Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers explores the surprising history of the color pink. This B1 ESL class material uses a fun video to spark discussions on culture, gender stereotypes, and historical trends. This lesson helps students explore the fascinating cultural history of the color pink. The class starts with a discussion about color stereotypes, followed by a vocabulary matching exercise. Students then watch a video twice: first for general understanding and then for specific details in a gap-fill activity. The lesson plan includes a grammar focus on the Past Simple tense for describing historical events and concludes with speaking practice, allowing students to share their own opinions on the topic.
Activities
- Students begin by discussing their personal and cultural associations with colors like pink and blue, considering how these perceptions may have changed over time. This activates their prior knowledge on the topic.
- Before watching the video, students match key vocabulary words like 'dainty' and 'arbitrary' to their definitions. They then watch the video twice, first for main ideas and then to complete a gap-fill exercise.
- The lesson includes a targeted grammar practice on the Past Simple tense, used to describe historical events from the video. The class concludes with a final discussion on trends, stereotypes, and influential figures.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson introduces vocabulary related to history, fashion, and social descriptions. Key terms include: survey, dainty, symbolic, inauguration, ballgown, complexion, arbitrary, and canny. Students will also learn useful phrases for describing historical trends and associations.
Grammar focus
The grammar section focuses on the Past Simple tense. Students will review how to use this tense to talk about completed actions and historical events. The practice exercise reinforces this by having students retell parts of the story from the video using the correct verb forms.
