C1 – Song Activity Factory

$Featured image for the 'Ordinary' ESL lesson plan. A prism refracts light over icons of a couple, an angel wing, and a lightbulb, symbolizing how one song can have many interpretations. Text reads 'Ordinary Lesson Plan B2/C1'.$

How To Use Alex Warren’s Ordinary To Turn Boring ESL Into Extraordinary Success

August 14, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

A creative ESL lesson plan using Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” This B2/C1 song activity goes beyond gap-fills to teach critical thinking and figurative language

Featured image for a creative ESL song activity. The image contrasts a boring gap-fill worksheet held by a frustrated teacher in black and white with a brilliant, colorful scene of two engaged teen students learning with music, showing the transformation from ordinary to extraordinary teaching.

ESL Song Analysis: Why Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” is Great

August 6, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

Tired of boring gap-fill exercises? Discover how to use Alex Warren’s hit song “Ordinary” to create a truly creative and time-saving song activity for your teen or adult ESL students. This deep dive moves beyond the surface, offering a line-by-line analysis of powerful metaphors and vocabulary you can actually teach with. Get a FREE, ready-to-use lesson plan designed to develop critical thinking, listening skills, and grammar in a meaningful context. Stop searching and start teaching with an activity that fosters deep discussion and engages students with music they already love.

A before-and-after comparison showing the impact of creative song activities in the ESL classroom. The 'before' side is black-and-white with a bored teacher and a grammar worksheet. The 'after' side is full-color, showing an energetic teacher and engaged students learning English with song lyrics, transformed by the MUSIC+ Framework.

ESL Case Study: From a Flat Worksheet to a Full-Color Experience

July 31, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

Tired of grammar drills that fall flat? This case study provides a practical, step-by-step guide to transform any simple song worksheet into an engaging, full-color experience for your teen or adult ESL students. Discover the MUSIC+ Framework, a time-saving method to boost student motivation, deepen understanding, and foster real creativity. Stop just teaching grammar and start sharing a human experience. Download the free, ready-to-use lesson plan inside.

Split image comparing boring ESL gap-fill worksheets (left, B&W) to engaging MUSIC+ Framework song activities with happy students (right, color) - title: Teaching ESL With Songs: Before and After MUSIC+ Framework

Creative Song Activities for Your ESL Classroom (+ 5 Free Lessons)

June 28, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

Stop settling for boring gap-fill worksheets. Discover the MUSIC+ Framework, a proven method for creating truly creative and engaging song activities for your ESL classroom. Boost student participation, teach critical skills, and save valuable prep time. Download 5 free, ready-to-use sample lesson plans to try in your class!

Why Teaching ESL With Songs Got Easier and More Effective Than Ever!

June 6, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

Tired of boring ESL song gap-fills? This post explains why teaching with songs is easier and more effective using the MUSIC+ Framework. Learn about the 5 pillars (Motivation+, Understanding+, Skills+, Interaction+, Creativity+) that create engaging, time-saving activities. Get 5 free sample lessons to try it yourself!

ESL lesson plan and listening activity using Ariana Grande’s song “Twilight Zone” for grammar, lyric interpretation, and English class engagement

Ariana Grande – Twilight Zone: Listening Song Activity (Now BEAT+ Aligned & Even Better!)

May 18, 2025 Márcia Bonfim (Mars)

Beyond Gap-Fills: This Creative Song Activity Using Ariana Grande’s ‘Twilight Zone’ Makes Grammar Fun While Developing Critical Listening Skills for ESL Students at Every Level! Now Aligned with the BEAT + Method!