When I taught high school geography, I used to use some of the lesson plans from the National Geographic collection of lesson plans. I really liked them because they had clear objectives and fit nicely into our curriculum. Now that I've revisited the site from an ESL perspective, I think these lessons would still be very effective in the ESL classroom. The lessons are categorized by standards, so you can easily find a topic that fits your goal. The lessons are comprehensive--they provide you with the objectives, materials (like maps, worksheets), and a list of online resources. Many of the lessons also incorporate the computer/internet, which is a great way for students to learn how to use it for research or other activities.
I also like that there are a variety of topics that would relate well to international students. Lessons under standard 6, for example, relate human experiences to their environment and society. Some of the lessons may be too difficult for low or intermediate ESL students, but could easily be adapted to their level. Of course, the suggested time frame would probably be longer for ESL students.
These lessons are great for integrating skills. Most of them have visual, reading, and writing components. Discussions are also prevalent in the lessons. I think these topics relate well to teenagers and would spark their interest and motivation. The use of computers in the lessons would probably be a good incentive as well. These lessons incorporate many different skills that could engage and challenge students.
You can find this site in the Resources column or you can click here.
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