📖 Key Vocabulary — Pre-teach Before Class
Introduce or review these words with students before starting the lesson so they can use them during speaking practice.
1to recycleto process used materials so they can be used again
2renewable energypower from sources that don't run out, like sun or wind
3pollutionharmful substances that damage the air, water, or land
4to reduceto make something smaller in amount or degree
5single-use plasticplastic items designed to be thrown away after one use
6carbon footprintthe amount of carbon dioxide a person or activity produces
7to conserveto protect and use resources carefully so they last
8extreme weatherunusually severe conditions like storms, droughts, or heatwaves
9to polluteto make air, water, or land dirty or harmful
10sustainableable to continue without causing long-term damage to the environment
11deforestationthe cutting down of large areas of forest
12wildlifeanimals living in their natural environment
13to raise awarenessto help people understand and notice an issue
14global warmingthe gradual increase in the Earth's average temperature
15eco-friendlynot harmful to the environment
16to cut down onto reduce the amount of something you use or do
17natural disastera sudden event caused by nature that causes serious damage
18endangered speciesa type of animal or plant at risk of dying out completely
19solar panela device that turns sunlight into electricity
20to take actionto do something practical to deal with a problem
✍️ Vocabulary Practice — Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence below with the correct word or phrase from the 20 vocabulary words above. Use each word only once.
▼
carbon footprint
deforestation
eco-friendly
endangered species
extreme weather
global warming
natural disaster
pollution
renewable energy
single-use plastic
solar panel
sustainable
to conserve
to cut down on
to pollute
to raise awareness
to recycle
to reduce
to take action
wildlife
- The company redesigned its packaging to make it more and less wasteful.
- Flying less often is one of the most effective ways to lower your personal .
- in the Amazon has accelerated in recent years due to illegal logging and farming.
- The tiger is now considered an because of habitat destruction and poaching.
- Air in big cities has gotten so bad that some people wear masks just to walk outside.
- Our family decided to meat consumption after learning about its environmental impact.
- After installing a on the roof, their monthly electricity costs dropped significantly.
- During the dry season, residents are asked to water by taking shorter showers.
- The school organised a clean-up day to about the amount of litter on local beaches.
- The national park was created to protect the region's rare from hunting and habitat loss.
- Instead of just complaining about pollution, local residents decided to and organise a river clean-up.
- Switching off lights when you leave a room is a simple way to your electricity bill.
- Rising sea levels are one of the clearest signs of affecting coastal communities.
- Most households in the city now their plastic bottles and paper instead of throwing them in the bin.
- The village had barely recovered from one before another storm hit the following year.
- Factories that nearby rivers with chemical waste now face much stricter fines.
- Scientists warn that events, including floods and heatwaves, are becoming more frequent.
- More young consumers are choosing products, even when they cost a little more.
- The government announced a plan to invest heavily in such as wind and solar power over the next decade.
- Many supermarkets have stopped offering bags and now charge customers for reusable ones instead.
1.sustainable
2.carbon footprint
3.deforestation
4.endangered species
5.pollution
6.to cut down on
7.solar panel
8.to conserve
9.to raise awareness
10.wildlife
11.to take action
12.to reduce
13.global warming
14.to recycle
15.natural disaster
16.to pollute
17.extreme weather
18.eco-friendly
19.renewable energy
20.single-use plastic
🕐 0'–10': Warm-up & Opening Question
Purpose
Help everyone relax, get comfortable speaking, and activate ideas.
Teacher asks👉 "What do you do in your daily life to help protect the environment?"
Follow-up questions- Do you think individuals can really make a difference, or is it mainly up to governments?
- How has your attitude towards the environment changed over the years?
➡ Each student answers briefly (about 1 minute); the teacher asks 1–2 short follow-ups to keep it natural.
🗣️ 10'–45': IELTS Speaking – Part 2 Practice
Format: 1 minute preparation · 2 minutes speaking per student. Students choose or are assigned ONE of the topics below:
Topic 1
Describe an environmental problem in your local area.
You should say:
- What the problem is
- When you first noticed it
- What causes it
- And explain what could be done to solve it
Topic 2
Describe a time when you did something to help protect the environment.
You should say:
- What you did
- When and where you did it
- Who you did it with
- And explain how it made you feel
Topic 3
Describe a person who cares a lot about protecting the environment.
You should say:
- Who this person is
- How you know them
- What they do to protect the environment
- And explain why you admire this about them
➡ Timing suggestion: 1 minute for preparation, then start speaking.
💬 45'–55': Follow-up Discussion (Part 3 style)
The teacher chooses questions related to the topics above, for example:
Pollution & Daily Life
- What are the biggest sources of pollution in your country?
- Should governments punish companies that pollute the environment more strictly?
- How can ordinary people reduce the amount of waste they produce?
Climate Change & the Future
- Do you think renewable energy will completely replace fossil fuels one day?
- Who should be more responsible for tackling climate change — individuals, governments, or big companies?
- How do you think extreme weather will affect the way people live in the future?
renewable energy – power from sources that don't run out, like sun or wind
carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide a person or activity produces
sustainable – able to continue without causing long-term damage to the environment
endangered species – a type of animal or plant at risk of dying out completely
➡ Students discuss briefly; the teacher adds ideas, vocabulary, and useful structures.
🌟 55'–60': Wrap-up & Closing
- Quick recap of interesting or strong answers.
- One student summarizes what they learned today.
- Thank the teacher for joining.