Introduction
The Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan is designed to help ESL students explore emotions and feelings through literature. This lesson plan focuses on the popular children’s book “Wemberly Worried” by Kevin Henkes, which tells the story of a young mouse who experiences anxiety about various aspects of her life. By using this relatable and engaging story, students can not only improve their language skills but also develop their emotional intelligence. The lesson aims to create a supportive environment for students to express their own worries and concerns while building their English language proficiency.
Vocabulary Building
Vocab
Vocab |
Definition |
|---|---|
Anxious |
Feeling worried, nervous, or uneasy about something with an uncertain outcome. |
Comfort |
A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint, providing relief and reassurance. |
Worry |
The state of being anxious and troubled about actual or potential problems. |
Brave |
Showing courage and confidence in the face of fear or difficulty. |
Confidence |
A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s abilities or qualities. |
Contextual Usage
1. She felt anxious about speaking in front of the class.
2. The teacher’s comforting words helped ease her worries.
3. Wemberly’s constant worry made her feel exhausted.
4. Despite feeling scared, she tried to be brave during the presentation.
5. Building confidence in speaking English takes practice and patience.
ESL Warm-up Activity
To kick off the Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan, start with a “Feelings Charades” activity. Write down various emotions on small pieces of paper and place them in a bag or a hat. Ask students to take turns picking a piece of paper and acting out the emotion without speaking while the rest of the class guesses the feeling. This activity not only incorporates language related to emotions, but it also sets the tone for discussing feelings and worries, which are central themes in “Wemberly Worried.”
Main ESL Lesson Activities
Vocabulary Activity: Emotion Word Wall
Create a word wall with various emotions depicted through images or written words. Have students discuss and categorize the emotions based on positive, negative, or neutral feelings. Encourage group discussions to explain why certain emotions are placed in specific categories.
Listening Activity: Wemberly Worried Audiobook
Play an audiobook version of “Wemberly Worried” for the class. After listening, have students discuss the emotions Wemberly experiences throughout the story in pairs or small groups. Then, as a class, analyze how these emotions are expressed and resolved in the book.
Roleplay Activity: Expressing Emotions
Assign each student a different emotion and have them roleplay scenarios where they would express that emotion. Encourage interactions between students to create realistic dialogues that demonstrate understanding of the assigned emotion.
Reading and Writing Activity: Diary of Emotions
Ask students to imagine they are Wemberly and have them write diary entries expressing their worries and fears. Afterward, encourage them to share their entries with a partner or in small groups to discuss common worries and ways to overcome them.
ESL Homework Assignment
For homework, students are encouraged to write a short story or journal entry about a time when they felt worried or anxious. They should include how they managed to overcome their worries or what helped them feel better. This task reinforces the lesson’s focus on emotions and provides an opportunity for students to reflect on their own experiences while practicing their writing skills.
Conclusion
Summary
Throughout the Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan, students explored emotions, vocabulary related to feelings, and the expression of worries through various activities and discussions. The lesson aimed to create a supportive environment for students to express their own worries while building their English language skills.
Reflection
As students reflect on this lesson, they can consider how understanding and expressing emotions in English can enhance their language development. By recognizing and discussing feelings, students can improve their vocabulary, communication skills, and emotional intelligence, which are essential aspects of language learning.
Why this topic is great for ESL learning
Engaging and Relatable
The Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan is a great topic for ESL learning because it engages students through relatable content. The story of Wemberly, a young mouse who experiences anxiety, allows students to connect with the character’s emotions and experiences. This relatability helps to create a meaningful and engaging learning experience.
Emotional Intelligence Development
Exploring emotions and feelings is an important aspect of language development. The Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan provides opportunities for students to expand their emotional vocabulary, express their own worries, and develop their emotional intelligence. This not only enhances their language skills but also promotes self-awareness and empathy.
Language Acquisition through Context
By using literature as a context for language learning, the Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan allows students to acquire new vocabulary and language structures in a meaningful way. Through discussions, roleplays, and writing activities related to the story, students can practice using English in real-life situations, improving their fluency and communication skills.
Cross-Curricular Connections
The theme of worries and emotions explored in the Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan can be connected to other subjects such as social studies or personal development. This interdisciplinary approach helps students make connections between different areas of knowledge while reinforcing their English language skills.
Overall, the Wemberly Worried Lesson Plan offers an engaging, relatable, and holistic approach to ESL learning by incorporating emotions, vocabulary building, communication skills, and cross-curricular connections.
