When I Grow Up
This jobs ESL lesson introduces professions, tools and the ambition phrase 'I want to be a...'. Children guess occupations from mime, make a personalised job badge and match workers to equipment. They create job hats and rotate through pretend doctor, kitchen and classroom stations before a dream-job parade.
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Lesson format
2 × 45 minutes
Level
Starter
Age group
Ages 4–6
Main focus
Speaking first
What students will learn
Lesson flow
Children guess jobs mimed by the teacher, build a job-badge craft drawing themselves in a chosen job, and match job flashcards to their tools. The second lesson builds a paper job hat, visits 3-4 pretend job stations (doctor, kitchen, classroom) introducing themselves in each role, and listens to a story about children's job dreams, finishing with a dream-job parade and photo moment.
Target language
- • 'I want to be a ___'
- • 'A ___ helps people'
- • Job vocabulary
- • 'What do you want to be?'
Key vocabulary
- doctor
- teacher
- pilot
- firefighter
- policeman
- chef
- nurse
- job
- astronaut
- vet
Speaking questions students answer
- • What do you want to be?
- • What does a doctor do?
- • Who helps people?
- • What job is this?
- • Why do you want to be a firefighter?
Recommended teaching contexts
Why this lesson works
The lesson follows a clear progression: Say 'I want to be a...' with job flashcards, build a job-badge craft, roleplay a job at a dress-up station. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.