Doing Chores: ESL Lesson Plan

This lesson plan focuses on common chores around the house. Students will learn collocations such as "mow the lawn" and "cut the grass" related to tasks around the house. For adult learners, use this lesson to focus on chores parents choose for their own children. Doing chores and getting an allowance can contribute to learning responsibility which will open the doors to further conversation in class. 

English Lesson Plan on Doing Chores

Aim: Vocabulary and discussion related to the topic of chores

Activity: Vocabulary review/learning, followed by discussion activities

Level: Lower-intermediate to intermediate

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Outline:

• Introduce the idea of chores and allowance by recounting your own experience with chores and allowance.
• Have students read the short introduction to chores.
• Ask students if they had to (or have to) to do chores.
• Brainstorm chores as a class, writing various chores on the board.
• Ask students to review the list of common chores and ask any questions they may have.
• Have students break up into small groups of three to four.
• Ask students to choose the best five chores and the worst five chores as a group.
• As a class, ask students to explain their choices of the best / worst five chores. 
• Have students to discuss the chore/allowance questions in their groups.
• Read the example role-play about chores with a student from the class.
• Ask students to pair up and write their own chores dialogue. 

Introduction to Chores

In many countries, children are required to do chores around the house. Chores can be defined as little jobs you do around the house to help keep everything clean and orderly. In the United States, many parents ask their children to do chores in order to earn an allowance. An allowance is an amount of money paid on a weekly, or monthly basis. Allowances allow children to have some pocket money to spend as they see fit. This can help them learn to manage their own money, as well as help them become more independent as they grow up. Here are some of the most common chores that children are asked to do. 

Common Chores to Earn Your Allowance

• clean your room
• make your bed
• pick up / put away / hang up your clothes
• wash the dishes
• wash the car
• mow the lawn / cut the grass
• pick up your toys
• pull weeds
• do the vacuuming 
• repair the computer
• plan a meal
• prepare/cook dinner 
• set the table
• clear the table
• wash the dishes 
• clean out the fridge or freezer
• clean the shower or tub
• disinfect the toilet
• do the laundry
• wash the clothes
• dry the clothes
• put away the clothes
• mob the floors
• vacuum the carpets/rugs
• rake the leaves in fall
• shovel snow in winter

Chore Questions

• How many of these chores have you done in your life? 
• Do / Did your parents ask you to do chores? 
• Do / Did your parents give you an allowance? How much was it?
• Do / Will you ask your children to do chores?
• Do / Will you give your children an allowance?
• Which chores are the worst? Which chores do you prefer?

Chores Dialogue

Mom: Tom, Have you done your chores yet?
Tom: No Mom. I'm too busy.
Mom: If you don't do your chores, you won't get your allowance.
Tom: Mom! That's not fair, I'm going out with friends tonight.
Mom: You'll have to ask your friends for money because you haven't done your chores.
Tom: Come on. I'll do them tomorrow.
Mom: If you want your allowance, you'll do your chores today. They won't take more than an hour.
Tom: Why do I have to do chores anyway? None of my friends have to do chores.
Mom: You don't live with them do you? In this house we do chores, and that means you have to mow the lawn, pull the weeds and clean up your room.
Tom: OK, OK. I'll do my chores.