What the Stoics got right. And wrong.

The main goals of this ESL lesson plan are to:

• – refine understanding of complex relative clauses “some of which” and “many of which” through detailed grammatical explanations and varied exercises that practice applying these structures across different philosophical scenarios;
• – cultivate philosophical terminology through engaging true/false activities about Stoic concepts, reading articles about Stoicism criticism, and exploring ancient wisdom through modern discussions;
• – enhance critical thinking and communication abilities by watching educational videos about Stoic philosophy, participating in targeted discussions that develop both speaking skills and philosophical reasoning, and engaging in word cloud-stimulated conversations about abstract concepts.

This C1 lesson plan is designed for learners eager to improve their proficiency in employing relative clauses, specifically “some of which” and “many of which.” The lesson’s primary aim is to help students adeptly form and apply these clauses, with a special emphasis on philosophical contexts.

Warm-Up

The lesson kicks off with an engaging true/false activity about the Stoics. This is intended to spark the students’ interest and establish a relevant base for the day’s topic.

Video

Students will watch “The Philosophy of Stoicism” during this portion. Post-viewing, they will engage in a series of questions to enhance their understanding of the video and to further develop their speaking abilities.

Grammar

In this section, students will receive an in-depth explanation of “some of which” and “many of which” clauses, complemented by carefully selected examples to solidify their grasp of these grammatical structures.

Exercises 

This part involves various activities designed to refine the students’ skills in correctly utilizing “some of which” and “many of which” clauses across different scenarios.

Reading

Students will read a brief article on Stoicism criticism. A discussion will follow, aimed at exploring key concepts and themes from the article, enhancing reading comprehension, and encouraging students to express and exchange views.

Discussion 

The lesson concludes with a thoughtful discussion, stimulated by a word cloud.