Where are the aliens?

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – expand vocabulary related to alien life through picture discussion activities about feelings toward aliens and reading about the Fermi Paradox concept;
• – introduce and practice defining and non-defining relative clauses through example analysis and gap-filling exercises to master these complex grammar structures;
• – improve comprehension and discussion skills by watching a video about the Fermi Paradox, reading challenging articles about extraterrestrial life theories, and engaging in conversations facilitated by solar system visual aids.

This lesson plan for Upper Intermediate students focuses on building their vocabulary around the theme of alien life and getting them comfortable with defining and non-defining relative clauses.

Warm-up

We’ll kick things off with a fun activity where students talk about how they feel when they see pictures of aliens.

Video

Next, students will watch “The Fermi Paradox — Where Are All The Aliens?” This video will set the stage for a lively discussion. After watching, they’ll tackle questions that dive into the video’s key points, encouraging both simple and deeper thoughts.

Grammar

In this part, students will work on using defining and non-defining relative clauses correctly, with some clear examples to guide them.

Exercises

Then, it’s time for some hands-on practice. Students will fill in gaps in sentences and match words to their meanings, applying what they’ve learned.

Reading

Students will read an article about the Fermi Paradox and answer some challenging questions to make sure they’ve understood the material.

Discussion

The lesson ends with a discussion facilitated by a poster of the solar system.