Lesson Plans for Posts

Here are the lesson plans and activities for each post of the ESL Voices Current Lesson Blog. They have been organized for your convenience by category. Some topics are  listed in more than one category to  make it easier for you to find the lesson plan that you need. You may use the plans as they are or as a basis to create your own lesson plans.

Format for Lesson Plans:  All of the lessons have a similar format, starting with new vocabulary,  a series of  reading questions for comprehension,  followed by grammar, speaking, and writing exercises. Many times students will see the “same words” used in different segments of the lesson. For example, in the pre-reading, while reading (words in context)  and post-reading (questions for discussion)  video (questions for listening comprehension). This is to reinforce students’ definitional and contextual understanding of new vocabulary.

Click here for the CURRENT LESSON or view previous Lesson Plans. Visit: Business Writing, ReadingWriting, Speaking, Listening, Vocabulary, Grammar, Charts & OrganizersResources for Teachers-Site Map.

ANIMALS

Dolphins May be Calling Each Other by Name!

Chimps Are Out of the Research Labs…Almost!

Teaching Gorillas to Open and Say…Ahhh

Humpback Songs Top Itunes Charts!

 Reconsidering The Robin 

ART

The Great Gatsby: The “Cover” Story

Becoming Van Gogh

Georgia O’Keeffe: “The Grey Lady of New Mexico”

Maurice Sendak: No Fear Of “The Wild Things” 

BUSINESS

Google’s NY Offices: A Labyrinth of Awesome

What NOT to Put on Your Resume!

Using Technology for Job Success: How “Searchable” Are You?

Disaster Proof Homes For the Super Rich

Goodbye Mary…Hello Superstar Nanny: $$$

Facebook Users: $$$…Not! 

COMEDY

Cardinal Dolan & Stephen Colbert: “Between Heaven and Mirth…”

Humor Across Cultures: What Makes Us Laugh? 

Teaching With Comedy!

EDUCATIONAL ISSUES

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

EdX Grading Robots: Teachers’ Helper or Hindrance?

Netiquette: The Return of Etiquette in the digital World

Science Progresses in  American Sign Language Lexicon 

Harvard, Hip-Hop, and the Amazing Bryonn Bain

The U.S. Chess Champs From I.S. 318…Standing Tough in Brooklyn!

American Universities: Time For A Curriculum Change?

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

We “Hear” but do We “Listen”? -Henning Mankell

Leaders Who Carried Big Sticks, and Spoke in Passive Voices 

Teaching With Comedy! 

Teaching L2 Learners About Japan’s Disaster 

FASHION

A Bold Fashion Move…Digital Magazines 

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

“Silent Spring” 50 Years Later…Rachel Carson

Exquisite Beauty… From A Secret Garden! 

Teaching L2 Learners About Japan’s Disaster 

FILM / MEDIA

The Great Gatsby: The Under “Cover” Story

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

Avatar: Techie Sci-Fi or Science Facts?

Female Action Heroes: Smart, Tough, Leather, and Spikes! 

The Magical Life of PI

First jump off the cliff… Loving Ray Bradbury

The Twilight Sagas: Pearls of Wisdom from Vampires and Werewolves

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The “Hobbit” Revisited: in 2012 

Will The “Real” Shakespeare Please Come Forth! 

HEALTH

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

Dieting Strategies That Deliver Results! 

HISTORY

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

Will The “Real” Shakespeare Please Come Forth! 

Leaders Who Carried Big Sticks, and Spoke in Passive Voices 

HOLIDAYS

The History of Easter

The History of New Year’s Celebration in the US 

Old Saint Nick Poem… Plagiarized?

 Why We’ll Always Remember Our Veterans...

A Little Halloween Learning…and Fun!

LITERATURE

The Great Gatsby: The Under “Cover” Story

Toni Morrison At West Point: The Moral Ambiguities of War

Louise Erdrich’s The Round House: Racial Injustice,Violence, and Rape On the Rez

Toni Morrison: “Goodness: Altruism and the Literary Imagination”

 “Silent Spring” 50 Years Later…Rachel Carson

 Charlotte’s Web: Still A Favorite After 60! 

First jump off the cliff… Loving Ray Bradbury

Murice Sendak: No Fear Of “The Wild Things” 

Old Saint Nick Poem… Plagiarized?

We “Hear” but do We “Listen”? -Henning Mankell

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The “Hobbit” Revisited

Will The “Real” Shakespeare Please Come Forth! 

Harry Potter: It All Ends…Except In E-books! 

A Book is a Gift You Can Open Again and Again…

PEOPLE

America Adores Britain’s Prince Harry!

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

The Great Gatsby: The Under “Cover” Story

Toni Morrison At West Point: The Moral Ambiguities of War

Beyonce Languidly “Rows Her Boat” in Autobiographical Film

Yoko Ono: Still Saying “Yes” To Life 

First jump off the cliff… Loving Ray Bradbury

Murice Sendak: No Fear Of “The Wild Things” 

 “Silent Spring” 50 Years Later…Rachel Carson

Nicki Minaj: Mesmerizing, Outrageous, and Wonderfully Complex!

Lady Gaga and Oprah Tackle Bullying!

Whitney Elizabeth Houston: In Remembrance…

We “Hear” but do We “Listen”? -Henning Mankell

Björk: Beautiful, Creative, Fearless…and Nerdy?

Saying Goodbye to “Lady O”… 

Michelle Obama: The Force Behind The Power 

Colbert’s 2012 Presidential Campaign…Really?

American Icon Elizabeth Taylor Dies

PLACES TO VISIT

Looking for Summer Thrills? Try Outrunning Bloodthirsty Zombies!

POLITICS

America Adores Britain’s Prince Harry!

Toni Morrison At West Point: The Moral Ambiguities of War

Presidential Inauguration: “Faith in America’s Future” 

MSNBC: “Let’s Get It Done”: Confident and Combative, President Obama Takes Charge

The Awesomeness of “Diamond” Joe Biden 

PRESIDENT OBAMA WINS 2ND TERM!

Obama: A President For All Seasons 

“The Choice” Is Ours… 

Round 2: The President Wins Debate!

Is American Prosperity In Decline? Yes… No…Maybe?

BHM Celebrates First Lady Michelle Obama: Beauty, Intellect, and Compassion! 

Michelle Obama: The Force Behind The Power 

2012… Obama and Clinton: The Winning Ticket?

Colbert’s 2012 Presidential Campaign…Really?

The Most Wanted Face of Terrorism…Dead! 

POP CULTURE

America Adores Britain’s Prince Harry!

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

Netiquette: The Return of Etiquette in the digital World

Beyonce Languidly “Rows Her Boat” in Autobiographical Film-

Yoko Ono: Still Saying “Yes” To Life 

Nicki Minaj: Mesmerizing, Outrageous, and Wonderfully Complex!

Lady Gaga and Oprah Tackle Bullying!

Whitney Elizabeth Houston: In Remembrance…

Björk: Beautiful, Creative, Fearless…and Nerdy? 

Saying Goodbye to “Lady O”… 

Michelle Obama: The Force Behind The Power 

Colbert’s 2012 Presidential Campaign…Really?

American Icon Elizabeth Taylor Dies 

PSYCHOLOGY

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

You Listen, So What Do You Hear?   

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

Semantic Illusions:“Can A Man Marry His Widow’s Sister?” 

To sleep, perchance to dream…ay, there’s the rub.

RELIGION

So…The Devil Made Me “Not” Do It?

SCIENCE

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

Dolphins may be calling each other by name! 

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

Alert: Your House Just Might Contain “a mad surprise party of species.”

 “Silent Spring” 50 Years Later…Rachel Carson

A Dance of Death Might Prove: E=Mc2

The Flying Engineers! 

The Mysterious Firefly Draws a Crowd! 

SOCIAL ISSUES

America Adores Britain’s Prince Harry!

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

The Two Sides of Facial Recognition Technology

Toni Morrison At West Point: The Moral Ambiguities of War

Google’s NY Offices: A Labyrinth of Awesome

Disaster Proof Homes…For The Super Rich 

You Listen, So What Do You Hear?   

Nannies: The Higher The Salary, The More Love for Your Child?

So…The Devil Made Me “Not” Do It?

The U.S. Chess Champs From I.S. 318…Standing Tough in Brooklyn!

Goodbye Mary…Hello Superstar Nanny: $$$

Lady Gaga and Oprah Tackle Bullying!

Jeremy Lin Proves Asian Men Can Jump! 

BHM Celebrates First Lady Michelle Obama: Beauty, Intellect, and Compassion! 

Female Action Heroes: Smart, Tough, Leather, and Spikes! 

Facebook Users: $$$…Not! 

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

Dieting Strategies That Deliver Results! 

Humor Across Cultures: What Makes Us Laugh? 

A Little Halloween Learning…and Fun!

Transgender Children

Beauty: In the Eyes of the Beholder…or the Media? 

 Japan’s Elderly Get A Lift …From a Robot! 

Colbert’s 2012 Presidential Campaign…Really?

Japan: A Hug from Mickey…Can Work Magic! 

SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES

Autistic 13 -Year-Old Uses Music to Fight Bullies!

Science Progresses in  American Sign Language Lexicon 

Synesthesia: “J is purple…Meat is sharp, and  August is acid green…”

The Lion King Welcomes the Autistic

SPORTS

Claressa Shields:The U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Champion of Boxing!

Meet Clarissa Shields: The Youngest Member On The USA Olympic Boxing Team

Mary Kom: India’s Champion Going For The Gold!

Jeremy Lin Proves Asian Men Can Jump! 

TECHNOLOGY

The Two Sides of Facial Recognition Technology

Jurassic Park 20 Years Later: Scientists Still Intrigued With T-rex!

EdX Grading Robots: Teachers’ Helper or Hindrance?

What?…Que?…Quoi?…Nani?…Simultaneous translation by computers

Science Progresses in  American Sign Language Lexicon 

Disaster Proof Homes For the Super Rich

The “Dragon” Takes Flight!  (The Falcon 9)

 Robots On the Ground, In Space…and On the Sea!

Invisibility: No Longer Just Fiction...

 Japan’s Elderly Get A Lift …From a Robot!

A Bold Fashion Move…Digital Magazines

 

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