Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson plan for English teachers helps B2 students understand and create puns. This ESL class material uses a fun video and interactive exercises to explore wordplay, homophones, and the culture of English humor.
This English lesson plan engages students with the clever art of wordplay. The class material starts by identifying double meanings and matching key vocabulary. Students then watch a humorous video to analyze a series of puns, breaking down how they work. The lesson includes a grammar focus on phrasal verbs with literal and figurative meanings, teaches useful phrases for reacting to jokes, and culminates in students creating and role-playing their own pun-filled conversations. It's a fun and interactive way to explore language.
Activities
- Students begin by identifying double meanings and matching key vocabulary related to wordplay, preparing them for the lesson's focus on puns.
- Learners watch a short, funny video of a man telling puns and complete a gap-fill exercise. They then analyze the jokes by identifying the double meanings or homophones used in each one, such as 'stationary' vs. 'stationery'.
- The lesson explores the difference between literal and figurative phrasal verbs, a common source of wordplay. Students practice writing their own sentences for verbs like 'break down' and 'run into' to master both meanings.
- In a final creative role-play, students use key phrases for reacting to jokes (e.g., "That's a good one!" or "That's so cheesy!") in a guided conversation. They practice telling puns from the lesson and react naturally, making the language practical.
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on vocabulary related to wordplay, including terms like 'pun,' 'homophone,' and 'double meaning.' Students will also analyze specific examples from the video, such as the difference between 'stationary' and 'stationery,' and the sound-alike pairs 'algae bra' (algebra) and 'runs in your jeans' (runs in your genes).
Grammar focus
The grammar section focuses on how phrasal verbs can have both literal and figurative meanings, which is a key element of wordplay. Using the pun 'it dawned on me' as an example, students practice creating sentences with phrasal verbs like 'get over,' 'break down,' and 'look up to' to solidify their understanding of this concept.
