Let's Go To The Zoo ESL lesson thumbnail
Book 2 · Unit 6Beginner · Ages 6–9

Let's Go To The Zoo

This zoo animals ESL lesson develops animal vocabulary through songs, movement and descriptive speaking. Learners act like animals, answer 'What do you see?' and describe what each animal can do. They build a labelled mini zoo and finish with a tour-guide roleplay.

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Lesson format

2 × 45 minutes

Level

Beginner

Age group

Ages 6–9

Main focus

Speaking first

What students will learn

• Name and recognize zoo animals
• Describe animals with simple actions
• Act like animals using movement and sound
• Engage in songs, storytelling, and crafts
• Build a mini zoo craft with labelled animals
• Practise a zoo-tour-guide roleplay

Lesson flow

Children act out named animals in a freeze game, sing Let's Go to the Zoo pausing to answer 'What do you see?' and 'What can a lion do?', and drill flashcards adding animal sounds. The second lesson pairs up to describe a zoo picture ('I see a crocodile. It can swim!'), listens to a Good Night Gorilla story, builds a mini zoo craft, and roleplays a zoo tour guide describing each animal.

Target language

  • • 'What do you see?'
  • • 'I see a ___'
  • • 'What can a ___ do?'
  • • 'It can ___'

Key vocabulary

  • lion
  • tiger
  • elephant
  • giraffe
  • monkey
  • zebra
  • penguin
  • bear
  • hippo
  • crocodile

Speaking questions students answer

  • • What do you see?
  • • What can a lion do?
  • • Is it big or small?
  • • Do you like monkeys?
  • • Where was the lion?

Recommended teaching contexts

• Beginner ESL and EFL classes• Ages 6–9• Primary school classrooms• Language schools• Private and small-group lessons• Teaching animals vocabulary• Pair and whole-class speaking• Interactive whiteboards and online teaching

Why this lesson works

The lesson follows a clear progression: Act like zoo animals in a warm-up game, describe what zoo animals can do, build a mini zoo and give a tour-guide roleplay. 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: "What do you see?"
• Classroom games
• Videos
• Vocabulary practice
• Pair work
• Extension activities

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