OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on sauna and wellness offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for upper-intermediate B2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss wellness activities and share personal experiences or preferences.
• Explore vocabulary describing sensations and benefits of wild saunas.
• Watch a video about wild saunas and answer comprehension questions.
• Analyze wellness retreat language, focusing on synonyms for "increase" and "decrease."
• Create or compare retreat ideas using wellness-related vocabulary and verbs.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin this ESL lesson plan on wellness and saunas by describing and comparing wellness activities like sauna visits and cold water plunges. They discuss their benefits, share personal experiences, and brainstorm other wellness practices people enjoy. Next, they speculate about the concept of "wild saunas," predicting what makes them unique and suggesting adjectives to describe the experience. Students also debate wellness-related statements, reflecting on topics like the impact of COVID-19 on wellness practices and the importance of connecting with nature. Finally, they consider ideal global locations for wild saunas and justify their choices.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a video introducing the concept of wild saunas, showcasing seaside settings where cold water therapy and deep heat combine to create a unique wellness experience. The video highlights the rejuvenating effects of nature and relaxation. After watching, students answer comprehension questions about the benefits and perspectives shared in the video. They then complete cloze activities, filling in key words from the video, such as descriptions of wellness preferences post-lockdown. Students also choose the correct words from the video transcript to further develop their listening skills.

DISCUSSION & VOCABULARY

Students discuss their impressions of wild saunas and whether their perspectives changed after watching the video. They explore the appeal of these activities for different age groups and reflect on their own wellness practices and their connection to nature. Next, they analyze a promotional text for an imaginary wild sauna retreat, identifying synonyms for "increase" and "decrease." They apply these verbs in a creative activity by describing their favorite wellness activities and how they benefit physical and mental well-being.

WELLNESS IN WORDS: CRAFT A PERFECT RETREAT

Students apply their knowledge by crafting a wellness retreat proposal. In small groups or individually, they choose a wellness activity such as yoga, gardening, or meditation and brainstorm its physical and mental benefits. They then create a social media post or presentation to promote the retreat, using descriptive verbs from the lesson to persuade their audience. Alternatively, students compare two wellness activities, focusing on how each impacts the body and mind. The lesson concludes with pronunciation practice, analyzing features of a Scottish accent, and shadow reading key phrases for improved fluency.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS SAUNA & WELLNESS ESL LESSON PLAN

This ESL lesson plan on wellness and saunas provides a dynamic way to engage upper-intermediate students in meaningful discussions about wellness. Teachers can enjoy ready-to-use, well-structured materials that build vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills. The video content captivates students and connects to real-life wellness trends, making lessons relatable. Students practice critical thinking as they debate wellness concepts and explore cultural differences. The activation task encourages creativity and persuasive communication, ensuring the lesson is both practical and memorable.