Can Winter Sports Survive? – ESL Lesson Plan

Engage your B2 students with one of today’s most urgent and fascinating global debates!

Winter sports aren’t just about thrills and medals – they’re on the front line of the climate crisis. This dynamic, 90-minute integrated skills lesson plunges students into the high-stakes world of melting glaciers, multi-million-dollar venues, and the race to save beloved winter traditions. Framed around a compelling Economist video and a real BBC news article on the 2026 Olympics, this lesson moves beyond the textbook to explore authentic, contemporary issues.

Key Skills Developed:

• Listening Comprehension: Extract key details and arguments from a fast-paced documentary video.
• Reading for Gist & Detail: Navigate an authentic news text to identify main problems and specific viewpoints.
• Critical Thinking & Debate: Analyze ethical dilemmas (e.g., artificial snow use) and evaluate long-term sustainability.
• Vocabulary Building: Master key lexis related to the environment, logistics, and events (contingency plan, venue, livelihood, artificial snow).
• Speaking Fluency: Engage in structured discussions, justify opinions, and propose solutions.

Inspired by The Economist video “Winter sports are facing many challenges. Can they survive?” and the BBC article “Concerns over Winter Olympics skiing snow levels”, this isn’t just a lesson – it’s an invitation to a global conversation. Equip your students with the language to talk about the future, one slope at a time.