"Sia’s Snowman – Exploring Emotions and Symbolism" Speaking

Lesson Plan: "Sia’s Snowman – Exploring Emotions and Symbolism" Speaking

Level: B1/B2
Age: 15–16 years old
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Emotions, Relationships, and Symbolism in Songs
Aims:

• To introduce and practice vocabulary related to emotions, weather, and relationships (e.g., cry, puddle, darling, freeze).
• To develop listening skills by understanding the symbolism and message of the song "Snowman."
• To practice speaking skills by discussing emotions, relationships, and personal interpretations of the song.
• To encourage critical thinking about symbolism and emotional connections.
  Materials:
• Pre-watching vocabulary (Quizlet) – link.
• Watching: "Snowman" by Sia (audio or video) – Lyrics provided in the prompt.
• Controlled practice (LearningApps gap-fill) – link.
• Speaking freer practice (Quizizz discussion) – link.
• Whiteboard/projector, lyrics handout (optional).
• https://quizlet.com/ua/862143870/sia-snowman-flash-cards/
• https://learningapps.org/display?v=pz5gzxb3t21
• https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/657f509351764380f8b13143?source=quiz_share

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Aim: To engage students, introduce the topic of emotions and symbolism, and activate prior knowledge.

• Activity:
  • Greet the students: "Hi, everyone! Do you like winter songs? Today we’ll listen to a song called 'Snowman' by Sia—it’s about love and emotions!"
  • Ask: "What do you think a snowman might symbolize in a song? Happiness, sadness, or something else?" Write 2–3 ideas on the board (e.g., "cold," "temporary").
  • Add: "Let’s listen and find out what the snowman means in this song!"
• Interaction: T-S (Teacher-Students), whole-class responses.
• Feedback: "Interesting ideas! Let’s see if the song matches your guesses."

2. Pre-Watching: Vocabulary Introduction (10 minutes)

Aim: To introduce key vocabulary and prepare students for watching/listening to the song.

• Activity: Use Quizlet flashcards link to teach vocabulary: cry, puddle, darling, freeze, shed a tear, below zero, North Pole, seasons.
  • Show each flashcard and explain: "This is ‘puddle’ – it’s a small pool of water, like when a snowman melts. Can you think of something that melts into a puddle?"
  • Play a quick game: "Feel the Word!" – give a situation (e.g., "You’re sad and your eyes are wet"), and students guess ("cry").
• Interaction: T-S, S-S (pair work for guessing).
• Feedback: "Great job, snow friends! You’re ready to listen to the song!"

3. Watching: Gist Watching & Controlled Practice (15 minutes)

Aim: To develop listening skills and check comprehension of the song’s lyrics.

• Activity 1: Gist Watching (5 minutes)
  • Play the song "Snowman" by Sia (audio or video, lyrics provided in the prompt, ~2:30 duration). Before playing, set a simple task: "Who is the snowman to the singer? Is it a friend, a stranger, or someone special?"
    • Answer: Someone special (lyrics like "you are my home," "I’ll love you forever").
  • Interaction: Whole-class discussion.
  • Feedback: "Nice listening! The snowman is someone very special to the singer, like a loved one. Let’s find out more!"
• Activity 2: Controlled Practice (10 minutes)
  • Play the song again. Use the LearningApps gap-fill activity link. Students fill in the missing lyrics while listening.
    • Example: "Don’t cry, snowman, not in front of ___." (Answer: me).
    • Key words: me, baby, leaving, home, seasons, sun, forever, North Pole, Christmas.
  • Support: Pause the song after key sections (e.g., after the first verse). For weaker students, provide a word bank on the board.
  • Interaction: Individual work, then pair checking ("Check with your partner! Do you have the same answers?").
  • Feedback: "Well done, everyone! You caught the lyrics perfectly! Let’s talk about what they mean."

4. Speaking: Freer Practice (10 minutes)

Aim: To encourage speaking, critical thinking, and emotional reflection on the song’s themes.

• Activity: Use the Quizizz discussion section link. Students work in pairs/small groups to discuss the question:
  • "Discuss the symbolism of the North Pole in the song. What might it represent in the context of the lyrics?"
  • Additional questions for discussion:
    • "What do you think the snowman symbolizes for the singer? Why?"
    • "Have you ever felt like you didn’t want someone to leave you, like the singer feels?"
    • "If you were the snowman, would you be afraid of melting? Why or why not?"
• Model First: "I think the North Pole symbolizes a safe, cold place where the snowman won’t melt, so they can stay together forever. What do you think?"
• Interaction: S-S (pair work/small groups), then a few groups share with the class.
• Feedback: "Amazing ideas! I loved how you said the North Pole means safety—that’s so thoughtful!"

5. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

Aim: To consolidate learning and reflect on the lesson.

• Activity:
  • Quick review: "What does the snowman symbolize in the song? Did you like the song’s message?"
  • Praise: "You were fantastic today! I’m so proud of your discussions!"
  • Homework: Write a short paragraph (80–100 words): "What does the snowman symbolize to you? How does the song make you feel about love or relationships?"
• Interaction: T-S, whole-class discussion.

Teacher’s Notes

• Classroom Management: For 15–16-year-olds, use emotional and relatable themes (love, fear of loss) to keep them engaged. Encourage pair work to reduce speaking anxiety.
• Differentiation: For B1 students, provide sentence starters ("I think the North Pole means… because…"). For B2 students, ask follow-ups ("Why do you think that?").
• CELTA Standards:
  • Clear staging: warm-up → pre-watching → watching → speaking.
  • Learner-centered: discussions focus on students’ interpretations and emotions.
  • Positive reinforcement: praise to build confidence ("Amazing ideas!").
  • Language focus: target vocabulary is practiced in context.