www.eslkidstuff.

com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

Lesson 1
Intro lesson (Ages 5-7)

General:
Level: 2 – KOALAS (ages 5-7)
Time: 50 mins - 1 hour 10 mins
Objectives: Greetings, names, follow simple instructions, identify and recognize 5
colors
Structures: "Hello", "What's your name", "My name is...", "How are you?", "I’m
fine, thank you", "Goodbye", "Give me..."
New vocab: red, blue, green, yellow, purple, favorite, color, stand up, sit down,
hands up, hands down, jump, run, turn around, pass, touch

You will need to download:

Printables: •
All about me worksheet
•
Name tracing sheets (one for each student with their name in dots) -
optional
• Color the cute fish worksheet
Songs: • Hello Song
• Goodbye Song
These can be downloaded at https://www.eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-plans.html

You will also need:

• name tags for each student
• name tracing sheets (one for each student with their name in dots) - optional
• a glove puppet
• a small ball
• colored pencils
• 5 sheets of origami colored paper (red, green, blue, yellow, purple)
• cushions (1 per student)
• CD / Tape player / PC / Something to play the Hello and Goodbye songs on

Your students will need:

• colored pencils

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 1 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

Notes:
This lesson provides a good platform to begin the course with your
young learners as it introduces them to the key stages and routines you
will use in every class. At this age some of your students may be a bit
shy at first so make sure you smile a lot and make them feel really
welcome - they will soon gain confidence as you run through all the fun
activities in this lesson!

Lesson overview:
Warm up and maintenance:
1. Greetings
2. Name tags

New learning and practice:

1. Play "Ball pass" and say names
2. Introduce glove puppet - greetings and introductions activity
3. Sing "The Hello Song"
4. Do "Exercise Routine" activity
5. Name writing practice (optional – see notes below)
6. Teach colors: red, blue, green, purple, yellow
7. Play "Color pass", “Color touch" and "Color hold up"
8. Do the “All about me” worksheet

Wrap up:
1. Assign homework: "Color the cute fish"
2. Say goodbye to glove puppet
3. Sing "The Goodbye Song"
4. Do "Quick check" and say goodbye

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 2 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

Lesson procedure:
Warm up and maintenance:
1. Greetings
Greet the students by name as they enter the classroom and
gesture for them to sit down. It's a good idea to have a cushion
for each student as this makes sitting arrangements easy to
organize. Try and arrange the cushions beforehand spaced out in
a fan-shape around you.

2. Name tags
Before class prepare some name tags (stickers or pin-on tags) with
each student's name written on in lower-case letters. Sit down with
your students and lay out the name tags in front of you. Pick up each
tag and call out the name. Try and encourage each student to put
their hand up and say "yes". Hand over the tags and help to pin /
stick on.

In later lessons, if your students can write their name in English, you can have them write
their names on their tags at the beginning of each lesson.

New learning and practice:

1. Play "Ball pass" and say names
Take a soft ball and pass it to your nearest student, saying
"Pass". Have each student pass the ball around the circle.

Next, hold the ball and say:

“My name is (your name)”

Have each student say their name with the structure “My
name is …” as they pass the ball to each other. If a student doesn't pass, make sure s/he
does it again until done properly. Next do 2 more rounds – rolling the ball to each other and
then throwing and catching the ball – each time saying their names as they receive the ball.

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 3 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

2. Introduce glove puppet - greetings and introductions activity

Your students will love this. Get hold of a glove puppet (I use Cookie Monster bought from
Toys 'R' Us) and put it in a bag before class. Bring out the bag, open it enough to see in and
shout into the bag "Hello!". Then move your ear to the opening to listen - nothing. Go to
each student and encourage them to shout "Hello" into the bag - each time nothing
happens. Finally, get all the students together to shout "Hello!" at the same time. This time
the puppet wakes up and jumps out of the bag! Then model the role play with the puppet:

Teacher: "Hello", What's your name?"

Puppet: “How are you?”
Teacher: "Hello", What's your name?"
Puppet: “I’m fine, thank you”.

Then move onto the first student and say "Hello“ and encourage
him/her to say hello back. Next, the puppet asks each student:
“What's your name?”,

and encourage the response:

"My name is...“

Then, the puppet asks each student:

“How are you?”

And elicit:
“I’m fine, thank you.

Finally, the puppet says "Goodbye" and "See you" before going back into the bag to sleep.

NOTE: even 7-year olds enjoy chatting with glove puppets so it shouldn’t be a problem for
this age group! If you have a group of mature 7-year olds who are not being responsive to
the puppet, use a ball to pass to each student and roleplay the greetings.

3. Sing "The Hello Song"

Sit in a circle and listen to the song (clap along or pat knees). Play it once more emphasizing
"Hello". Your students will pick up the words surprisingly quickly.

Lyrics for "The Hello Song" Gestures for "The Hello Song"

Hello, hello, These are quite straight forward. First time you play the
How are you today? song do the gestures and encourage everyone to do them
Hello, hello, with you.
How are you today?

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 4 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

• Wave as you sing the "Hello, hello" parts.

I’m fine, thank you, • Gesture to others as you sing "How are you today?"
I’m fine, thank you, • Point to yourself as you sing "I’m fine, thank you"
I’m fine, thank you, • Hand gesture towards another student as you sing "And
And how about you? how about you?".

Hello, hello,
How are you today?
I’m fine, thank you,
And how about you?

4. Do "Exercise routine" activity

Time for some action. Say the following and have the students follow your lead:

• "Stand up (T stands and so does everyone else)

• "Hands up / hands down" (do 4 or 5 times)
• "Jump" (4 or 5 times)
• "Run! / Stop!" (4 or 5 times)
• "Turn around! / Stop!" (4 or 5 times)
• finally "Sit down".

5. Name writing practice

This is an optional activity you can do if your students can’t write their names in English. If
they can, skip this step.

In this lesson your students are going to practice writing their names. For younger ones,
this may be their first time to do so - don't worry if their first effort is a scrawly mess -
always encourage and praise.

You will need to prepare a writing sheet for each student before class with their name
written in dots for them to practice tracing their names (also prepare one for yourself so
you can model the task). You can either make these yourself (hand draw the dots for each
name) or use a font typed into a Word document - we like to use the "National First Font
Dotted" font (you can download it for free here: https://www.fontspace.com/national-first-
font-dotted-f5860).

Prepare the sheets something like this:

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 5 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

Make extra copies for future lessons / homework

Make a few copies of each student's name writing sheet so you can use them in future lessons or for
homework.

Get everyone to sit at a table with you. You are going to give clear instructions on getting
ready for written work so everyone understands what to do in future lessons: first, tell
everyone to get their bags (you do the same so they can see what to do). Then say "Take
out your pencils" - take out your pencils and have everyone follow you.

Take the sheets of paper and read the names - encourage each student to put their hand up
and say "Yes". Give out the sheets to each student and give one to yourself.

Next, say, "Take out a pencil" and have the students follow you as you take out your pencil.
Any color will do. Model tracing your name, slowly and carefully, saying your name as you
trace. Then have everyone trace the first name. Then put the pencil back into your pencil
case and take out a different color. Each time, use a different color. As the students trace

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 6 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

their names, circulate, help and give lots of praise. Finally, have everyone write their names
on the bottom lines.

When everyone has finished, get each student to hold up their sheet so you and everyone
can see. Give lots of praise to each student - you can even put stickers on each student's
sheet as a prize (they will love this) or even a simple drawing of a smiley face will do!

6. Teach colors: red, blue, green, purple, yellow

Over the next few lessons we’ll learn some colors. In this
lesson we’ll start with the colors red, blue, green, purple and
yellow.

Origami paper is great for this, or just some colored

paper/card cut into squares.

Sit everyone in a circle and hold up the first colored paper and ask, “What color is it?” –
even with young kids you may get the right answer! If not, teach the color (e.g. red) and
chorus it 3 times. Do this for the rest of the colors.

7. Play "Color pass", "Color touch" and "Color hold up"

Now take each color and pass it to your nearest student. Say
"red" as you pass red, etc. The students pass the colors
round the circle.

Next, lay the 5 colors in the middle of the circle. Say "Hands
up". Students raise their hands. Then say "Touch.....red!"
and the students should all try and touch the red colored
paper. Do for all of the colors.

Finally, give each student one of the colored papers. Say "Hold up....blue!" - the students
holding the blue papers raise them into the air.

NOTE: for these games you'll probably have to give lots of help and encouragement. For
example, if one of your students doesn't hold up the colored paper when asked, look at
him/her and gesture what to do.

8. Do the “All about me” worksheet

Let’s find out a little about everybody. Hold up the worksheet
and show drawing your face and writing your name – and make
it lots of fun! Then complete the favorites sections, making it
clear that these are your favorite things. Your students can also
try to guess what your favorite things are.

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 7 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

Then give out the worksheets and have everyone complete them. Circulate, check and ask
questions (What color is this?, What fruit is that?). Finally, hold up each student’s work in
turn and show to the class. Ask a question (e.g. What is your favorite animal?) and give lots
of praise. End by telling your students to put their worksheets into their bags.

Wrap up:
1. Assign homework: "Color the cute fish"
Hold up the homework worksheet and model coloring in the 5
fish pictures (with red, blue, green, yellow and purple pencils).
Elicit each color as you go. Give out the worksheets and say "Put
your homework in your bags" and help them to do so - this is
important as they will probably want to start coloring them right
away.

2. Say goodbye to glove puppet

Take out the bag again and get everyone to wake up the glove
puppet by shouting its name into the bag (e.g. "Cookie
Monster!"). Bring out the puppet and go through the same routine -
go to each student and say hello, ask their name and the say
goodbye / see you. Then put the puppet back in the bag (back to
sleep).

3. Sing "The Goodbye Song"

"The Goodbye Song" is a great way to sign off the class. Sit together in a circle and sing and
clap along.

Lyrics for "The Goodbye Song" Gestures for "The Goodbye Song"

Goodbye, goodbye, These are quite straight forward. First time

See you again. you play the song do the gestures and
Goodbye, goodbye, encourage everyone to do them with you.
See you again. • Wave as you sing the "Goodbye,
goodbye" parts.
It’s time to go, • Hold your hand above your eyes (as you
It’s time to go, would when you are looking into the
It’s time to go, distance and keeping the sun out of
See you next time. your eyes) and look at another student
as you sing "See you again".
Goodbye, goodbye, • Tap watch (or imaginary watch) and
See you again. then point to the door as you sing "It’s
It’s time to go, time to go".
See you next time. • Point towards another student as you

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 8 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved
 www.eslkidstuff.com | Lesson Plans for ESL Kids Teachers

sing "See you next time".

4. Do "Quick check" and say goodbye

Time to leave the class. Make sure everything is put away
and the students have gathered their belongings. Have
them line up at the door and place yourself between the
door and the students. For each student hold up a color
and ask, "What color is this?". When they give you the
correct answer say goodbye and let them leave. If their
answer is wrong, have them go back to the end of the line - they will have to try again once
they reach the front!

• All flashcards, worksheets, craft sheets, readers and songs used in this
lesson plan can be downloaded at eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-
plans.html
• More free Lesson Plans are available at eslkidstuff.com/esl-kids-lesson-
plans.html
Can you suggest any additions to this lesson plan? If you know of any great games, activities,
teaching points, links to other sites or any other ideas that can be added to this lesson plan,
please email us: https://www.eslkidstuff.com/contact.htm

Please report any mistakes at https://www.eslkidstuff.com/contact.htm

This lesson plan was produced by ESL KidStuff (https://www.eslkidstuff.com) and is covered
by copyright.

ESL KidStuff Lesson Plan: Page 9 of 9 Copyright ESL KidStuff

Intro lesson (Ages 5-7) All rights reserved