ESL-plans

Tiny Joys & Rituals

Main Objectives

• Define and identify "tiny joys" and personal rituals that bring comfort in uncertain times;
• Distinguish between the concepts of ritual and habit, and understand key vocabulary related to anxiety and predictability;
• Reflect on how small, repeatable actions can create focus and emotional stability.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, students begin by matching images of simple pleasures — such as sipping tea by a window or handwriting thank-you cards — to their corresponding descriptions, sharing which ones they have experienced recently. They then expand their vocabulary by defining terms like uncertainty, anxiety, predictable, and comfort, before listening to a podcast featuring Paul Daley who explains why intentional rituals (unlike automatic habits) help ground us when the world feels overwhelming. Students discuss practical applications, such as using desk setup routines to transition into work mode or starting lessons with a specific action to enter "English mode." Finally, they watch a video about the power of laughter as a free, low-effort joy and brainstorm other accessible tiny rituals that require minimal cost but offer significant emotional impact.

← Back to ESL-plans.com