Introduction
The Kissing Hand ESL Lesson Plan helps young learners navigate separation anxiety and learn valuable English language skills through a heartwarming story. This lesson plan introduces essential vocabulary and reading comprehension using the beloved children’s book “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn. The story not only engages students but also teaches them about coping with emotions, family love, and bravery. By combining language learning with emotional intelligence, this lesson plan aims to create a supportive and immersive environment for ESL students to develop their language skills while addressing important social-emotional themes.
Vocabulary Building
Vocab
Vocab |
Definition |
|---|---|
Raccoon |
a small mammal with distinctive facial markings, known for its intelligence and dexterity |
Kissing Hand |
a symbolic gesture of love and comfort, typically given by a parent to a child to reassure them when apart |
Brave |
showing courage or willingness to face fear or danger |
Anxious |
feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy about an uncertain outcome |
a place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household. |
Contextual Usage
1. The raccoon in the story is portrayed as clever and resourceful.
2. In ‘The Kissing Hand,’ the mother gives her child a kissing hand to help him feel her love and support while they are apart.
3. Chester felt brave when he used his mother’s kissing hand at school.
4. Little Chester was anxious about going to school without his mom’s kissing hand.
5. The story emphasizes the importance of feeling secure at home.
ESL Warm-up Activity
To kick off the lesson, start by engaging the students in a role-playing activity. Have them take on the roles of Chester and his mother from “The Kissing Hand.” Ask one student to pretend to be Chester, expressing feelings of nervousness about a new experience (going to school), while another student can act as Chester’s mother, offering comfort and support through the concept of the “kissing hand.” This activity will not only capture students’ attention but also set the tone for discussing emotions, family love, and bravery — all integral elements of “The Kissing Hand” ESL Lesson Plan.
Main ESL Lesson Activities
Vocabulary Activity: Kissing Hand Art
Guide the students to create their own “kissing hand” art project. Provide them with craft materials and instructions to depict the concept of the kissing hand using drawings or cutouts of a child’s handprints and symbols of love and comfort.
Listening Activity: Emotion Charades
Organize a charades game where students express different emotions non-verbally. To link this activity with “The Kissing Hand,” include emotions felt by Chester in the story, such as anxiety, bravery, comfort, and love.
Roleplay Activity: Sharing Stories
Encourage students to share experiences about moments when they felt anxious or nervous like Chester in the story. This can be done in pairs or small groups, allowing them to practice expressing feelings while engaging in meaningful conversations.
Reading and Writing Activity: Letter from Chester
Ask each student to write a letter from Chester to his mother expressing his feelings about starting school. Encourage creativity while reinforcing vocabulary and language structures learned throughout the lesson. Afterward, have students share their letters with classmates for an interactive discussion.
ESL Homework Assignment
For homework, students can be tasked with writing a short story or journal entry about a time when they felt nervous or anxious. Encourage them to incorporate vocabulary and emotions discussed in “The Kissing Hand” lesson plan. Additionally, they can create their own “kissing hand” artwork at home and share it with the class in the next session for further discussion and reflection.
Conclusion
Key Points
In conclusion, “The Kissing Hand” ESL Lesson Plan effectively introduced vocabulary related to emotions, family love, and bravery. The activities engaged students in meaningful language development while addressing social-emotional themes through the heartwarming story.
Reflection
Students are encouraged to reflect on how the lesson helped them understand and communicate feelings in English. They can consider how expressing emotions contributes to their overall language development and everyday communication skills.
Why this topic is great for ESL learning
Emotional Connection
“The Kissing Hand” ESL Lesson Plan is an excellent topic for ESL learning because it establishes a strong emotional connection, allowing students to explore complex feelings in English, thereby enhancing their language skills while addressing social-emotional development.
Engaging Content
The story’s engaging content provides a natural platform for vocabulary expansion and language practice within a relatable context, making it an ideal choice for ESL lessons centered on emotions and family themes.
