Dog Man
- Sep 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 23
This ESL Lesson Plan Dog Man helps B1 learners improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, and speaking using the Dog Man series created by Dav Pilkey. English lessons don’t always have to be about textbooks — reading comic books together can also be fun and motivating!
📄B1 ⏱️60 min 📁14 slides
Outcomes and skills:
Expanded vocabulary related to comics, characters, and storytelling.
Speaking practice through role-play and creative discussions.
Writing skills developed through short creative tasks.
Vocabulary
humour
enemy
chaos
beloved
animated
unique
loyal
sneaky
release
feature
Lesson plan
Lead-in
Discuss cartoons, comics, and heroes students already know.
Encourage students to share favourite animated films or characters.
Brainstorm
Show Dog Man pictures without text.
Ask: “Imagine what the characters are thinking or saying.”
Students work in pairs to write short ideas or dialogue.
Invite volunteers to share; highlight creativity and humour.
Video: Dog Man – Official Trailer
Play the trailer once for overall understanding.
Ask: Who are the main characters? What happens in the story?
Play again, encouraging note-taking on Dog Man and Petey.
Discuss what kind of story it seems to be (funny, action, adventure, etc.).
Vocabulary
Present the target words: humour, enemy, chaos, beloved, animated, unique, loyal, sneaky, release, feature.
Elicit meanings through examples and context.
Ask short concept questions: Who can be loyal? What films are animated?
Reading: Good News for Dog Man Fans!
Students read the short article about the Dog Man film.
Encourage them to underline new or interesting words.
Discuss in pairs, then check together:
When was the film released?
What makes Dog Man unique?
Who is his enemy?
Emphasise adjectives describing characters.
Comprehension Practice
Students complete multiple-choice questions to check understanding.
Go through answers together and explain vocabulary in context.
Encourage students to use full sentences when answering orally.
Vocabulary Review: Opposites
Students match the given words with their opposites.
Play a quick call-and-response game: teacher says a word, students say the opposite.
Reinforce meanings and correct pronunciation.
Role-play Reading: The Secret Meeting
Assign roles: Narrator, Dog Man, Police Officers.
Students read their parts aloud with expression.
Remind that Dog Man stays silent and acts through gestures.
Practise fluency and intonation.
Optional: short group performances for the class.
Creative Writing: Dog Man’s Diary
Read the opening: “Today is Chief’s birthday…”
Brainstorm ideas as a class about what could happen next.
Students write a short diary entry continuing the story.
Remind them Dog Man doesn’t speak – focus on thoughts and actions.
Invite volunteers to read their diaries aloud or share in pairs.
Wrap-up Discussion
Ask reflection questions:
What did you learn about Dog Man?
What do you like about him?
What makes someone a hero?
Review key vocabulary.
Optional extension: Students invent their own comic hero and describe their powers