ESL Winter Adventure & Vocabulary Lesson

OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This lesson plan on ESL winter vocabulary & adventures offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for pre-intermediate A2 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Match and discuss different winter holiday activities, such as snowshoe hiking, tobogganing, and spa visits.
• Watch a video about an adventurous winter trip and sequence the activities shown.
• Identify adjectives and adverbs of intensity to describe experiences and views.
• Discuss personal winter holiday experiences using descriptive language and adverbs.
• Share and describe their own trips, vacations, or imagined adventures with classmates or the teacher.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

At the start of this ESL winter vocabulary and adventures lesson, students begin by predicting where Johan is enjoying his winter adventures and matching six winter activities—such as snowshoe hiking, sledding, and visiting a spa—to corresponding images. Students then share their ideas about outdoor winter activities and discuss whether they have tried any of the activities mentioned. To build descriptive vocabulary, they complete sentences about Johan’s experiences using adjectives like amazing, beautiful, and breathtaking. Finally, students are encouraged to discuss their knowledge of the Alps, including any popular locations or cities they know.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

The video introduces students to an exciting Austrian winter adventure featuring activities like snowshoe hiking at sunrise, skiing, dog sledding, and exploring Innsbruck. Students begin by sequencing Sophie’s activities from the video in the correct order, such as ski touring and cross-country skiing. They also identify additional activities Sophie does. Next, students match specific sentences from the video to adjectives like beautiful, relaxing, and breathtaking. This allows them to practice identifying descriptive words Sophie uses to talk about her trip.

DISCUSSION & ADVERBS OF INTENSITY

Students reflect on the video by discussing which part of Sophie’s adventure they found the most interesting and whether they would like to try similar experiences. Next, they focus on adverbs of intensity from Sophie’s ideas, such as “absolutely amazing” and “really excited.” Students analyze the role of these adverbs, noting their placement and intensity, and then categorize them into low, medium, or high-intensity groups. Finally, students describe the winter season in their own area, incorporating adverbs of intensity like super, a bit, or fairly.

SHARE SOME TRIP & ADVENTURE STORIES

In the final activity, students use descriptive language and adverbs of intensity to share their own travel or adventure experiences. In Option A, students think individually about a trip—real or imagined—answering questions about where they went, who they went with, and what activities they did. They then share their stories with classmates or the teacher, using adjectives and adverbs from the lesson. In Option B, students choose discussion topics, such as describing a beautiful view they have seen or talking about a relaxing trip. These activities help students practice fluency, descriptive language, and communication skills in a natural and enjoyable way.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL WINTER VOCABULARY & ADVENTURE LESSON

This lesson plan provides an excellent resource for teachers looking to enhance vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills for A2 students. The structured activities encourage interaction and discussion, making learning more engaging. By focusing on descriptive language, students build confidence in sharing personal experiences and describing activities clearly. The video-based approach keeps the content relatable and visually stimulating for learners. Finally, the lesson offers flexibility through group and one-on-one options, making it adaptable to different teaching settings.