Take your students on a captivating journey across the globe as they explore the most awe-inspiring wonders of the world! This engaging unit from SuperEnglishESL.com introduces students to famous historical landmarks such as Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Chichen Itza, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Taj Mahal. Each lesson enhances students’ reading, vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills while sparking curiosity about different cultures and civilizations.
Perfect for 1:1 online ESL lessons, small groups, or traditional classrooms, this unit is designed to strengthen students’ reading comprehension, conversation skills, and grammar structures while immersing them in fascinating global history.
Students begin their journey with the legendary Machu Picchu, learning about its historical significance, how it was built, and why it was abandoned.
🔹 Warm-up: Word articulation game – students describe and guess vocabulary words
🔹 Reading & Discussion: Machu Picchu’s history, discovery, and UNESCO status
🔹 Vocabulary Focus: ingenuity, excavate, sensation, criticize
🔹 Grammar & Sentence Structures: Compound adjectives (e.g., heartwarming, time-saving)
🔹 Interactive Elements: Role-play a conversation about discovering Machu Picchu
🔹 Real-Life Applications: Discuss other UNESCO heritage sites and their significance
This lesson introduces Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, and the advanced architectural skills of the Khmer Empire.
🔹 Warm-up: “Say It” category game
🔹 Reading & Discussion: The construction, history, and transformation of Angkor Wat
🔹 Vocabulary Focus: monument, glimpse, depict, intricate
🔹 Grammar & Sentence Structures: Compound adjectives (e.g., brightly-colored, soft-spoken)
🔹 Interactive Elements: Students describe Angkor Wat’s carvings and artwork
🔹 Real-Life Applications: Comparing architectural wonders across cultures
Students explore Chichen Itza, its alignment with celestial events, and the Mayan beliefs surrounding human sacrifice.
🔹 Warm-up: Riddle-solving challenge
🔹 Reading & Discussion: The history, design, and rituals associated with Chichen Itza
🔹 Vocabulary Focus: alignment, steeped, ceremonial, gruesome
🔹 Grammar & Sentence Structures: Adverbs and compound adjectives (e.g., highly-skilled, well-planned)
🔹 Interactive Elements: Debate on historical practices and their impact on modern views
🔹 Real-Life Applications: Discussion on how astronomy influenced ancient civilizations
This lesson explores the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the oldest and most mysterious structures in the world.
🔹 Warm-up: Which one is different? (Critical thinking game)
🔹 Reading & Discussion: The construction, purpose, and historical significance of the pyramid
🔹 Vocabulary Focus: reign, elaborate, testament, ingrained
🔹 Grammar & Sentence Structures: Compound adjectives and adverbs (e.g., well-organized, fast-moving)
🔹 Interactive Elements: Students design their own ancient monument and describe it
🔹 Real-Life Applications: Discussing how modern engineering is influenced by ancient techniques
Students review all they have learned about the wonders of the world through various reading, vocabulary, and grammar exercises.
🔹 Warm-up: Preposition practice with real-world descriptions
🔹 Assessment Tasks:
✅ Intermediate (B1-B2) ESL learners
✅ Kids and teens in online 1:1 lessons, small group classes, or traditional classrooms
✅ ESL teachers looking for engaging, interactive, and culturally enriching lessons
📄 Lesson previews & worksheets
🎲 Vocabulary & discussion activities
📚 Reading passages with comprehension questions
🔊 Pronunciation & sentence-building exercises
📌 Encourage students to research a wonder they find fascinating and present it.
📌 Use images and virtual tours of the landmarks to enhance engagement.
📌 Connect lessons to real-world travel, architecture, and cultural studies.
ESL world wonders lesson plans
Teaching about historical landmarks in ESL
Machu Picchu ESL reading activity
Angkor Wat ESL discussion questions
Chichen Itza Mayan civilization ESL worksheet
Great Pyramid of Giza ESL grammar practice
Engaging ESL lessons for kids and teens
Interactive online ESL activities about history