August Teaching Themes and Topics!

August is full of some interesting topics that your ESL students will enjoy starting with Friendship Day and Sister Day on August 2nd! If your students like cats, International Cat Day might be a fun topic to explore too.

Other mentionables are International Indigenous Day, World Humanitarian Day, Senior Citizens Day, World Mosquito Day, Dream Day and Daffodil Day!

Don't forget to mark your calendars with all of August's Themes and Topics for your ESL students here!

July Topic: Parents!

It's National Parents' Day on July 26th! This day promotes responsible parenting and celebrates the special love between a parent and their child. It also recognizes the important roles that parents play on their children's lives. Get your students talking about what it's like to be a parent, what their parents were like and/or what their childhood was like.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS BY ESL MADE EASY:

1. Are you a parent? If so, how many children do you have and what are their ages? If you aren't a parent yet, do you want to have children and, if so, how many would you like to have?

2. What are/were some of the house rules observed by your family? (Ex. no computer after 10 p.m., formal dinner every Sunday...etc)

3. What are some of the challenges parents face today when it comes to raising young children? What about when it comes to raising teenagers?

4. Do you think parents today have a more difficult time raising children than their parents and grandparents had? Explain.

5. In what ways can parents "spoil" their child? What negative consequences might this have on their child's life?

6. What are some things that your parents did when you were a child that you would or wouldn't do now as a parent?

7. What do you think makes someone a good parent? What makes someone a bad parent?

8. The verbs 'make' and 'let' are often used when describing a childhood experience. 'Make' suggests being required to do something and 'let' suggests being allowed. (e.g. my parents used to make me tidy my room every Saturday and my parents used to let me stay up late on Saturday night). Make your own sentences using the verbs 'make' and 'let' based on your own childhood experiences. If you are a parent, what are some things you make or let your children do?

July Topic: Nelson Mandela

It's International Nelson Mandela Day on Monday, July 18th. This day is set aside not only to celebrate Nelson Mandela's life, but to remember some of Mandela's greatest achievements towards working with conflict, human development, democracy, peace and resolution. Get your ESL students talking about the values Nelson Mandela shared with the world on  freedom, equality and respect.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS:

1.  What does freedom mean to you?
2.  Why is it important to respect others regardless of race and religion?
3.  Besides Nelson Mandela, can you think of other people who have contributed to peace on Earth?
4.  Why is it important to teach children how to be respectful and loving? What happens  when they are not taught this at a young age?

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR YOUR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

July Topic: International Puzzle Day!

 

It's international Puzzle Day on July 13th! Celebrate this day by giving your ESL students a few puzzles. Using puzzles such as crosswords and word searches is a great way to add some fun and liven up the classroom. Challenge students looking to build on their vocabulary and spelling skills or use puzzles as a way to review and reinforce  previous lessons or themes.

 Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

July Topic: World Population Day!

WORLD POPULATION DAY, held every year on July 11th, was created by the United Nations Development Program in 1989. This important day was established to raise awareness of the issues and solutions related to our global population level. With over 7 billion people in the world (see the worldometer here!), there is no doubt that this is an issue that affects us all. It's also a topic that should spark some lively discussion as your ESL learners address such related issues as the impact of further development and population growth, sustainability and the impact all of this has on our young people.

 

Watch this short video clip "7 Billion - National Geographic" here.

FIND RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ESL STUDENTS HERE!

July Topic: Independence Day!

Monday, July 4th, is Independence Day in the United States. Also known as the Fourth of July, this date commemorates the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.  This is a festive day for many Americans as they celebrate with fireworks, parades, fairs, concerts, picnics and family reunions. It's a fun and proud day for Americans so get your students talking about the history, the culture, and the traditions of the United States!

Find recommended links for your ESL students here!

July Teaching Themes and Topics

Be sure to check out July Themes and Topics here and follow ESL Made Easy for weekly posts on some of them this month. There's plenty to celebrate in July starting with Canada Day on July 1st and Independence Day in the United States on July 4th. July is also a good month to talk about chocolate, the world's population, and the importance of parents as it's Parents Day on July 26th. There's plenty more topics that fall in July so don't forget to mark your teaching calendar!