Introduction
The Day It Rained Hearts ESL Lesson Plan is designed to engage students in an interactive learning experience centered around the popular children’s book “The Day It Rained Hearts” by Felicia Bond. This lesson plan aims to enhance students’ English language skills, including vocabulary building, reading comprehension, and creative writing. By exploring themes of friendship and creativity through this imaginative story, students are prompted to actively participate in various language activities that foster communication and critical thinking. The lesson plan also encourages collaborative learning and provides ample opportunities for students to express their ideas and opinions in English, making it an ideal topic for ESL learning.
Vocabulary Building
Vocab
Vocab |
Definition |
|---|---|
Heart |
A muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the body and is often used as a symbol of love and affection. |
Valentine |
A person to whom one sends a valentine card or whom one treats with special affection or regard. |
Imaginative |
(of a person or their mind) having or showing creativity or inventiveness. |
Friendship |
The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends. |
Creative |
Relating to or involving the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something new. |
Contextual Usage
1. She drew a heart on the Valentine‘s Day card.
2. The children used their imaginative skills to create unique art pieces.
3. The story explores the theme of friendship through its characters’ interactions.
4. The students engaged in creative writing activities during the lesson.
ESL Warm-up Activity
To kick-start the lesson on “The Day It Rained Hearts,” begin with an engaging activity that sparks students’ creativity and imagination. Prepare a set of heart-shaped flashcards, each containing a word related to the theme of friendship or creativity, such as “friend,” “imagine,” or “create.” Ask the students to pick a card and share their thoughts on how the word relates to their own experiences. Encourage them to use descriptive language and express their ideas in English. This activity not only sets the tone for the lesson but also primes students for discussing key themes present in the story.
Main ESL Lesson Activities
Vocabulary Activity: Word Making
Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a set of alphabet cards. Instruct the students to create as many words related to the story “The Day It Rained Hearts” as they can within a time limit. Encourage them to use dictionaries or ask for help when needed. After the activity, have each group present their words and explain how they relate to the story.
Reading and Writing Exercise: Story Retelling
Assign each student a character from the story and ask them to write a short monologue from that character’s perspective, expressing their feelings about receiving a heart from the sky. Then, have students take turns reading their monologues aloud while others guess which character is speaking.
Roleplay Activity: Friendship Scenarios
Provide students with different scenarios related to friendship depicted in the book. Ask them to work in pairs or small groups to act out these scenarios, emphasizing positive communication and problem-solving skills. Encourage creativity and improvisation during this activity.
ESL Homework Assignment
For homework, students are encouraged to write a short story or a series of diary entries from the perspective of one of the characters in “The Day It Rained Hearts.” They should incorporate vocabulary and themes discussed in class. Additionally, students can create their own heart-shaped valentine cards and write a message for a friend or family member using the new vocabulary they have learned.
Conclusion
Summary
Throughout the lesson, students delved into the themes of friendship and creativity as illustrated in “The Day It Rained Hearts.” They engaged in various activities to enhance their vocabulary, reading comprehension, and communication skills.
Reflection
Encourage students to reflect on how the new vocabulary and language structures can be applied not only in storytelling but also in everyday conversations. Prompt them to consider how understanding themes of friendship and creativity can enrich their language development by enabling them to express themselves more effectively.
Why this topic is great for ESL learning
Engaging Content
“The Day It Rained Hearts” serves as an engaging and relatable topic for ESL learners, capturing their imagination through a whimsical storyline that explores the universal themes of friendship and creativity.
Language Development
The story provides ample opportunities for vocabulary expansion and language practice, allowing students to engage with new words and express their ideas in English. Additionally, the themes of friendship and creativity offer meaningful contexts for language application and communication skills development.
