The reverse bucket list

This worksheet is designed for intermediate to upper-intermediate English learners and focuses on the concept of the reverse bucket list, an alternative approach to traditional New Year’s resolutions. Instead of only looking forward to future goals, learners reflect on past achievements, lessons learned, and personal milestones. The lesson builds vocabulary, reinforces functional language, and develops speaking and listening skills through reflection and structured activities. While it is suitable for the beginning of the year, it can also be taught at any time to encourage students to pause, reflect, and focus on personal growth and accomplishments. Other lessons you might like are “New Year’s resolutions” and “End of the year reflection“.

Activities Overview:

1. Lead-in: Bucket List Concepts
Students read short texts in which different people describe items on their bucket lists. They infer the meaning of “bucket list” from context and discuss the types of goals people include. This stage introduces key vocabulary related to goals, dreams, and personal challenges.

2. Vocabulary and Categorization Practice
Learners categorize bucket list items into themes such as Learn, Travel, Achieve, and Experience. A clear definition of “bucket list” supports concept building, while categorization helps reinforce meaning and usage.

3. Functional Language Focus
Students study useful expressions for introducing a bucket list item, explaining motivation and reasons, and talking about timing, plans, and long-term goals. These expressions are later reused in speaking tasks, helping learners move from recognition to production.

4. Pre-listening vocabulary

Students learn words like milestone, change overnight, procrastinate, perfectionism, proud, thankful. Then, they complete a short text by choosing the correct alternatives. This activity reinforces vocabulary in context and raises awareness of common word-choice distinctions. Discussion questions prompt learners to talk about procrastination, perfectionism, effort, results, and personal milestones.

6. Listening: The Reverse Bucket List 
Students watch a video called “The reverse bucket list“, divided into two parts, and answer comprehension questions.

7. Speaking: Creating a Reverse Bucket List
Students create their own reverse bucket list by writing 2–3 items in each category. They share and explain their ideas to a partner, using provided language for talking about accomplishments and lessons learned. This allows learners to reflect on what they have already achieved as another way to set personal priorities, rather than only focusing on future resolutions.

For more speaking practice, you can use the printable conversation cards.