Laughing with Paul and Susan Lesson Plans for ESL

Quick answer

Use the Laughing with Paul and Susan Lesson Plans to structure engaging ESL classes for intermediate learners. The five ready-made plans save prep time and focus on language development through stories.

How to use the lesson plans in your ESL class

1. Preview the book and lesson plans: Read through the Laughing with Paul and Susan book and the five lesson plans to understand the story arc and which language skills each plan targets. Note any vocabulary that may be new for your students. Common mistake: jumping into a lesson without pre-reading the story. Students will struggle if you don't know the content yourself.
2. Introduce key vocabulary before reading: Pull 5–8 challenging words from the first lesson plan and pre-teach them with simple definitions, pictures, or actions. This builds confidence before students encounter the words in context. Checkpoint: if students can't use the words in a sentence after pre-teaching, spend another 5 minutes on practice before moving on.
3. Read the story aloud with pauses: Read a section of the story aloud while students follow along. Pause after each paragraph to ask a simple comprehension question or have students predict what happens next. This keeps attention high and checks understanding. Common mistake: reading the whole story without stopping. Students lose focus and miss key details.
4. Use the handout for guided practice: Distribute the colorful handout from the lesson plan and work through the first activity together. Model the expected response, then let students complete the rest in pairs or small groups. Checkpoint: if students finish in under 5 minutes, the activity may be too easy. Have a backup extension question ready.
5. Wrap up with a speaking or writing task: End each lesson with a short speaking or writing task based on the lesson plan's strategy. For example, ask students to retell the story from a character's point of view or write a new ending. This solidifies language use. Common mistake: skipping the wrap-up because of time. Even 3 minutes of speaking practice makes a big difference in retention.

Product facts

• Laughing with Paul and Susan - Lesson Plans: Includes 5 detailed lesson plans on English language development to go with the Laughing with Paul and Susan book. You get a complete unit of five lessons, so you can plan a week or two of classes without starting from scratch.