulary, match sentence endings, and discuss traditions in a group setting. The lesson includes a fun "thankful chain" activity to foster conversation skills and encourage sharing personal reflections. Perfect for A2 learners, it combines cultural insights with practical language exercises.

Skills

  • Can identify specific information in simpler written material he / she encounters, such as letters, brochures and short newspaper articles describing events.
Online Interactive
Based on CEFR
Fully Customizable
1

Warm-up

Pick the words related to Thanksgiving. Compare your answers in pairs. If you don't know some words, check the glossary. Then, check your answers with your teacher.
spooky decorations to decorate the tree cranberry sauce to write a letter to Santa to cook a turkey costume party gingerbread cookies to sing carols to be thankful to watch parade trick or treat mashed potatoes to watch a football game on TV gingerbread cookies
2

Glossary

3

Read Gabriela's story about her first Thanksgiving in the US. What did she like about it?

4

Find the information in the text and share it with the rest of the group. Then discuss the questions.

5

Find the right ending for each sentence.

6

Make a thankful chain.

Other lessons in this category

C1
Carnivals Around the World

This engaging ESL lesson plan explores carnivals around the world through reading, speaking, and writing activities designed for C1-level adult learners. Students will analyze headlines, discuss traditions, read a news article, complete quizzes, and participate in creative exercises like descriptive storytelling. The lesson balances group interaction with skill-building tasks, ensuring a dynamic and immersive learning experience.

B1-B2
Digital Foorprint

This lesson plan helps B1/B2 ESL students explore the concept of online privacy and its implications. Through engaging group discussions, vocabulary-building exercises, and reading activities, learners analyze a news article about managing their digital footprint. The lesson plan targets skills such as identifying key points in texts and expressing abstract ideas, while fostering critical thinking about balancing privacy and professional online presence.

C1-C2
Asceticism

This ESL lesson plan explores the concept of asceticism, combining vocabulary, reading, and discussion exercises for C1/C2 learners. Students will scan a complex text, match key terms to definitions, and engage in thought-provoking debates about modern interpretations of ascetic principles. The lesson develops skills in skimming, hypothesizing, and evaluating alternative arguments while fostering rich vocabulary acquisition and critical thinking.

C1
The Economics of Shein

This ESL lesson plan explores the fast fashion giant Shein through listening, speaking, and writing activities. Students engage in discussions, vocabulary matching, and video analysis to examine Shein's business practices, from its innovative small-batch production model to the ethical concerns surrounding its operations. The lesson concludes with group brainstorming and presentations, encouraging critical thinking and persuasive communication in a dynamic group setting. Perfect for advanced learners looking to refine their language skills while tackling real-world topics.

B1
Brunch - A New and Popular Meal

Engage students in this lesson plan designed for B1 ESL learners. Students will explore the concept of brunch, learning relevant vocabulary and discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this popular meal. The lesson plan features interactive activities like vocabulary matching, reading comprehension, and a speaking task where students share their own opinions. The session wraps up with a creative writing or audio assignment to solidify their understanding.

B2
At the Gym

This ESL lesson plan introduces gym vocabulary and listening skills in a 60-minute, individual lesson designed for B2-level teens and adults. Through engaging activities, students will discuss workout motivations, match key fitness terms, and watch a video workout to complete comprehension exercises. This lesson plan focuses on expanding vocabulary and improving listening comprehension related to gym routines, encouraging students to discuss fitness goals and strategies confidently.

B2
Beyond the Classroom: Remote Learning Days

This lesson plan helps ESL students develop reading and debate skills. Through engaging activities, students will explore the benefits and challenges of remote learning, scan texts for details, and articulate arguments using structured discussion prompts. The lesson plan includes vocabulary exercises, text analysis, and a debate segment to enhance critical thinking and communication.

A2
Good at, Bad at with The Big Bang Theory

This fun and engaging ESL lesson plan for teens and adults helps students practice grammar, build vocabulary, and improve their speaking skills using characters from The Big Bang Theory. Through group discussions, character analysis, and real-life examples, students explore how to use the expressions "be good at" and "be bad at" in context. The 45-minute lesson plan includes reading, comprehension, and interactive group activities designed to boost fluency and confidence. Perfect for A2 learners looking to combine pop culture with everyday English use.