SUGAR ESL LESSON PLAN DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVE & OVERVIEW

This sugar ESL lesson plan provides activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Engage in discussions and explore topics about sugar and cravings

• Learn vocabulary terms related to sugar consumption

• Watch a video report about a court ruling on whether Google is a monopoly

• Learn some vocabulary related to guilty pleasures, addictions, and cravings

• Engage in role plays and conversations about guilty pleasures and provide support

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

In the preview section of this ESL lesson on sugar and sweets, students rank individuals based on their level of sugar craving and discuss their own sugar consumption habits. There is a set of discussion questions about sugar included in the lesson. They then evaluate statements about sugar, determining which are fact or fiction, and discuss whether certain sweet products should be classified similarly to controlled substances.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

During the viewing phase, students watch a video that explores the history and science of sugar. In the activities, students analyze the relationship between sugar and the brain and taste buds. They also sequence historical events involving sugar and discuss the impacts on society. In this section, they learn about the historical significance of sugar and its effects on taste and brain function. There is also a section where they answer some questions about sugar. They also get the chance to check their answers from the fact/fiction activity in the preview part of the lesson.

DISCUSSION & PHRASAL VERBS

In the viewing follow-up part, students discuss their thoughts on the video’s portrayal of sugar’s effects and whether sugar should be considered a drug. They proceed to read a post in an online heath and wellness forum. In it, a woman named Layla descrbes her bad habits with her guilty pleasure — sugar. She asks others for strategies on how to manage her cravings. Students must match the verbs to her post and write them in the correct form. Then, they define each full phrase or phrasal verb.

KICK YOUR BAD HABITS ROLE PLAY

In the activation part of the lesson, students choose or think of a type of guilty pleasure they have. They engage in a role play with a partner who helps them manage their relationship with this guilty pleasure in a healthy way.

There is an alternative option for students to discuss their opinions on sugar-related topics, such as personal sugar habits or societal impacts of sugar consumption. They use linking phrases to support their points and discuss broader topics related to sugar and health.

VIDEO DESCRIPTION

Sugar is everywhere and sometimes it feels like it’s hard to avoid. This engaging video explores several key topics about sugar — the science, history, and societal impacts of sugar consumption.

LESSON ACTIVITIES

• SPEAKING: Sugar, Sweets, Cravings, Guilty Pleasures
• VIEWING: Short Answers, Historical Events, Fact/Fiction Check
• VOCABULARY: Phrasal Verbs / Phrases
• ADDITIONAL: Kick Your Bad Habits Role Play, Quiz & Review, Lesson Reflection

LESSON TOPICS

Sugar, Sweets, Cravings, Guilty Pleasures