OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on Atomic Habits offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss ideas from Atomic Habits and reflect on personal experiences with goals and systems.
• Expand vocabulary around personal growth, habits, systems, motivation, and progress.
• Watch a video exploring why systems matter more than goals and how unconventional goals can shape your life.
• Practice using idiomatic phrases and target language to talk about personal goals and systems for success.
• Participate in an interactive activity mapping out a meaningful personal goal and strategies to achieve it.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin by exploring key ideas from Atomic Habits and put them into their own words. They reflect on concepts such as identity-driven behavior change, habits as compound interest, and the role of environment and systems in achieving goals. Students then discuss statements about goals, indicating agreement, disagreement, or partial agreement, and justify their opinions with examples from their own lives.

Next, students examine a practical scenario of someone aiming for “a more chill life,” discussing what the goal means, the factors driving it, small habits that could support it, and what resources or tools could help achieve it. Finally, they consider common mistakes people make when setting goals and share their thoughts in a group discussion.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a short video in which the creator explains why focusing on systems matters more than outcomes and how even unconventional goals can guide meaningful progress. The video emphasizes redefining what a goal really is and using daily actions to build a purposeful life.

While watching, students complete activities such as ticking reasons why the creator originally thought goals were pointless and answering short questions about how systems and goals work together. They discuss how traditional ideas about goal setting are challenged and identify what the creator considers more exciting than focusing only on outcomes. Students practice listening comprehension and note-taking while analyzing the video’s key points.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

After watching the video, students discuss their immediate reactions, highlighting insights they found valuable or surprising. They reflect on personal experiences of using systems alongside goals and evaluate how effective this approach would be in their own lives.

Students then study a case example, completing idiomatic phrases connected to goal-setting and defining them in their own words. They consider the purpose, mindset, habits, environment, obstacles, resources, and milestones related to achieving the goal. This follow-up reinforces target language and conceptual understanding of systems for success while encouraging personal reflection and meaningful discussion.

YOUR GOAL AS YOUR COMPASS: MAP OUT YOUR JOURNEY

Students choose a meaningful personal goal and treat it as a compass for planning their journey. They write reflections on why the goal is important, the mindset and traits needed, atomic habits to build, environmental design strategies, potential obstacles, resources to assemble, and milestone rewards.

Next, students pair up to share their goals and reflections, ask follow-up questions, and provide feedback. They discuss which aspects of their partner’s goal they find most interesting and why. This activity helps students consolidate speaking, critical thinking, and practical application of the systems-for-success concepts from Atomic Habits.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ATOMIC HABITS ESL LESSON

• This lesson plan engages students with modern, real-world content that motivates discussion.
• It encourages active listening and comprehension through a structured video activity.
• Students learn and apply vocabulary and idiomatic phrases relevant to personal growth and systems thinking.
• They practice speaking in meaningful ways, sharing reflections and advice with classmates.
• Finally, students complete a goal-mapping activity that combines critical thinking, personal reflection, and collaborative learning, ensuring practical application of the lesson concepts.