Life in the Darkest Place
This B1 ESL lesson explores life in the darkest place on Earth. It features a couple of short videos where a YouTuber shares their experience of living on an island near the North Pole. Students will discuss the challenges of living in such an extreme environment and share whether they could see themselves living there. To wrap up, students will learn about the midnight sun and polar day, comparing life during the polar day to life in the polar night. This final discussion will be a great way for students to practice and strengthen their speaking skills.
Level | Vocabulary | Video length | Lesson time |
B1 / Intermediate | 13 words | 0:54, 0:38 min | 60 min |



Vocabulary
- North Pole
- Slumber
- Embrace
- Cozy
- Endure
- Sleepiness
- Struggle
- Go with the flow
- Tilt of the earth
- Northern lights
- Underneath the stars
- Light pollution
- Galaxy
Contents
- Lead-in
- Brainstorm
- Vocabulary Match
- Vocabulary Practice
- Vocabulary
- Video 1
- Questions
- Video 2
- Comprehension
- Questions
- Would you rather
- Speaking
Lead-in, Brainstorm
This B1 ESL lesson explores life in the darkest place on Earth. It begins with a lead-in activity where students examine a picture and describe it in as much detail as possible. Next, they are introduced to the term polar night, read its definition, and answer a few questions. They then brainstorm related words to expand their vocabulary before continuing with the lesson.
Vocabulary match, Vocabulary practice
The lesson includes two short YouTube videos. Before watching, students will complete a vocabulary matching activity, followed by a practice exercise where they replace highlighted words in sentences. In total, they will work with 13 words to reinforce their understanding.
Video 1, Questions
The first video is about Svalbard, an island in Norway. The YouTuber discusses the polar night, the island’s location, and her honest thoughts on living in such a place. Students will watch the video twice before moving to the next slide to answer several comprehension questions.
Video 2, Comprehension, Questions
The second video also explores the polar night, with the YouTuber sharing what it’s like to live in the darkest place on Earth during January. Students will watch the video twice before completing an exercise where they fill in the blanks by replacing emojis with the correct words. Additionally, they will answer several questions about life in total darkness, including how sunlight impacts mood and what it means to go with the flow in such an environment.
Would you rather, Speaking
The final activity encourages students to express their opinions. First, they will play a Would You Rather? game, choosing between two options and explaining their choice. For example, Would you rather live in a town with no sunlight in winter or no snow in winter? They must pick one and justify their answer.
The last task is a dynamic group discussion. Students will first explore the terms midnight sun and polar day. Then, in pairs or small groups, they will compare polar day and polar night based on factors like daylight, darkness, daily life, weather, and emotions. They will identify and write down five similarities and five differences before sharing their insights with the class. This activity provides a strong conclusion to the lesson, reinforcing key vocabulary and concepts.