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The mind: Vocabulary and speaking

Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Advanced+/C1
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
The mind
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
45-60 min
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Low-Resource
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Overview

In the opening lesson of our series on the mind for advanced ESL students, we'll explore the fascinating concept of different types of thinkers. This session will introduce students to a range of vocabulary associated with various thinking styles, such as analytical, critical, and creative thinking. The aim is to broaden their linguistic range and engage them in discussions that deepen their understanding of a complex theme.

The lesson plan includes boardwork, offering one suggestion for introducing this new vocabulary. Then, moving into practical application, students will participate in several low-resource classroom activities. These will involve speculating about classmates' thinking styles and completing an online test to identify which group they fall into. To wrap up the session, we'll conclude with a classroom game, offering a fun and collaborative way to play with more topical vocabulary.

Lesson Outline
Activities
Low-resource ESL lesson plan
Boardwork
1You tell me
2Thinking test
3Group talk
4Mini-debate
Games
1ESL Pictionary
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Classroom activities

Low-resource ESL lesson plan

Use of the board

Elicit adjectives that describe the different types of thinker. Add any concepts or vocabulary that you feel are relevant to the level and use them to drive a discussion in the classroom. Refer to this spider diagram as a guide.

ESL Eliciting techniques for vocabulary

Low-resource ESL activity

You tell me

A speaking activity where students have to speculate on their partner's thinking style, as well as their own.

Working in pairs and using the vocabulary from the board, students have to select three adjectives that best describe how they think and three for their partner. Inform them that they will be asked to explain each choice. When finished, students will share their picks with the whole group, before hearing what their partner has to say about them. After a student has listened to their partner's thoughts, ask them to comment on them.

  • Do they agree?
  • Are they surprised by any of them?

 

Low-resource ESL activity idea

Thinking test

A fun follow-on activity that you can do when students have access to smartphones with the internet.

If there are enough smartphones in the class, have the students work in pairs to complete a couple of online tests which attempt to tell you what type of thinker you are. When they have finished, discuss their findings as a group.

Have your students search for the two tests below:

1. Types of Thinking Test: Concrete, Analytical, Abstract, Logical, Imaginative, Creative
http://psychologia.co/types-of-thinking/

2. Which Of The 6 Types Of Thinkers Are You?
http://www.playbuzz.com/randallmurphy10/which-of-the-6-types-of-thinkers-are-you

If you don't have the resources available in the classroom, assign this as a homework task and have the students report back as a warm-up activity for the next lesson.

Low-resource ESL activity idea

Group talk

This speaking activity has students wrestle a couple of tough questions related to the lesson's theme.

In groups of two or three, have the students discuss the following statements:

  1. Are there differences in the way that women and men think? If so, what are these? If not, explain.
  2. If scientists could put a chip in your head that would make you twice as intelligent, would you have the surgery done?

 

Low-resource ESL activity

Mini-debate

The students have a mini-debate on a statement related to today's lesson.

Add the following statement to the board:

"Can we measure intelligence?"

Divide the class into two groups and randomly assign each to one side of the debate. Give them 5 minutes to prepare their arguments.

At the end of the five minutes, you will chair the debate and make sure that everyone has had a chance to say their piece and respond to any counter-arguments.

Make it more fun by picking a winner at the end. Base your choice on performance and justify your decision.

Classroom games

Low-resource ESL classroom game

ESL Pictionary: The mind

Players have to represent abstract concepts related to the mind on the board while their teammates guess what they are.

Start by dividing the class into two teams. On each turn, give the student in play an abstract concept related to the mind. That student must then represent it on the board using only images and symbols. Their teammates earn a point when they guess it correctly.

If you're stuck for ideas, here are a few to get you started:

  1. Genius
  2. Memory
  3. The soul
  4. Talent
  5. Knowledge
  6. Consciousness