Lessons

Here you can find out more about this year's lessons and topics, get lesson toolkits and find out more about the trainers.

Lesson format

This year, you can choose between two lesson formats – Live Classes for groups or Big Live Lessons for individuals.

Live Classes

An interactive online experience for around 10 groups of students joining the lesson with their teacher. This type of lesson is recommended for face-to-face, in-class learning, allowing students to see and interact with each other in a live environment.

More about this format

Where: at school
Who joins: whole group
How many participants: up to 10 groups
Who registers: teacher
Interaction: face-to-face, breakout rooms
Recommended as: a full project experience and cultural interaction

Teacher's role:

Register the group.
Distribute student's worksheet.
Read teacher’s notes for the lesson.
Arrange the classroom, prepare equipment.
Join the lesson with the group.

Big Live Lessons

An alternative to Live Classes, Big Live Lessons are for individual students joining the lesson on their own at home. This type of lesson is recommended for distance teaching, such as schools and students during lockdown periods.

More about this format

Where: at home
Who joins: individual students
How many participants: up to 500 students
Who registers: teacher
Interaction: chatbox
Recommended as: alternative to Live Classes for distance teaching/lockdown

Teacher's role:

Register the group.
Share lesson details with individual students.
Distribute student’s worksheet.
Read teacher’s notes for the lesson.
Join the lesson with the group.

Lessons

Lesson A (ages 9-12)

Festivals around the world

About Lesson A

Trainer: Chloë Dennis

Level: A1/A2

Students’ age: 9-12

Topic: Festivals around the world

Key vocabulary:
Festivals, seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, costume, masks, smart clothes, traditional food, sweets, lanterns, float, parade, fireworks, drums, decorations, sculptures

Lesson overview:
What is your favorite festival? Let’s watch a video about a festival in Japan and talk about one in our country.

In this lesson, students will:

expand their vocabulary for talking about festivals
watch a video about a festival
discuss what they enjoy doing in a festival
describe a popular festival in your country and find out about another one around the world

Lesson A toolkit

About the trainer

Photo of Chloe Dennis — Chloë Dennis has been teaching English for over 14 years in France, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong and the UK. She has specialized in the teaching of children and young adults and has taught face-to-face and more recently online. She believes that motivation is key to learning so is always looking for ways to build confidence and for students to have fun while using new language.

Lesson B (ages 9-12)

Technobabble: how transport will change in the future

About Lesson B

Trainer: Vanessa Hartson-Walker

Level: A2/A2+

Students’ age: 9-12

Topic: Technobabble: how transport will change in the future

Key vocabulary:
Inventions and transport: car, plane, bus, bike, e-scooter, train, boat, motorbike, helicopter, tram, self-driving car, battery, dashboard, futuristic, engine, steer, brake, accelerate

Lesson overview:
What inventions do you know? We’re going to watch a video about how transport will change in the future.

In this lesson your students will:

look at different types of transport
learn about inventions in the 20th century
watch a video about a self-driving car
focus on the advantages and disadvantages of self-driving cars

Lesson B toolkit

About the trainer

Photo of Vanessa Hartson-Walker — Vanessa Hartson-Walker is Director of Kids Can, an English language school for children and teenagers in Rome, Italy. She is Cambridge YL and DELTA qualified trainer, teaching children and teenagers since 1994. Her specialist interest areas are Young Learners and Teenagers, Mindfulness, Extensive Reading, SEN, Assessment and Teaching English Online.

Lesson C (ages 11-13)

Sports in the Lake District

About Lesson C

Trainer: Elizabeth Beer

Level: A2+

Students’ age: 11-13

Topic: Sports in the Lake District

Key vocabulary:
Sports: mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, sailing, night swimming, skydiving, horse riding, scuba diving, ice hockey, table tennis/ping pong, outdoor/indoor sport, team, extreme, water and winter sports, wetsuit

Lesson overview:
Do your students like sports? Let’s watch a video about outdoor and extreme sports in England and also talk about our favourite sports.

In this lesson your students will:

learn the names of different sports

explain what is important to do when playing sports

give an opinion about sports they like and do not like

talk to another class around the world about one of their country’s most popular sports

Lesson C toolkit

About the trainer

Photo of Elizabeth Beer — Elizabeth Beer is from the UK and has been teaching for 15 years in countries such as Hong Kong, Vietnam and Spain. She loves teaching speaking and listening skills, and in particular teaching lively, loud and fun teenage classes.

Teaching Live Classes in 2019/2020, she has proved to bring a lot of positive energy and motivation into the classroom.

Lesson D (ages 12-16)

Adventures of a lifetime

About Lesson D

Trainer: Harry Waters

Level: A2+/B1

Students’ age: 12-16

Topic: Adventures of a lifetime

Key vocabulary:
Travel, adventure activities: luxury/budget holiday, abroad, tourist, host(s), landscapes, unique, take it easy, a rough ride, guide, snowmobile, jet skiing, get the idea

Lesson overview:
Would you like to go on an Adventure Holiday? We’re going to look at and talk about two very different types of adventure holiday and decide which one we prefer. We’ll also discuss other types of holidays.

In this lesson students will:

watch two videos about very different adventure holidays
learn about adventure activities in other countries
talk about which adventure holiday they like to go on
learn at least 10 new words related to travel and adventure sport

Lesson D toolkit

About the trainer

Photo of Harry Waters — Harry Waters has worked in private language academies and schools in Argentina, Brazil, China, Vietnam, Australia, Spain and the UK. His primary focus has been language development among teenagers. His classes have a focus on learning through fun and developing language with games and video. He has a keen interest in pronunciation, for which he has given talks across Spain, and recently bringing the online classroom to life.

Lesson E (ages 12-16)

Street art

About Lesson E

Trainer: Michael Brand

Level: B1/B1+

Students’ age: 12-16

Topic: Street art

Key vocabulary:
Graffiti: Street art, a tag, canvas, stencil, mural, mess, paint over, get rid, degrades the neighborhood, piece/form of art

Lesson overview:
When does graffiti become street art? Should it be admired or removed? Let’s look at both sides of the debate and learn about the world’s most famous graffiti artist.

In this lesson students will:

watch a video about graffiti in Bristol
learn vocabulary to talk about graffiti
develop their critical thinking and collaborative skills

Lesson E toolkit

About the trainer

Michael Brand is a passionate linguist; he studied French and German at Durham University, followed by a PGCE in Modern Languages. Having taught in England and Spain, he has experience in the public, private and state-assisted sectors and has taught young learners, teens and adults. He now spends his time training teachers on all things ELT and his interests include collaborative learning and the creative use of video.

Michael has been involved in developing Pearson and BBC Live Classes, and continues to be a leading trainer in the project.

Lesson F (ages 15-17)

Young entrepreneurs

About Lesson F

Trainer: Michael Brand

Level: B2

Students’ age: 15-17

Topic: Young entrepreneurs

Key vocabulary:
Entrepreneurs: found/start/run a company/business, to have in common, networking, endorse, tag on social media, think big, get along, personal connection

Lesson overview:
What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur at a young age? How do young entrepreneurs network and use social media and influencers to help them? Let’s learn the tricks of the trade!

In this lesson students will

learn about two young entrepreneurs
learn vocabulary related to business and social media
analyze different business ideas and come up with their own

Lesson F toolkit

About the trainer

Michael Brand is a passionate linguist; he studied French and German at Durham University, followed by a PGCE in Modern Languages. Having taught in England and Spain, he has experience in the public, private and state-assisted sectors and has taught young learners, teens and adults. He now spends his time training teachers on all things ELT and his interests include collaborative learning and the creative use of video.

Michael has been involved in developing Pearson and BBC Live Classes, and continues to be a leading trainer in the project.

Lesson G (ages 16-19)

The high cost of a university education

About Lesson G

Trainer: Dan Shepherd

Level: B2+

Students’ age: 16-19

Topic: The high cost of a university education

Key vocabulary:
Education, finances: maintenance loan, tuition fees, to cover costs, student loans, financial assistance/support, deprived areas, to earn above a threshold

Lesson overview:
Should higher education be free for everyone? Let’s look at the high cost of university and discuss the different ways students can save money.

In this lesson your students will:

watch a video about university students in the UK
learn new words and phrases related to education and finances
talk to learners around the world about higher education in their countries
focus on life skills: creating a budget and saving money

Lesson G toolkit

About the trainer

Photo of Dan Shepherd — Dan Shepherd has worked in ELT since 2010. Before starting his own education content agency, Hubbub Labs, he worked as a teacher, teacher trainer and academic manager. He is also an examiner, team leader and conference presenter.

Lesson H (ages 9-12)

London Zoo

About Lesson H

Trainer: Elizabeth Beer

Level: A1/A2

Students’ age: 9-12

Topic: London Zoo

Key vocabulary:
Animals: giraffe, penguin, tiger, tortoise, monkey, millipede, stick insect. Adjectives: tall, funny, fast, slow, strange, long, big, interesting, green. Daily routines: wake up, have breakfast, play, ball, toy, swimming. Parts of an animal: head, body, tail, leg, feet, paw, flipper.

Lesson overview:
Everybody loves animals! Come and find out more information about animals at London’s famous Zoo.

In this lesson students will:

watch a video about animals at London Zoo
use adjectives to describe the animals
look at vocabulary for animal body parts
talk to students around the world about their favorite animals

Lesson H toolkit

About the trainer

Lesson I (ages 9-12)

Unusual school

About Lesson I

Trainer: Harry Waters

Level: A2/A2+

Students’ age: 9-12

Topic: Unusual school

Key vocabulary:
Nationalities, languages, countries, numbers, students, children, teachers, playground, together, work, learn.

Lesson overview:
All schools have students and teachers, most have a playground and a canteen, but no two schools are the same.

In this lesson students will

learn about a school that is very unusual
discuss what makes their schools special
interact with students from different countries around the world

Lesson I toolkit

About the trainer

Lesson J (ages 11-15)

Do smartphones make you smarter?

About Lesson J

Trainer: Michael Brand

Level: A2+/B1

Students’ age: 11-15

Topic: Do smartphones make you smarter?

Key vocabulary:
Technology: screens, smartphones, memes, the internet, hyperlinks, connected, virtual, download.

Lesson overview:
Teenagers and technology: a match made in heaven? Let’s look at the pros and cons of being connected.

In this lesson students will:

watch a video about technology and education
talk to students around the world about how they use technology
develop their critical thinking skill

Lesson J toolkit

About the trainer

Michael Brand is a passionate linguist; he studied French and German at Durham University, followed by a PGCE in Modern Languages. Having taught in England and Spain, he has experience in the public, private and state-assisted sectors and has taught young learners, teens and adults. He now spends his time training teachers on all things ELT and his interests include collaborative learning and the creative use of video.

Michael has been involved in developing Pearson and BBC Live Classes, and continues to be a leading trainer in the project.

Lesson K (ages 15-19)

Engaging with nature

About Lesson K

Trainer: Dan Shepherd

Level: B1+/B2

Students’ age: 15-19

Topic: Engaging with nature

Key vocabulary:
Pre-teaching: the equator, cable car, power cut, rescue procedure, tree house, the treetops, rope. Describing location: be situated/ located/ found somewhere, 3 hours…drive/ walk/flight/ by road/… from, in the middle of nowhere, deep in the forest/jungle, high in the mountains, …off the coast of… etc.

Lesson overview:
The opportunity to engage with nature is a privilege and a joy, but we must strive to do so with care and respect. Explore a unique way of discovering plant and animal life and discuss the benefits of exploring the natural world.

In this lesson your students will:

watch a video about a sustainable hotel in the cloud-forests of Ecuador
talk to other students around the world about their encounters with the natural world
develop critical thinking skills

Lesson K toolkit

About the trainer