Use this lesson plan with your primary learners to explore ways of making the classroom more environmentally friendly.

A teacher on a rock in a shallow river explaining something to his primary students

The Climate Action in Language Education series

This lesson is part of our series of 'Climate Action in Language Education' teaching materials. There are twelve lesson plans in the series, available for teachers of primary, secondary and adult learners of English. See the full list of lesson plans in this series.

About this lesson plan

This can be done over two lessons which focus on green classrooms, encouraging learners to think about ways in which they can make their classroom greener. By teaching primary children more about this topic, we can help them to develop the vocabulary they need to take part in important dialogues around sustainability in the future.

The first lesson begins with a warmer to introduce the topic. Learners then talk about green classrooms before doing a ‘find the differences’ activity, where they examine two illustrations of classrooms, one of which has several green elements. Learners finish this section of the lesson with a guided discussion about each of the green aspects in the classroom. In the second lesson, learners work in small groups to share ideas for how to make a green classroom and then make a ‘Do and don’t’ poster.

The lesson plan and student materials have been designed to be used in either face-to-face classrooms or remote teaching contexts.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify sustainability issues
  • Review and build on vocabulary related to the classroom
  • Use countable nouns when talking about objects found in the classroom
  • Be creative and use critical thinking
  • To promote communication and collaborative skills
  • Develop speaking and visual literacy skills

Age and level:

Primary learners aged 6–8 years at CEFR A2 level and above

Time:

90 minutes approximately. This can be done over 2 lessons

Materials:

The materials can be downloaded below in PDF and PPTX format

  • Lesson plan for remote teaching contexts
  • Lesson plan for face-to-face classroom teaching
  • Presentation
  • Student worksheets
Downloads
Language Level

Comments

Submitted by xtr3m0 on Thu, 12/07/2023 - 15:06

thanks for sharing this amazing material.

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Mon, 12/11/2023 - 07:13

In reply to by xtr3m0

Hi xtr3m0

We are glad you find the resources useful! 

Thanks,

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by mariajune on Tue, 10/10/2023 - 09:25

Has anybody adapted this LP for lower level children? I love the content but I think they would stuggle a bit with the discussion section. Has anyone had the same experience?

Submitted by tanveer22fatima on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:42

thanks for this lesson plan .

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:57

In reply to by tanveer22fatima

Hi,

We hope you and your students find it useful!

Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Ekaterine.Megr… on Tue, 11/29/2022 - 15:01

Thanks for such an interesting materials. My students will be glad to take this challenge.

Submitted by Usha A on Tue, 08/30/2022 - 17:05

Its is one of my best class i ever had. Thank u

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 10:06

In reply to by Usha A

Hi Usha,

Thanks for taking the time to tell us that it went so well, I'm glad you and your students enjoyed it! I'll let Kath Bilsborough who wrote it know it worked so well.

I hope some of the other ones in the series might be good for you too  :)   https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/climate-action-language-education-all-resources

Anne 
TeachingEnglish team

Submitted by Min Thein Aung on Fri, 07/22/2022 - 03:16

Really helpful for my future career and believe it would be an effective teaching conformity with new generation.

Submitted by Rain Man on Sun, 06/26/2022 - 04:51

Thank you, British Council, for making life a lot easier for teachers like myself!
I would highly appreciate it if you or anyone here could share some guidance on how to explain the word 'green' in the concept of protecting the environment.

Hi there,

I couldn't find any reference to when the term was used first for different aspects of being environmentally conscious, as you say, perhaps someone else can throw light on it :).   Going green generally refers to things that people do to lessen the negative impact they have on the planet, such as 'reduce, reuse and recycle'. The related term 'eco friendly' usually refers more to actual products and how they are made or sourced, using resources that are sustainable, that don't deplete or harm the world's natural resources, that are renewable and or can be recycled and don't need damaging pesticides to grow for example. 

Maybe other readers can add more to my definitions :) hope that helps and glad we help make life a bit easier!

Anne 

TeachingEnglish team 

 

 

Submitted by Nourdine on Sat, 05/28/2022 - 12:07

I do appreciate such marvelous efforts.
All the best

Submitted by Batea2020 on Sat, 02/19/2022 - 16:36

thank you for your effort and hard working 

Submitted by BAKHITOGREBA on Thu, 12/16/2021 - 09:56

My thanks to the hardworking team who gave their time to bring a better learning to the globe, I will apply this to my learners in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. Thanks once again.

Submitted by Mahamba1985 on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 10:25

I really appreciate these resoures I hope to star using them in my English club in Mwanza Tanzania. Thanks Brtish council

Submitted by Cath McLellan on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 13:11

In reply to by Mahamba1985

Thanks Mahamba - hope you and your students enjoy the activities!

Cath

TE Team

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