OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This Mother’s Day ESL lesson plan offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for pre-intermediate A2 students. This Mother’s Day lesson helps learners explore language through meaningful cultural context. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss daily responsibilities and traditions related to parenting and celebrating Mother’s Day.
• Learn and use vocabulary in a Mother’s Day vocabulary lesson connected to gifts, celebrations, and housework.
• Watch a short, light-hearted video and complete a Mother’s Day comprehension activity based on a chaotic day.
• Practice using “would” and “could” for imaginary and possible actions with correct verb forms.
• Take part in ESL speaking activities for Mother’s Day, sharing and describing their own plans for special days using guided prompts and structured tasks.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this Mother’s Day ESL lesson by reading a busy mom's to-do list before her night out and discussing the daily responsibilities she has. They answer a Mother’s Day comprehension activity and personal questions such as what other tasks busy parents do and how they themselves help at home. In the second part, students talk about whether Mother’s Day is celebrated in their country, what traditions or gifts are common, or if there’s a similar day in their culture. Next, they look at five gift ideas for Mother's Day and rank them from best to worst, adding their own ideas if they like. In the final part of this section, students share past experiences of celebrating Mother’s Day or imagine how they might celebrate it if they haven’t before through ESL speaking activities for Mother’s Day.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

The video shows a mom who gets a spa certificate for Mother’s Day, but before she can enjoy it, she has to take care of many things at home like preparing dinner, reminding her son to do homework, and managing snacks and sunscreen. It’s fast-paced and relatable. Students first complete a Mother’s Day comprehension activity, answering simple questions about what gift she receives and when she can use it. Then, they put the mom’s actions in order based on what they saw in the video. Finally, students correct four factual mistakes in sentences about the video, such as who coordinated the gift and what the mom did at the spa.

DISCUSSION & GRAMMAR (WOULD/COULD)

After watching, students discuss their opinions about the video: Was it funny, realistic, or sweet? They share whether they think the mom had a good Mother's Day and if they’d enjoy a similar gift. In the second part, they read about a girl’s imaginary plan for her sister’s perfect day in this Mother’s Day ESL lesson. Then, they complete a short grammar review focusing on “would” and “could” as modal verbs. Students learn that “would” is for imaginary ideas and “could” for possibilities, noting that both are followed by the base form of the verb.

A PERFECT DAY FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

In the final section of this Mother’s Day ESL lesson, students put everything together. They choose from three imaginary “perfect day” plans for a dad, a friend, or a child and describe what the day would include using “would” and “could.” In Option A, they plan a special day for someone they care about, using sequencing language (first, then, after that, finally) and present it to a partner or teacher. In Option B, they select a discussion prompt about a personal experience, such as giving a gift, planning a surprise, or describing their mom.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS MOTHER’S DAY ESL LESSON PLAN

This Mother’s Day ESL lesson helps students connect language learning with real-life situations and cultural moments. It encourages them to share personal stories while building vocabulary related to daily tasks, family, and celebrations. The video adds humor and relevance, supporting a Mother’s Day comprehension activity that helps students understand spoken English in everyday situations. The grammar focus is clear and linked to speaking activities, so students can apply what they’ve learned immediately. Teachers will appreciate the ready-to-use, structured flow that blends comprehension, grammar, and communication practice naturally.