Seasons ESL Activities, Games, Lesson Plans & Worksheets

If you’re looking for the best ideas for seasons ESL games and activities, then you’re certainly in the right place. Keep on reading for our favourite ESL seasons games, along with worksheets and lesson plan recommendations.

ESL Seasons Activities and Games

Let’s get into the best ESL seasons games and activities to try out with your students today.

#1: Seasons ESL Board Game

I love to play board games in real life which is why I like to use them in my English classes as well. It just takes a few minutes to design one for whatever topic I’m teaching, including seasons. Here are some examples of questions or hints I could fill my board with for this unit:

• It’s the season that comes after fall.
• What’s the weather like in spring?
• Which seasons is Christmas in?
• What’s your favourite season? Why?
• Name three activities that people only do in summer.
• Etc.

Find out more about making your own board games for English learners here:

https://eslspeaking.org/esl-board-games/

#2: Seasons Conversation Starter

If you teach lower-level students, then consider using conversation starters to get them talking to each other in a more structured way. In this case, the conversation starter could be related to seasons and what people like or don’t like about specific ones.

It’s likely that they’re not really at the level of being able to do “free-talking” but an activity like this helps them get there. Find out more about it:

https://eslspeaking.org/conversation-starters/

#3: Vocabulary Auction

This is a fun game for kids or adults to help them get some practice using new vocabulary words. It does take a bit of time to prepare for and get organized but if you can use it for multiple classes, it’s totally worth it.

Students have to bid on words that they think will help them make sentences. In this case, relate the words to various seasons and weather and then activities, foods, or clothing that correspond to that. After the bidding, students can trade with other teams to get the words they need to make complete sentences.

Sounds fun? It is! Try it out with your students today:

https://eslspeaking.org/vocabulary-auction-esl-game/

#4: Seasons Songs and Chants

When I teach kids, I love to use songs and chants. If you’re not musical (like me!), the good news is that there are a ton of good ones on YouTube. Including this in my lesson is one of my favourite seasons activities for kids.

#5: Taboo, ESL Style

I’m sure you’ve played Taboo, a popular party game before. You have to describe words but not use a certain group of related words. I’ve adapted it for my students, allowing them to describe a word but not including the list of banned words.

It’s a nice free practice speaking activity and it works well for seasons, weather, and all the related vocabulary to that. Find out more about it:

https://eslspeaking.org/esl-speaking-game-for-kids-adults/

#6: Task-Based Weather Activities

I love to include task-based teaching in most of my classes. It’s a nice change of pace from the mostly communicative activities that you can find in ESL textbooks. In terms of what you can do for seasons, there are lots of options. But, here’s one idea.

• Divide students into four groups.
• Assign a season (spring, summer, fall, winter) to each group.
• Each group has to do some research about typical weather, activities, special foods etc. for that season.
• They prepare a poster or a few PowerPoint slides.
• The groups do a short presentation.

Another option is to have each group choose a country and then do some research about all the seasons, weather, etc. and do a similar thing. Find out all the details here:

https://eslspeaking.org/task-based-language-learning/

#7: Dialogue Substitution

It’s common in ESL/EFL textbooks to introduce new vocabulary in a dialogue that students have to read. But, have you noticed that students just kind of blow through them without really paying attention to what they’re reading? Of course, it’s not their fault! It’s mine because I haven’t given them a reason to read.

To mix it up a bit and make this less of an issue, remove some of the key words and it turns this activity into an easy reading one into one that involves meaning as well. Check it out:

https://eslspeaking.org/dialogue-substitution/

#8: Seasons ESL Listening Plan

It’s super easy to make your own lesson plan about just about any topic, including this one. Check out this video for some simple steps to follow so you can do a fun seasons lesson plan with your students:

#9: Just a Minute ESL Speaking Activity

If you teach more advanced students, try out Just a Minute. Students have to talk about their favourite or least favourite season for an entire minute without stopping. Then, the people in the group listening have to each ask a follow-up question. Have a look here:

https://eslspeaking.org/just-a-minute-game-esl-speaking/

#10: ESL Survey about Seasons

Just ask my students and they’ll tell you how much I love using surveys in my classes! It’s easy to make one for just about vocabulary set or grammatical point, including seasons. The best part is that they get students up and out of their seats, moving around the classroom talking to the other students. Check them out:

https://eslspeaking.org/6-esl-survey-ideas/

#11: Just One Question

This is a survey type activity that’s ideal to use as a warmer or a freer practice activity at the end of class. It’s engaging, interactive and gets students moving around the classroom talking to many of their classmates. Plus, it’s a natural fit for talking about seasons or weather. What more could you want in an ESL activity!

Does it sound like something you want to try out? Have a look here at all the details:

https://eslspeaking.org/esl-warm-up-questions/

#12: Running Dictation

This is a 4-skills ESL activity that students love! To start, you’ll need to find (or write) a conversation between two people talking about their favourite and least favourite seasons and why they think that way. Then, post the various bits around the classroom. Students have to work together to dictate the conversation and then when they’re done, they put the conversation into the correct order.

Sounds fun? It is and students really like doing this! Check it out for yourself:

https://eslspeaking.org/esl-game-running-dictation/

#13: ESL Holiday Lessons

Some North American and European holidays are tied to the seasons in a big way. Thanksgiving is all about fall and harvest time while Christmas is related to snow and all the traditions that go along with that. I like to tie seasons, holidays, months of the year, and weather together into a single lesson whenever I can. Here are some of the best ideas:

ESL Christmas Ideas

ESL Thanksgiving Activities

#14: ESL Speaking Lesson Plan for the Seasons

It’s easy to plan an ESL lesson for just about anything. Check out this step-by-step guide for how to do that:

#15: Odd One Out

This can be a fun addition to an ESL seasons lesson. Come up with 4 things, one of which doesn’t fit. Students have to choose the one that doesn’t fit and say. For example:

• sunglasses, watermelon, skis, beach
• leaves, colours, windy, hot

For the first one, students might say skis because the rest of the words are related to summer. For the second, students might say hot because the rest of the words describe fall quite well.

#16: Hot Potato ESL Seasons Game

This is a fun game that creates some excitement in the TEFL classroom! Students have to pass around a potato (or another classroom object) until the timer goes off or the music stops. Then, the person holding it has to do a task of some kind. In this case, it would be to ask or answer a question related to the seasons. Find out how to do it here:

https://eslspeaking.org/hot-potato-esl-speaking-game-for-kids/

#17: The Fly Swat Game

I love to play this fun game for just about any topic. It’s one of the best ESL seasons activities for children. Write up a bunch of activities and adjectives on the whiteboard and then students have to compete to slap a word that relates to whatever season you say out loud. Find out more about it here:

#18: Telephone Speaking Game for Kids

I’m sure you’ve played telephone (Chinese Whispers) before. Students have to pass a message down the line and then compare what they have at the end with the original. In this case, make some sentences about the seasons and weather. Try out this seasons activity for kids with your students:

https://eslspeaking.org/telephone-esl-game-kids/

#19: Picture Prompt

Unless you teach absolute beginners, it’s likely that your students already know a good amount of vocabulary related to the seasons and weather. In this case, use some pictures that depict this and elicit from the students what they already know.

More advanced learners can do things like talk with a partner about what they see or even use the picture as a writing prompt. See all the options here:

https://eslspeaking.org/picture-prompt-an-esl-warm-up-for-kids-and-adults/

#20: Talking about Seasons and the Weather in the Classroom Routine

When teaching young learners, I like to start my classes off in the same way—by reinforcing key concepts. I like to ask questions like:

• What’s Min-Su wearing today?
• What time is it?
• What day of the week is it?
• Which season is it?
• How’s the weather?
• Etc.

This helps students remember key vocabulary words easily! Find out more about using routines here:

https://eslspeaking.org/teaching-english-to-children/

#21: ESL Seasons Dictogloss

Try out this challenging listening activity with your more advanced students. Use a passage where someone is talking about their favourite and least favourite seasons. Then, put students into pairs and read it out at a faster than normal pace. Students have to take notes and then compare with their partners to try to recreate what they heard.

Read it again and students do the same thing. Finally, they can compare what they have with the original version. Learn about it here:

https://eslspeaking.org/dictogloss-esl-activity/

#22: I’m an Alien

When I’m teaching kids, I sometimes pretend that I’m an alien and don’t know anything about life on Earth. In this case, act confused about the seasons and weather and holidays and appropriate clothing and elicit from the students all of these things. It’s a fun way to find out what the students already know about a topic.

https://eslspeaking.org/im-an-alien-an-esl-speaking-activity-for-kids/

#23: Me Too!

Try out this simple speaking and listening activity with your students. Students have to make a true statement about themselves related to the seasons. For example:

• Fall is my favourite season.
• I hate winter because it’s so cold.
• I enjoy going for walks in the spring.

If it’s also true for other students, they can stand up and say, “Me too!”

#24: Seasons Lesson Plan (Reading)

It’s super easy to design a reading lesson plan for just about any topic, including the four seasons. There are a few simple steps that you can follow. Have a look right here:

#25: Consider Using Realia

A nice way to teach seasons is to bring in some real-life objects that fit with the various seasons. For example, an umbrella, Christmas card, sunscreen, gloves, a warm jacket, etc. Then, have students name the objects and which season they associate them with.

#25: Seasons Interactive Activity

Try out this fun interactive seasons activity for kids. Have four bare trees, without leaves. Then, get students to colour and draw in the leaves, depending on whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter. Then, talk about what’s happening with the tree during each one of them.

#26: Clothing Guessing Game

This is a nice addition to a seasons lesson plan for young children. Bring in some articles of clothing, such as gloves, an umbrella, tank top, etc. Then, have students match the articles of clothing to the correct season.

#27: Try out Some Fun Holiday Quizzes

What says fall more than Thanksgiving? I like to associate the seasons with a popular holiday or two and teach students about them. A fun way is to do an online quiz:

Seasons Worksheets

Why reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to, right? That’s why we like to use different seasons worksheets that other teachers have put together. Here are some of the best options:

ISL Collective

Boggle’s World

English Worksheets

ESL Seasons Lesson Plan

If y0u’re a busy English teacher then you’ll know how much time it can save having ready-made seasons lesson plans at your fingertips. Here are some of our top recommendations for lesson plans on seasons:

ESL Kids Stuff

Study.com

Lingua House

Seasons Vocabulary

Here are some of the key vocabulary words:

• spring
• summer
• fall
• winter
• autumn
• leaves
• change
• snow
• rain
• sunny
• baby animals
• buds
• holiday
• vacation
• grass
• snow
• flowers
• harvest
• planting
• sowing
• back to school

FAQs for Seasons in English

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching the four seasons to English learners. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

How to teach seasons to ESL?

Here’s some advice for teaching the seasons to ESL/EFL students:

• Set the context by getting students to talk about their favourite time of the year.
• Introduce the concept and explain the four words (spring/summer/fall/winter) by showing some pictures.
• Do some controlled practice exercises like a quick worksheet.
• Allow some time for students to talk about the seasons together with other students.
• Play a fun seasons game.

How do you introduce seasons in a lesson?

To introduce seasons in a lesson, show some pictures of typical things that happen in each of the seasons, along with the common weather patterns. Students will be able to identify the seasons in their own language. Then, explain what the seasons are in English.

How are seasons defined?

Seasons are defined as a period of time in a year, related to hours of daylight, weather patterns and ecology. They are the result of the Earth’s orbit around the world.

Did you like these Seasons ESL Activities?

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You can find the book in both digital and print formats. Keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide. Or, take the e-version with you on any device to your favourite coffee shop for some lesson planning on the go.

Whatever the case, get ready for some serious ESL teaching awesome in your life. Head over to Amazon to find out more details about the book here:

Seasons ESL: Join the Conversation 

What’s your top pick for a seasons ESL game or activity? Is it one of the options from this list or do you have another one that you’d like to recommend? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself, find this useful resource for teaching about the seasons.

 

Last update on 2024-09-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API