Let's Celebrate
This celebrations ESL lesson teaches vocabulary for birthdays, weddings and family traditions. Students describe past events, compare celebrations around the world and explain what people give, eat and do. They design a Dream Party poster with future plans and share a meaningful family tradition with the class.
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Lesson format
2 × 45 minutes
Level
Intermediate
Age group
Ages 12–14
Main focus
Speaking first
What students will learn
Lesson flow
Students name celebrations from party pictures, learn celebration vocabulary saying 'We give presents at birthdays,' and write about their last birthday using 'I had a cake and presents. I invited my friends.' The second lesson guesses celebrations like weddings and baptisms from images, watches short clips of celebrations around the world, designs a Dream Party poster with what, where, who and what will happen, and shares a family tradition show-and-tell.
Target language
- • Past simple for memories: 'I had...'
- • 'Do you celebrate...?'
- • 'When is your birthday?'
- • Celebration and tradition vocabulary
Key vocabulary
- tradition
- custom
- festival
- culture
- ceremony
- parade
- fireworks
- reunion
- anniversary
- celebration
Speaking questions students answer
- • Do you celebrate your birthday?
- • When is your birthday?
- • Have you ever been to a baptism?
- • What do people wear at a wedding?
- • What traditions does your family have?
Recommended teaching contexts
Why this lesson works
The lesson follows a clear progression: Name celebrations in a What Do You Celebrate? warm-up, ask about family events using past tense, design a dream-party poster and share family traditions. Teachers can open the materials and start immediately, while students move from supported vocabulary practice to purposeful spoken English.