Celebrating women in science
Lesson plan overview
This ESL lesson explores the contributions of women in science, helping students develop vocabulary, listening, grammar, and speaking skills while discussing the achievements of female scientists and the importance of STEM education. Perfect for lessons around International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11) or discussions on diversity in STEM! Students will learn useful vocabulary, practice the second conditional, and gain a deeper understanding of scientific discoveries, recognition, and challenges in STEM fields. Other lessons you might like are: “International Women’s Day“, “What is holding women back at work“, “Phrasal verbs: role models“, and “Idioms: gender equality“.
Speaking: The lesson starts with a discussion about the qualities needed to be a scientist. Then, students discuss a few conversation questions.
Vocabulary: Students read sentences featuring key science-related words (e.g., groundbreaking, advocate, breakthrough, findings, awarded, discovery) and match them to their definitions. Then, they complete sentences using the correct vocabulary from the previous activity, ensuring accurate usage of terms related to scientific achievements and research.
Listening: Students watch a video called “How These Women Changed Science Forever” and match famous female scientists (e.g., Marie Curie, Lise Meitner, Barbara McClintock, Rosalind Franklin, Jane Goodall) to their groundbreaking discoveries. Then, they watch the video again and answer true or false statements based on the scientists’ contributions, helping reinforce listening comprehension. Finally, students complete extracts from the video by transforming verbs into nouns (e.g., discover → discovery, find → findings, contribute → contribution), reinforcing word-building skills.
Speaking – STEM Discussion: Students discuss thought-provoking questions about STEM education, including gender equality in science, access to education, and the role of role models in inspiring future scientists.
Grammar – Second Conditional: Students practice forming conditional sentences to talk about scientific progress (e.g., If scientists created biodegradable plastics, ocean pollution would decrease). Then they complete sentences by putting verbs into the correct form of the second conditional, reinforcing grammar structures in a scientific context. After that, they discuss future groundbreaking discoveries and their potential impact.
Writing Extension (Optional): Students read about Katherine Johnson, a pioneering mathematician at NASA, and conduct research on another famous scientist before writing a short text about their achievements. There is a section with useful expressions to talk about the life of scientists and innovators.
Who Is this lesson suitable for?
- Students studying STEM-related subjects who want to improve their English vocabulary related to research, discoveries, and innovation.
- Business English learners in STEM fields who need to discuss scientific achievements and industry trends in professional settings.
- General English learners who enjoy thought-provoking discussions on innovation, technology, and social impact.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
Pre-class activities
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In-class activities
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Additional resources
Each video-based lesson plan includes links to additional resources (videos and articles), which are FREE can be found online (in the pre-class activities page. These links aim to extend the learning experience, enabling students to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications.
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Teacher’s lesson plan
Student’s worksheet
Student’s interactive PDF
Conversation cards PDF
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