Health ESL lesson plans

For ESL teachers focusing on health-related themes, our video-based lesson plans provide a thorough exploration of important health topics. Each lesson addresses critical areas such as healthy lifestyles, common health problems, diseases and conditions, injuries and recovery, viruses, medicine, prevention and treatment, and medical professions. These topics are highly relevant and will engage students in meaningful discussions while enhancing their understanding of health-related vocabulary.

all our worksheets about health

a man hanging from the roof after putting up Christmas decorations, and a slogan "tips to prevent accidents and injuries during the Christmas period"

Vocabulary: adjectives related to safety and collocations
Speaking: evaluating risks, talking about situations that are safe-unsafe, and what to do if your Christmas tree catches fire
Video: Holiday fire safety tips

3:59

a person writing "i'm a lefty", and a slogan: idioms with "hand"

Vocabulary: idioms with “hand” (give a hand, in safe hands, caught red-handed, out of hand, my hands are tied
Video: Ted talk “Why are some people left-handed”
Speaking: conversation questions, discussing common beliefs, how easy or difficult it is to do different activities with your non-dominant hand

 

5:07

UPDATED

a person preparing a vaccine and a slogan - viruses and vaccines

Vocabulary: symptoms (rash, swollen glands, fever)
Vocabulary: viruses (spread, outbreak, strain)
Video: Why is mpox a global health emergency?

3:07

a woman on a trip and a slogan "how to maintain healthy habits while on vacation"

Vocabulary: verb + noun collocations with “habit” and “routine”
Vocabulary: packing
Speaking: healthy habits and routines packing for a trip

 

2:00

a photo of medals, pills and syringes, and a slogan "can doping ever be stopped?"

Reading: famous cases involving performance-enhancing drugs
Vocabulary: banned substances, test positive for, be stripped of, be disqualified, sever ties with, be banned for life, tarnish your reputation
Video: Gene therapy and the future of doping in sport

5:17

the chernobyl power plant and a slogan "what happened at chernobyl?"

Vocabulary: nuclear power and radiation
Video: Chernobyl disaster 1986: what really happened
Speaking: Chernobyl, nuclear power

4:20

a woman surrounded by plants sneezing and a slogan "Are your seasonal allergies getting wprse every year?"

Vocabulary: allergies and symptoms
Collocations: allergies (suffer from allergies, trigger an allergy, have an allergy, treat an allergy)
Idioms: keep at bay, wreak havoc on, kick into overdrive

7:00

a women drinking her morning coffee and enjoying her morning and a slogan - "can you become a morning person"?

Vocabulary: verbs related to sleep (sleep in, oversleep, snooze, wake up)
Vocabulary: expressions with “get” about daily routines (get up, ger ready, get dressed, get through the day, get off work)
Video: What happens when a night owl wakes up early

3:30

Load More

Comprehensive ESL Lesson Plans on health-related topics:

Try out The English Flows’ lesson plans related to health if you are an ESL teacher whose students are:

  • Students with a general interest in health issues who want to enhance their English skills while learning about important health topics.
  • Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and other healthcare workers who need to improve their English for effective communication with patients, colleagues, and in professional settings.
  • Medical Students: Students pursuing degrees in medicine, nursing, or allied health fields who require strong English skills to understand academic materials, participate in discussions, and perform clinical tasks.
  • Fitness and Wellness Enthusiasts: Students with an interest in fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness who want to expand their vocabulary and knowledge in these areas while improving their English.

Each lesson includes 5-8 pages of material designed to explore health topics in depth. Health-related issues are broad and relevant subjects that stimulate discussion and engage ESL learners. They promote health awareness, and provide relatable context for vocabulary expansion. Topics such as wellness, disease prevention, and healthcare systems offer numerous opportunities for meaningful language practice and interaction.

Every lesson plan includes

Pre-class online activities
(Free)

In-class activities
(For Full members)

After class: Additional resources
(Free)