Nietzsche once said, “Life without music is a mistake.” And I truly believe, with all my heart, that English language teaching without music is also a HUGE mistake.
So why do we so often take this incredible, soulful tool—MUSIC—and shrink it down to a simple gap-fill exercise?
This post is my answer. It’s a special collection of lesson plans designed to get your students diving into truly creative activities, analyzing the links between ideas, and expressing their own feelings and arguments.
These aren’t just tasks; they are meaningful journeys. Every activity is fueled by the power and energy of MUSIC, motivating students to connect, create, and communicate on a whole new level.
Why Use Songs to Teach English?
For me, it’s never been just about the English. It’s about getting them ready for what comes next, you know?
And that’s where music is just… different. It breaks down the classroom walls. You see it the moment you press play. Students start working together because they genuinely want to figure out the song. They stop looking for the “right answer” and start having their OWN ideas, their own opinions.
That’s the whole point, really.
When they feel they can share an idea, they feel they can be creative. That’s when the real communication starts. It’s not some checklist of skills; it’s just using the energy of a song to make the classroom feel more human.
Well, without further ado, here are:
12 Song-Based Lesson Plans That Promote Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity & Communication
1- MUSICAL VIDEO MATCH: A CREATIVE ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Musical Video Match activity, students engage in a dynamic learning experience. They TALK about a short video, MATCH music pieces to the corresponding videos, EXPLAIN their choices, and WRITE song lyrics with the help of a template. Students then SING the song to the rhythm of the chosen music and WRITE a story for homework. This engaging activity is designed to enhance creativity and language skills, aligning well with the Cambridge English: First for Schools curriculum and making it a great fit for learners at various levels.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: Musical Video Match – Detailed Blog Post
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Musical Video Match lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Genially presentations, PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access:
2- MUSICAL INTERVIEW: AN ENGAGING ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Musical Interview activity, students immerse themselves in an engaging and interactive experience. They LISTEN to a song intro, TALK about their thoughts, and ANSWER related questions. Students then COMPLETE a listening exercise with the lyrics in an interactive worksheet, REVIEW question formation, and collaborate in groups to FORMULATE questions for an interview with the singer. For homework, they can choose to write a reflective piece or record a video, enhancing their creativity and language skills.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: Musical Interview – Detailed Blog Post
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Musical Interview lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Google slides, PDF instructions, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access:
3- MUSICAL NARRATIVE: A CREATIVE SONGWRITING ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Musical Narrative activity, students USE their creativity to mix and remix song titles to form a brand-new title. They CONNECT extracts from the lyrics of two different songs to write an imaginative narrative, enhancing their storytelling skills. Students then CHOOSE one of the songs to engage in a listening exercise with the lyrics, deepening their understanding of the music and language.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Musical Narrative – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Musical Narrative lesson plan and discover additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Google slides, PDF instructions, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access:
4- MUSICAL PHOTO STORY: A COLLABORATIVE NARRATIVE ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Musical Photo Story activity, students TALK about their favorite photos in groups, fostering collaboration and communication. They LISTEN to a song and connect their photos with those of other students, working together to WRITE a short narrative in a collaborative Google Doc. For homework, students WRITE a story modeled after the Cambridge English: First for Schools (FCE for Schools Paper 2 Part 2) format, enhancing their writing skills. Optionally, they can WORK with an interactive worksheet focusing on CAN + listening comprehension using the song lyrics.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Musical Photo Story – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Musical Photo Story lesson plan and discover additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including interactive worksheets, PDF instructions, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
5- MUSICAL IMAGE CONNECTIONS: A CREATIVE STORYTELLING ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Musical Image Connections activity, students MAKE connections between two images and WRITE their ideas, encouraging creativity and critical thinking. They LISTEN to the song and CONNECT their ideas to the corresponding images, fostering a deeper understanding of the material. Students WORK in pairs to MIX their ideas with those of other students, collaboratively WRITING a short narrative. They then READ and correct the narratives of other groups in a shared Google Doc, enhancing their editing skills. Finally, students LISTEN to the song and complete an exercise to reinforce their comprehension.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Musical Image Connections – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Musical Image Connections lesson plan and discover additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Google slides, PDF instructions, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
6- CRAZY STORY: A COLLABORATIVE WRITING ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Crazy Story activity, students engage in discussions about relationship breakups, providing a relevant context for their creative expression. They WORK collaboratively to WRITE a crazy short story, combining their ideas and imagination. After crafting their stories, students READ each other’s narratives, sharing feedback and insights. To enhance their understanding of storytelling, they WATCH a music video related to the theme and COMMENT on its content, connecting their learning experiences.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: Writing a Crazy Story [A2/B1] with Dua Lipa
7- TATTOOS TOGETHER: A CREATIVE ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Tattoos Together activity, students engage in discussions about tattoos, sharing their thoughts and experiences. They WATCH a relevant video that sparks conversation and then PLAY a memory game in teams to reinforce their learning. To further engage with the vocabulary, students COMPLETE a word search exercise. After that, they LISTEN to a song related to the theme, followed by a listening exercise with the lyrics to enhance comprehension. Finally, students WRITE answers to questions directed to the singer, encouraging creative thinking and personal expression.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Tattoos Together – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Tattoos Together lesson plan and discover additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Genially presentations, PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
8- CONNECTING VIDEOS AND SONGS: AN ENGAGING ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Connecting Videos and Songs activity, students delve into the world of music videos. They START by TALKING about their favorite music videos, discussing elements that resonate with them. Next, they COMPLETE a matching exercise that pairs videos with corresponding song extracts, reinforcing their listening skills. Students then WRITE a short narrative inspired by the videos and SELECT a theme song that encapsulates their story. To further enhance their understanding, they READ the lyrics of the chosen song and WATCH additional music videos, MAKING comparisons to explore themes, styles, and messages presented in both mediums.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Connecting Videos and Songs – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Connecting Videos and Songs lesson plan and discover additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Genially presentations, PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
9- SONG CHALLENGE AND CHAT STATIONS: A COLLABORATIVE ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Song Challenge and Chat Stations activity, students embark on an interactive learning journey. They START by THINKING and TALKING about connections between various concepts and themes present in music. Afterward, they LISTEN to a song challenge, working to DISCOVER the common word that links the songs together. Students then WATCH music videos and READ extracts of lyrics to deepen their understanding. In collaborative groups, they WORK together to create eye-catching posters that showcase their findings. The activity culminates in an evaluation phase where they EVALUATE each other’s work, EXPLAIN their creative processes, and PRESENT their projects to the class, fostering communication and teamwork skills.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Song Challenge and Chat Stations – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Song Challenge and Chat Stations lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including Tutorial videos, PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
10- BIRDS – IMAGINE DRAGONS: AN ENGAGING ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Birds activity, students dive into the world of music and the band Imagine Dragons. They START by TALKING about their favorite songs and exploring the band’s impact on modern music. Following this discussion, they engage in a thrilling Google search race in groups, where they QUICKLY gather information about the band. Students then PARTICIPATE in a running dictation activity, racing to write down important facts about the band’s biography. To further enhance their learning experience, they have the option to PLAY a fun Kahoot! quiz related to their research. After watching a captivating video, they WRITE a short narrative inspired by the themes of the song and, optionally, COMPLETE a listening exercise with the lyrics. Finally, they come together to TALK about the song and video, sharing insights and reflections with their peers.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Birds – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Birds lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including kahoot! game, PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
11- ON A ROLL [BLACK MIRROR]: AN EXCITING ESL ACTIVITY
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the On a Roll activity, students delve into the theme of success and what it means to them. They START by TALKING about their own experiences and perspectives on success, which sets the stage for a meaningful vocabulary exercise. As they explore key terms related to the topic, they then WATCH and COMPARE different music videos that celebrate achievement and perseverance. Following this visual analysis, students LISTEN to the song and participate in an engaging listening exercise with the lyrics, allowing them to connect the musical elements with the concept of success. This multifaceted approach not only enriches their vocabulary but also inspires critical thinking and discussion among peers.
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [On a Roll – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the On a Roll lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including PDF worksheets, and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
12- HAPPIER: A HEARTFELT ESL EXPERIENCE
Quick Lesson Overview:
In the Happier activity, students embark on a journey to explore the theme of pets and the joy they bring into our lives. They begin by TALKING about their own pets or favorite animals, sharing personal stories that foster connection and engagement. Next, students WATCH a video that encapsulates the bond between humans and their pets, followed by a RETELLING of the story to encourage comprehension and narrative skills. After writing their own texts inspired by the video, they LISTEN to the song “Happier,” immersing themselves in its emotional depth. To reinforce their understanding, students then participate in a listening exercise with the lyrics, making this a comprehensive activity that promotes language skills and emotional expression. (OBS: this was the first ever song-based lesson posted on this blog!)
To Learn More About This Activity Click the Following link: [Happier – Detailed Blog Post]
Explore Teaching Resources:
Check out the Happier lesson plan and explore additional teaching materials available in the blog post, including PDF worksheets and more! The photo below showcases the teaching resources you can access.
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Song Activity Factory 
Very nice blog you hhave here
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