Getting a Pet
This B1 lesson plan focuses on conversational and reading skills. The students will discuss which animals would make excellent pets, practice reading skills, answer comprehension questions, express opinions on topics related to pet ownership, and discuss the pros and cons of getting a pet.
Lesson overview
- Examine factors to consider before choosing a pet that fits your lifestyle
- Practice vocabulary related to pet care, animal breeds, and long-term responsibilities
- Discuss ethical questions about pet ownership, exotic animals, and public spaces
- Develop decision-making language through pros and cons analysis
Student's Version (Light/Dark)
Teacher's Version (Answer Keys)
Printable Classroom Version (A4)
| Level | Vocabulary | Lesson Time |
| B1 / Intermediate | 8 words | 60 min |
Vocabulary
- breed
- allergy
- reptiles
- laid-back
- pricey
- adoption
- commitment
- vet
Contents
- Lead-in
- Speaking
- Discussion
- Vocabulary match
- Reading
- Questions
- Speaking
- Agree or disagree
- Pros and cons
Start with the lead-in questions on page 2 about personal experiences with pets. The seven questions range from factual to opinion-based, giving all students a way in regardless of whether they own pets. The questions naturally lead into cultural comparisons about which animals are popular in different countries.
The speaking activity on page 3 shows eight different animals from hedgehogs to tortoises. Have students discuss in pairs which would make good pets and why. This gets them using descriptive language and justifying opinions before they have all the specialized vocabulary. Listen for gaps in their language that the vocabulary section will fill.
Page 4 presents three statistics about pet ownership that students often find surprising. The fact that 70% of pet owners have more photos of their pets than their family usually gets laughs and personal stories. Use these as discussion starters rather than just reading them aloud.
The vocabulary matching on page 5 introduces eight words for the reading. Have students work alone first, then check answers in pairs before reviewing as a class. Terms like “breed,” “allergy,” “pricey,” and “commitment” come up throughout the reading and later activities, so students need to understand them before moving on.
The reading spans pages 6-8 and breaks into three sections. Students should read the whole text once for the general idea, then reread each section while discussing the embedded questions. These questions ask students to relate the advice to their own situations.
Pages 9-10 have comprehension questions that check both details and inference. The fifth question references a specific quote, requiring students to interpret figurative language about Christmas morning rather than just locate information.
Page 11 has a text reconstruction activity using keywords. Students retell the reading using only the word prompts in the boxes. This pushes them to recall content, organize information, and produce connected speech rather than isolated sentences.
The agree/disagree statements on page 12 raise questions about pets in public spaces, rental housing, restaurants, and exotic animal ownership. These work well as a four-corners activity where students move to corners representing strongly agree, agree, disagree, and strongly disagree. They then defend their positions to classmates in other corners.
Close with the pros and cons activity on page 13 where students choose a specific pet they want and list five advantages and five disadvantages of getting it. This pulls together everything they learned while practicing balanced argumentation.
