Express Yourself Lesson Plan Express Yourself!
Unlocking common English idioms
Lesson Plan
Grade 7 • ESL • 30 Minutes
Why this matters
Understanding idioms is crucial for effective communication in English. It helps students not only understand native speakers but also express themselves more naturally and confidently, bridging cultural and linguistic gaps.
Objective
Students will be able to identify, understand, and use common English idioms in appropriate contexts, improving their conversational fluency and cultural comprehension.
Materials Needed
Smartboard or Projector
Express Yourself Slides
Markers or Whiteboard
Idiom Match-Up Activity
Idiom Exit Ticket
Teacher Preparation (15 mins)
Review Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the 4 core idioms.
Print or prepare digital versions of the Match-Up Activity and Exit Ticket.
Ensure all technology (projector, computer) is working correctly.
Lesson Flow
1
5 Mins
Warm-Up: What Do You Mean?
Display the first slide of the slide deck to pique interest.
Ask students to guess the meaning of a presented idiom based on context or literal interpretation.
Lead a brief class discussion on how language can be tricky and why direct translation doesn't always work.
2
10 Mins
Idiom Introduction & Examples
Use the slides to introduce four common idioms: Break a Leg, Raining Cats and Dogs, Bite the Bullet, See Eye to Eye.
Provide clear definitions and example sentences for each.
Encourage students to repeat the idioms aloud for pronunciation practice.
Check for understanding with quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down polls.
3
10 Mins
Idiom Match-Up Activity
Distribute the Idiom Match-Up Activity worksheet.
Students match idioms to meanings and then write their own sentences in Part 2.
Circulate the room to offer support, specifically focusing on sentence structure for ESL learners.
Review answers as a class, encouraging students to share their creative sentences.
4
5 Mins
Cool-Down: Idiom Exit Ticket
Distribute the Idiom Exit Ticket.
Students reflect on what an idiom is and why they are important for language learning.
Collect the tickets to assess if students achieved the lesson objective.
Express Yourself Slides Express Yourself!
Unlocking common English Idioms for natural conversation
Grade 7 ESL
"Break a Leg!"
Literal Meaning
To actually break one of your legs. (Ouch!)
Real Meaning
Good luck!
Example
"Before the play, the director told the actors, 'Break a leg!'"
When would you say this?
"Raining Cats & Dogs"
Literal Meaning
Animals falling from the sky!
Real Meaning
It's raining very heavily.
Example
"I can't go outside; it's raining cats and dogs!"
What kind of weather is this?
"Bite the Bullet"
Literal Meaning
To literally bite down on a bullet. (Ouch!)
Real Meaning
To face a difficult situation bravely.
Example
"I didn't want to study, but I had to bite the bullet and do it."
When did you have to bite the bullet?
"See Eye to Eye"
Literal Meaning
To look directly into someone's eyes.
Real Meaning
To agree with someone.
Example
"My brother and I don't always see eye to eye, but we respect each other."
Do you always agree with your friends?
Time to Practice!
Now it's your turn to become idiom experts!
1
Match the idiom to its correct meaning.
2
Use the idiom in a sentence of your own.
Idiom Match-Up Activity
Show What You Know!
Please complete your Idiom Exit Ticket before leaving today.
"You're all doing a 'piece of cake' job! That's another idiom for 'easy'!"
Express Yourself Script Teacher Script
Express Yourself!
Instructional Guide
Approx. 30 Minutes
1
Warm-Up: What Do You Mean? (5 mins)
Teacher Script
"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to have some fun with English phrases that can be a little tricky. Sometimes, when people speak English, they use groups of words that don't mean exactly what they sound like. We call these 'idioms.'"
"Let's start with a warm-up. I want you to look at the board or your Idiom Warm-Up sheet. I'm going to show you two sentences with an underlined phrase. I want you to guess what you think that phrase means, just based on the words. Don't worry if it sounds silly!"
Slide Action: Display Slide 1 "For example: 'My friend told me to break a leg before my presentation. I was nervous enough without breaking anything!' What do you think 'break a leg' means? Write your guess down."
"Now, share your ideas with a partner. What did you come up with?" (Allow 1-2 minutes for discussion). "Alright, class, what were some of your funny guesses?"
2
Idiom Introduction (10 mins)
Slide Action: Display Slide 2 ("Break a Leg!") "Our first idiom is 'Break a Leg!' You all had some interesting ideas about literally breaking a leg, which sounds painful! But in English, when we tell someone to 'break a leg,' we actually mean... 'Good luck!' Can everyone repeat 'Break a leg!' after me?"
Slide Action: Display Slide 3 ("Raining Cats and Dogs!") "Next, 'It's Raining Cats and Dogs!' Hilarious, right? But its real meaning is much simpler: 'It's raining very heavily.' Repeat after me: 'It's raining cats and dogs!'"
Slide Action: Display Slide 4 ("To Bite the Bullet") "Today, its meaning is 'to bravely face a difficult or unpleasant situation.' Example: 'I didn't want to study, but I had to bite the bullet and do it.' Repeat after me: 'Bite the bullet!'"
Slide Action: Display Slide 5 ("See Eye to Eye") "Finally, 'See Eye to Eye.' If you see eye to eye with someone, it means 'to agree with someone.' Repeat after me: 'See eye to eye!'"
3
Match-Up Activity (10 mins)
"Excellent! You've learned some great idioms. Now it's time to practice. I'm going to give you an Idiom Match-Up Activity worksheet. On this sheet, you will first match the idiom to its correct meaning. Then, in Part 2, you'll choose two idioms and use them in your own sentences."
"I'll be walking around to help if you have any questions. Work carefully and try your best! You have about 8-10 minutes for this activity."
Teacher Tip: Circulate the room and look for students who might be taking the idioms literally in their Part 2 sentences. Prompt them to remember the "real" meaning.
4
Idiom Warm-Up Worksheet Idiom Warm-Up
What do you mean?
Name:
Date:
Instructions
Read the sentences below. Based on the words, what do you think the underlined phrase means? Write down your guess. Don't worry if it sounds funny!
1
My friend told me to "break a leg" before my presentation. I was nervous enough without breaking anything!
Your Guess:
2
When I woke up this morning, it was "raining cats and dogs" so I couldn't walk to school.
Your Guess:
Think About It
Why might we use phrases where the words don't mean exactly what they say?
Idiom Match-Up Activity Idiom Match-Up Challenge
Practice Your Expressions
Name:
Date:
Part 1: Match the Idiom to its Meaning
Draw a line connecting each idiom on the left to its correct meaning on the right.
1. Break a leg
2. Raining cats and dogs
3. Bite the bullet
4. See eye to eye
a. To agree with someone
b. To face a difficult situation
c. Good luck!
d. Raining very heavily
Part 2: Use the Idioms!
Choose two idioms from Part 1 and use each one in a complete sentence. Show that you understand what they mean!
Idiom:
Idiom:
You've got this!
Idiom Exit Ticket Idiom Exit Ticket
Show What You Know
Student Name:
Date:
1
In your own words, what is an idiom?
2
Write down one idiom you learned today and its meaning.
Idiom:
Meaning:
3
Why is it important for English learners to understand idioms?
Great Job Today!
Idiom Match-Up Answer Key Answer Key
Idiom Match-Up Challenge
Teacher Resource
Part 1: Match the Idiom to its Meaning
Idiom Correct Meaning 1. Break a leg c. Good luck! 2. Raining cats and dogs d. Raining very heavily 3. Bite the bullet b. To face a difficult situation 4. See eye to eye a. To agree with someone
Part 2: Example Sentences
Note: Student answers will vary. Ensure the sentence context matches the figurative meaning of the idiom, not the literal one.
Example for "Break a leg"
"My drama teacher told us to break a leg before our first performance."
Example for "Raining cats and dogs"
"We had to cancel our picnic because it was raining cats and dogs all afternoon."
Example for "Bite the bullet"
"I didn't want to clean my room, but I had to bite the bullet and get it done."
Example for "See eye to eye"
"Even though my sister and I don't always see eye to eye, we are still best friends."
