Summary
This PDF lesson plan for English teachers explores the fascinating geological origins of dragon myths. This ESL class material for B2 students connects science, history, and mythology through a compelling video and engaging activities.
This lesson delves into the science of geomythology, exploring how fossils, volcanoes, and natural events could have inspired ancient dragon legends. Students will watch a video, practice key vocabulary related to scientific theory, and master modal verbs for speculating about the past. The lesson culminates in a creative group project where students develop their own geomythological explanations for other famous myths, blending scientific reasoning with storytelling.
Activities
- A warm-up discussion gets students talking about the role of dragons in different cultures, activating their prior knowledge and preparing them for the lesson's main topic.
- Students watch an engaging video on geomythology and answer comprehension questions about how specific geological features and fossil discoveries are linked to famous dragon myths from around the world.
- The lesson includes multiple vocabulary exercises to practice new words, such as matching definitions and a fill-in-the-blanks activity to ensure students can use the terms in context.
- A final creative group activity challenges students to become "geomythologists" by inventing and presenting a plausible scientific origin story for another mythical creature like the Loch Ness Monster.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on vocabulary for discussing scientific theories and mythology. Key terms include words for speculation and discovery like "hypothesize," "gleaned," and "ponder," as well as descriptive words such as "scorched," "compelling," and "auspicious" to describe myths and their origins.
Grammar focus
The grammar section concentrates on speculating about the past using modal verbs. Students will learn and practice forming sentences with "may have," "might have," and "could have" + past participle to discuss theories and possibilities about the origins of myths with the appropriate degree of uncertainty.
