Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Vocabulary: Fun and Leisure

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage is essential for establishing clear learning goals that students should achieve during the class. By defining specific objectives, the teacher guides both their own preparation and the students' focus. This ensures that all parties are aligned with what is expected from the teaching and learning process, while also providing a solid foundation for assessing students' progress.

Main Objectives:

1. Enhance students' vocabulary, allowing the recognition and use of words and phrases related to leisure activities, hobbies, and fun.

2. Develop oral comprehension and expression skills through practical activities involving the use of the studied vocabulary.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active student participation in knowledge construction through discussions and group activities.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of the Introduction stage is to engage students through problem situations that stimulate the practical application of the studied vocabulary, using real or hypothetical contexts. Additionally, it seeks to contextualize the importance of the theme in various areas of everyday and professional life, encouraging awareness of the content's relevance and motivating students to explore new ways to apply what they've learned.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are visiting an amusement park in the United States and need to communicate with other visitors and staff. What vocabulary in English would you use to describe the attractions or to ask for information?

2. Think of a holiday scenario where you and your friends are discussing leisure plans for the day. How would you express your preferences and suggestions in English, using terms related to hobbies and pastimes?

Contextualization

Knowledge of vocabulary related to fun and leisure is crucial not only for traveling and social interactions in English but also for understanding the culture and current trends in media and entertainment. For example, the ability to discuss movies, music, or sports events in English can enrich the experience of consuming these forms of entertainment and even open doors to careers in areas such as tourism or journalism.

Development

Duration: (70 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and contextually apply the studied vocabulary about fun and leisure. Through playful and collaborative activities, students have the opportunity to reinforce learning, improve their English communication skills, and work as a team. Each proposed activity aims to cater to different learning styles, ensuring that all students can actively participate and benefit from the teaching process.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Film and Series Festival

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop writing skills, English vocabulary, and public presentation abilities.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people, and each group will represent a film and series production company. They will create a new movie or series, including the plot, main characters, locations, and a promotional poster. The challenge is that all work must be done in English, from conception to presentation.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Each group chooses a genre for their movie or series (action, comedy, drama, etc.).

• The groups develop a brief summary of the plot, including the main events of the story.

• Create at least 3 main characters and describe them in English.

• Choose locations for the story and justify their choices in English.

• Draw a promotional poster representing the movie or series, with title and characters.

• Prepare a presentation in English for the rest of the class, explaining the project.

Activity 2 - Cultural Treasure Hunt

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Encourage the use of leisure and fun vocabulary in practical situations, fostering healthy competition and collaboration.

- Description: Students, still in groups, will participate in a treasure hunt in the school, where each found 'treasure' corresponds to a task involving the use of vocabulary related to leisure and fun. Tasks include translating riddles from English to Portuguese, finding hidden objects whose names will be in English, and answering questions about trivia from movies, music, and sports.

- Instructions:

• Organize the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute maps of the school with clues and locations where the 'treasures' are hidden.

• Each found 'treasure' must be accompanied by a specific task that involves vocabulary in English.

• Tasks may include translating sentences, solving riddles, and answering questions about English-speaking culture.

• The first group to complete all tasks and return to the classroom with the correct answers wins.

Activity 3 - Hobbies and Interests Debate

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Practice the use of specific vocabulary related to hobbies and leisure, in addition to developing argumentation and debate skills in English.

- Description: In this activity, students, organized in groups, will participate in a debate about which hobby is the most popular among young people and why. Each group will defend a different hobby, using arguments and English vocabulary to express their opinions and rebut the arguments of the other groups.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students and assign each group a different hobby to defend.

• Hobbies may include video games, sports, arts, reading, among others.

• Each group has time to prepare their arguments and research vocabulary related to the hobby.

• Conduct the debate, where each group presents its arguments and answers questions from the other groups.

• Finally, score and discuss each group's viewpoints.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning by allowing students to reflect on the practical use and relevance of leisure and fun vocabulary in English. Through group discussion, students have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn from each other, and receive feedback from the teacher, which contributes to a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the studied content.

Group Discussion

To start the group discussion, the teacher should encourage each group to share their experiences and learnings from the activities carried out. It is suggested that the teacher use the following questions to guide the discussion: 'What were the biggest challenges when working in English? How did you overcome these challenges? What did you learn new about the vocabulary of leisure and fun during the activities?'

Key Questions

1. What new words or expressions did you discover and found most useful for talking about hobbies and leisure?

2. How can the vocabulary learned today be applied in real leisure situations or social interactions in English?

3. Was there any activity that you found particularly fun or challenging? Why?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to consolidate learning by reviewing the key points of the lesson and ensuring that students have a clear understanding of fun and leisure vocabulary in English. Additionally, it aims to reinforce the connection between theory and practice, showing how the content applied in class is relevant and useful in real contexts. This final reflection helps students to value and internalize what they learned, preparing them for future applications of the acquired knowledge.

Summary

In the conclusion of the class, the teacher should summarize the main points covered, highlighting the new vocabulary learned about fun and leisure in English. It is important to revisit the activities carried out, such as the Film and Series Festival, the Cultural Treasure Hunt, and the Hobbies and Interests Debate, to reinforce the retention of the content.

Theory Connection

Throughout the lesson, theory was applied in practical and interactive contexts, allowing students to see the direct connection between the studied vocabulary and its use in real communication and expression situations. This was achieved through activities that simulate everyday and professional scenarios using English related to leisure and entertainment.

Closing

Finally, it is crucial to emphasize the relevance of fun and leisure vocabulary in English not only for academic situations but also for daily life and future job and cultural interaction opportunities. This knowledge not only enriches students' language skills but also broadens their perspectives and communication abilities in an increasingly globalized world.