Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for ESL teachers explores the science of cuteness. This class material uses a popular science video to teach advanced English vocabulary, grammar, and discussion skills.
Based on the science behind why we find things cute, this English lesson engages students with a variety of activities. Learners will watch a short video about "cute aggression," discuss its psychological origins, and practice new vocabulary in context. The lesson culminates in a fun role-play where students apply their knowledge to a marketing campaign, reinforcing both language and critical thinking skills. It's a perfect lesson for sparking conversation and exploring a universally relatable topic.
Activities
- Watch a video that explains the "baby schema" and the psychological phenomenon of "cute aggression," then answer comprehension questions to check understanding and recall key scientific concepts discussed.
- Practice using the passive voice, a key grammatical structure for scientific and academic writing. Students will transform active sentences about research findings into the more formal passive form.
- Learn and practice useful phrases for expressing overwhelming positive emotions, like "I can't handle it!" or "My heart is melting," through a fun and engaging partner activity based on cute scenarios.
- Engage in a creative role-play where students act as a marketing team. They must design an advertising campaign for a product by applying the principles of cuteness learned in the lesson.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on vocabulary used to describe emotions and scientific concepts. Students will learn words such as "urge," "nurture," "docile," and "elicit," as well as more advanced terms from the video like "conflicting," "frivolous," and "pinpoints." The exercises ensure students can use these words accurately in context to discuss psychology and behavior.
Grammar focus
The primary grammar point is the use of the passive voice for reporting scientific theories and findings. Students will learn why the passive is common in academic language (e.g., "It is thought that...") and practice converting active statements into their passive equivalents to sound more objective and formal.
