How Old Are You? ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 0C · Unit 8Starter · Ages 4–6

How Old Are You?

This age and numbers ESL lesson practises 1–10 with 'How old are you?' and 'I am... years old.' Children sing, count candles and create a personalised birthday-cake craft. They make a birthday crown, play a number ball-toss game and use the target question in a mini party roleplay.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Starter

Age group

Ages 4–6

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Ask and answer 'How old are you?'
• Count and recognise numbers 1-10
• Make a birthday cake craft with candles
• Use 'How old are you?' in a social context
• Practise numbers through games
• Build vocabulary through songs

Lesson flow

Children sing a birthday song, build a cake craft adding the correct number of candles and writing 'I am ___ years old,' then play a candle-counting game. The second lesson makes a birthday crown, plays a ball-toss counting game with numbered cups, and performs a mini birthday roleplay asking 'How old are you?', finishing with a crown parade.

Target language

  • • 'How old are you?'
  • • 'I am ___ years old'
  • • Numbers 1-10
  • • Counting aloud

Key vocabulary

  • one
  • two
  • three
  • four
  • five
  • six
  • seven
  • eight
  • nine
  • ten

Speaking questions students answer

  • • How old are you?
  • • How many candles are on your cake?
  • • Can you count to 10?
  • • What number did you hit?
  • • How old is the birthday kid?

Recommended teaching contexts

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

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Ask and answer 'How old are you?', count candles on a birthday cake craft, roleplay a pretend birthday party. 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: "How old are you?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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