Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate (B1–B2)
Engage your adult and teen ESL students with this museum-themed discussion lesson plan. Features vocabulary, pre-reading prompts, and National Geographic reading tasks.
Why not indulged is some culture and beauty?
I love going to museums. They are like a breath of cultural air. Something about spending time with other people’s stories that inspires me. Museums are a gateway to culture, history, and personal storytelling. Discussing museums in an ESL classroom gives students a natural way to practise recommending places, describing past experiences, and expressing personal tastes in art and history.
Whether your students are art enthusiasts or prefer science centres, this turn-key discussion lesson builds fluency around travel and culture topics.
Useful Museum Vocabulary
- Exhibits / Displays: (noun) Publicly shown collections of objects, art, or artifacts.
- Artifacts: (noun) Historical objects made by humans (e.g., tools, pottery).
- Curator: (noun) The person in charge of organizing and managing a museum’s collections.
- Interactive: (adjective) Allowing active participation from visitors (e.g., hands-on science exhibits).
- Admission / Entry Fee: (noun) The price paid to enter a building or exhibit.
Warm Up
- What type of museum do you enjoy most (e.g., art, history, science, interactive, or specialized)? (It’s okay if you don’t like museums—tell us why!)
- What is the best museum or exhibit you have ever visited? What made it memorable?
- When travelling to a new city, is visiting a museum high on your priority list?
- What museums or exhibits have you been to that you would recommend?
Reading Activity
Scan through this National Geographic article on the top 10 museums in the world and flesh out what makes each extraordinary.
Post-Reading Discussion Questions
- Have you ever visited any of the 10 museums featured on the list? If so, what was your experience like?
- If you could win a free trip to visit one museum on National Geographic’s list today, which one would you choose and why?
- What are the main attractions or signature pieces at these famous museums?
- How do interactive science museums compare to traditional art galleries? Which offers a better learning experience?
- Do you prefer self-guided audio tours, exploring on your own, or taking a guided tour with a docent?
