Would you swim in a lake that could “turn you to stone” or suffocate anyone nearby? Sounds terrifying, right? In this B2 ESL lesson, we explore three of the world’s most mysterious and dangerous lakes: Lake Natron in Tanzania, Lake Nyos in Cameroon, and Lake Baikal in Russia.
These lakes are not only fascinating natural wonders, but they also hide eerie stories and deadly secrets. Lake Natron, with its red and pink waters, preserves animals that accidentally fall in, making them look like stone statues. Lake Nyos released a deadly cloud of carbon dioxide in 1986, suffocating over 1,700 people and thousands of animals. And Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake, is shrouded in legends of ghosts, strange lights, and mysterious creatures lurking in its depths.
In this lesson, students will:
- Read to spooky texts about the three lakes, featuring real science and chilling legends.
- Practice passive voice in different tenses to describe events, legends, and discoveries.
- Expand vocabulary with words like alkaline, petrify, creature, curse, and howl.
- Discuss and debate the lakes’ dangers, legends, and your personal feelings about scary places.
- Create their own spooky story using the lakes as inspiration, including passive sentences and creepy vocabulary.
This lesson shows that learning English can be spooky, thrilling, and educational at the same time! Ghost stories and eerie legends are not only fun, but they also help us think critically about the natural world, danger, and human imagination.
Whether you’re a teacher planning a Halloween-themed class or a student who loves mysterious places, this lesson brings the creepy, the curious, and the linguistic skills together in one chilling package.
Happy teaching & learning!
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