Mardi Gras
Lesson plan overview
This 6-page ESL lesson introduces students to the vibrant world of Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations, exploring their history, cultural significance, and key vocabulary related to festivals. Learners practice descriptive language and discuss celebrations from around the world. Other lessons you might like are: “Brazil Carnival“, “Phrasal verbs: Carnival“
Activities Overview:
Speaking – Discussion Questions: Students begin by sharing personal experiences with celebrations and festivals. Guided questions prompt learners to describe their favorite celebrations, compare large public events with small family gatherings, and reflect on traditions in their own culture or in other countries. This activity activates prior knowledge and introduces festival-related vocabulary.
Vocabulary – Mardi Gras Terms: Learners match key Mardi Gras terms such as parade, floats, beads, krewe, Lent, and Carnival with their definitions. Students then complete sentences to reinforce understanding and contextual usage.
Listening – Fun Facts About Mardi Gras: A five-part video, called “Fun facts about Mardi Gras“, introduces learners to the history, traditions, and symbols of Mardi Gras. Activities include answering comprehension questions, filling in missing words, and selecting correct options. Students explore topics such as the origins of Carnival, the meaning of Mardi Gras colors, King Cake traditions, and the role of Mardi Gras Indians.
Reading – Descriptive Language: Students read example sentences describing festive atmospheres and match them with appropriate definitions. Phrases like “a feast for the senses,” “boisterous,” “riot of color,” and “electric atmosphere” are introduced to help learners describe celebrations vividly.
Speaking – Personal Connections: Students answer follow-up questions about celebrations they have attended, experiences that felt electric or intimate, and art, music, or food that inspires a “feast for the senses.” This develops fluency and the ability to articulate opinions in English.
Practice – Paraphrasing and Application: Learners paraphrase sentences using the descriptive vocabulary.
For further speaking practice, you can use the printable conversation cards.
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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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