ESL Lesson Plan Animal Idioms B2
ESL Lesson Plan Animal Idioms B2 takes a lighthearted look at eight common English idioms built around animals — from letting the cat out of the bag to monkey see, monkey do. Students guess meanings from context, explore the surprising origins behind expressions like a snake in the grass and let the cat out of the bag, and compare English idioms with equivalents from their own language. With reading, speaking, and role-play activities, it's a fun and memorable way to build natural, idiomatic English.
📄B2 ⏱️90 min 📁19 slides
Skills and Outcomes
Learn and use eight common animal idioms in natural context.
Understand the origins and cultural background behind key idioms.
Practise using idioms naturally in speaking and role-play.
Compare English idioms with animal expressions from other languages.
Vocabulary
let the cat out of the bag
the elephant in the room
when pigs fly
a snake in the grass
a horse of a completely different colour
to throw someone to the wolves
there are plenty more fish in the sea
monkey see, monkey do
Lesson Plan
Lead-in
Students look at pictures of animals and discuss associations, cultural attitudes, and idioms in their own language.
What Is an Idiom?
A short introduction to idioms using the example it's raining cats and dogs.
Guess the Meaning
Students read example sentences and choose the correct meaning (a, b, or c) for each of the eight idioms.
Reading:The Stories Behind the Idioms
Students read short texts on the origins of let the cat out of the bag, a snake in the grass, and when pigs fly, then match definitions to words from the text.
Speaking
Students discuss real-life scenarios in pairs or with their teacher, applying the idioms to everyday situations.
Role-Play
Students act out short conversations about a new job or a holiday plan, naturally using two or three animal idioms.
Writing
Students think of animal idioms from their own language, translate them, and explain the idea behind them.
Note: All the images in this lesson are AI-generated.
