Lesson Plan: “Who Am I? Names, Dreams, and Stories”

Theme: Identity, Names, and Aspirations
Duration: 75 minutes (adaptable to 60–90 minutes)
Level: Beginner → Intermediate ESL learners

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • Recognize and correctly spell classmates’ names.
  • Introduce themselves using titles (Mr., Miss, Ms.) + name + dream job.
  • Share personal stories related to their names.
  • Listen actively and recall peers’ information.
  • Build community and confidence in speaking English.

Lesson Structure & Timing

1. Warm-up / Icebreaker – “Quick Name Toss” (5–7 minutes)

Goal: Break the ice, get students saying names aloud.

  • Teacher models: toss a soft ball (or rolled paper) to a student while saying “What’s your name?” → student replies: “My name is …”.
  • That student then tosses the ball to another student and asks. Continue until most students have spoken.
  • Variation for larger classes: split into 2–3 circles.

2. Activity 1: Name Tent – “Name + Dream Job” (15 minutes)

Goal: Reinforce spelling, personalization, aspirations.

Instructions:

  1. Teacher shows a model:
    • Fold paper into a tent.
    • Write: “Mr. Joe – Teacher” (for men) / “Miss Ritta – Doctor” (for women).
    • Add color/draw small symbol of dream job (optional for creativity).
  2. Students create their own name tents.
  3. Pair work: Students show their tent to a partner and say:
    • “Hello, I am Miss Amina. My dream job is doctor.”
    • Partner repeats back: “Nice to meet you, Miss Amina. You want to be a doctor.”
  4. Place tents on desks—remain visible all class.

Timing: 10 minutes making + 5 minutes pair sharing.

3. Activity 2: Name Chain – “Remembering Names” (15 minutes)

Goal: Listening, repetition, memorization, speaking practice.

Instructions:

  1. Teacher models: “I am Mr. Hicham, the teacher.” Next student repeats: “This is Mr. Hicham, the teacher. I am Miss Amina, a doctor.”
  2. Continue around the circle: each student repeats all previous names + adds their own.
  3. For large classes: split into groups of 8–10.

Variation for advanced learners: add adjectives or hobbies (“Miss Amina, the future doctor who likes reading.”).

4. Activity 3: The Story Behind Your Name (30 minutes)

Goal: Storytelling, listening, cultural sharing.

Instructions:

  1. Teacher models with short story (1–2 minutes):
    • “My name is Hicham. My father gave me this name. It means generous in Arabic. I like my name because it connects to my family.”
  2. Students prepare their own 3–4 sentence story with prompts on board:
    • Who named you?
    • What does your name mean? (or “I don’t know” is fine)
    • Do you like your name? Why/why not?
  3. Pair or small-group sharing (10–12 minutes).
  4. Select a few volunteers to share with the whole class (optional).
  5. Teacher encourages positive listening: students respond with “Thank you, Miss/Mr. …”.

5. Wrap-up & Reflection – “Dream Goals” (8 minutes)

Goal: Reinforce identity and aspirations, close with positivity.

Instructions:

  • Ask: “What new names did you learn today?” (2–3 volunteers).
  • Reflection prompt: “One dream I have is…”. Each student says one dream in 1 short sentence.
  • Teacher links to next lesson: “We will continue practicing introductions and talking about ourselves.”

Materials Needed

  • A4 paper or index cards (for name tents).
  • Markers, crayons, or pens.
  • Soft ball (for icebreaker).
  • Whiteboard / projector for prompts.

Teacher Notes & Tips

  • Large classes: run activities in small groups (especially Name Chain).
  • Beginners: provide sentence frames on the board:
    • “My name is …”
    • “My dream job is …”
    • “My name means …”
  • Intermediate learners: encourage longer sentences, add hobbies/adjectives, or ask follow-up questions.
  • Circulate during activities to assist with spelling, pronunciation, and confidence.

Differentiation

  • Support weaker learners:
    • Allow drawing instead of writing long sentences.
    • Pair with stronger peers for modeling.
  • Challenge advanced learners:
    • Ask them to explain why they want their dream job.
    • Encourage follow-up questions in pairs (“Why do you want to be…?”).

Assessment / Reflection

  • Checklist for teacher:
    • Did each student make a name tent?
    • Did each student participate in the Name Chain at least once?
    • Did each student share a short story in pairs?
  • Peer feedback: After stories, partners can say one positive sentence: “I learned that…”.

Optional Extensions

  • Digital Portfolio: Students take a photo of their name tent + record a 30-second self-introduction (Flip, Padlet, Google Classroom).
  • Homework: Write 4–5 sentences about their name and dream job in their notebooks. Add a picture or symbol.

✨ This plan creates a structured, interactive 75-minute lesson that blends speaking, writing, listening, and creativity—all around the unifying theme of Identity, Names, and Aspirations.