How Empires Grow and Why They Fall

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• • – to acquire specific language and expressions about the rise and fall of empires.
  • – to use this language through a range of activities (gap fill and sentence improvement exercises).
  • – to understand a short video called “Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order” followed by listening comprehension questions.

In this Proficiency-level English language lesson, students learn about the expansion and decline of various historical empires. Students gain specific language and expressions related to imperialism and its fall.

Warm-Up

Students start the lesson with a True or False game which tests their knowledge about the Roman Empire. 

Video

Students watch an educational video called “Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order.” There are follow-up exercises to consolidate their knowledge of the language. 

Exercises

During the practice section, learners first complete a story using vocabulary learned in the lesson. In the second exercise, they complete a sentence improvement exercise to make their writing skills more succinct, logical and clear. 

Reading

In the reading section, learners read a story about ways to prevent the decline of an empire. Then, they answer questions to test their comprehension of the passage. 

Discussion

In this final stage, students respond to questions to build their ability to discuss and elaborate on the topic of the lesson.