What Can You Find in a Woman’s Purse?

This intermediate-level English lesson uses the relatable topic of what women carry in their purses to help students practice English while discussing modern lifestyles, personal habits, and cultural differences. Through engaging interactive activities, students will explore how everyday objects can reveal interesting things about our lives and society.

Warm-Up

The lesson starts by getting students thinking about what might be inside a typical woman’s purse or handbag. Students can share ideas about common items, unusual things they’ve seen, or what they personally carry in their own bags. This opening discussion gets everyone involved and introduces vocabulary they’ll use throughout the lesson while connecting the topic to their own experiences.

Video

Students watch an entertaining video called “A Woman’s Purse is a Mysterious Thing” that explores the variety of items women typically carry and what these items might say about their lives. After watching, students use helpful discussion phrases to talk about the main ideas from the video. This structured approach helps them practice expressing opinions and observations while building confidence in speaking about everyday topics.

Reading and Analysis

Students then read a short, interesting article titled “Photos of the Fascinating Things Women Keep in Their Bags.” The article shows real examples of purse contents from different women and discusses what these items reveal about modern life and personal priorities. After reading, students use provided phrases to discuss the main message and their reactions to the article. This activity strengthens vocabulary and reading comprehension while keeping students engaged with the lesson’s central theme.

Interactive Language Practice

The exercise section includes two practical activities that reinforce language skills. In the first exercise, students practice choosing the best word or phrase to complete sentences related to personal belongings and daily routines. The second activity is more creative – students select three different items that might be found in a woman’s purse and discuss what each item reveals about modern life, personal values, or cultural habits. This encourages critical thinking while practicing descriptive language and opinion expression.

Personal Reflection Discussion

The lesson concludes with students completing sentence starters that allow them to share their own thoughts and experiences related to the lesson topic. They might complete sentences about their own habits, cultural differences they’ve noticed, or what they think certain objects say about people’s lives. This final activity helps students personalize their learning and practice using the lesson’s vocabulary and concepts in a meaningful way.

This intermediate ESL lesson takes an everyday topic that everyone can relate to and uses it as a springboard for practicing English while exploring cultural themes and personal habits. The mix of video, reading, structured exercises, and open discussion keeps students engaged while helping them develop practical communication skills they can use in real conversations.