I Love You! ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 0B · Unit 19Starter · Ages 4–6

I Love You!

This Valentine's Day ESL lesson teaches loving and friendly expressions through the Skidamarink song. Children use actions, draw a heart face and match words such as heart, rose and hug. They create a funny Valentine character and give it to a classmate while saying 'This is for you.'

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Starter

Age group

Ages 4–6

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Express love and friendship through words and songs
• Use drawing to explore feelings
• Identify heart-shaped icons and symbols of kindness
• Review loving phrases and symbols
• Create a funny Valentine character
• Strengthen scissors, matching, and creative skills

Lesson flow

Children discuss who they love and learn 'I love you!' with hand motions, singing along to Skidamarink, then draw a loving heart face and match Valentine icons like heart, rose and hug. The second lesson reviews the song with actions, has children cut and mix parts to create a funny Valentine character, optionally draw a flower for someone special, and finish by giving their Valentine to a classmate saying 'This is for you!'

Target language

  • • 'I love you!'
  • • 'This is for you!'
  • • Emotion and kindness vocabulary
  • • Simple descriptions

Key vocabulary

  • love
  • heart
  • hug
  • kiss
  • family
  • friends
  • together
  • caring
  • valentine

Speaking questions students answer

  • • Who do you love?
  • • What do you say when you give a gift?
  • • What shape is a heart?
  • • Do you like your Valentine?
  • • What did you make?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Starter ESL and EFL classes• Ages 4–6• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching emotions vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Sing Skidamarink with hand gestures, match Valentine items like heart, rose, hug, make and give a funny Valentine character. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.

This lesson includes

• Interactive lesson slides
• Teacher guide
• Printable worksheets
• Speaking practice: "Who do you love?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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