Let’s talk about law! This A2/B1 law lesson is all about helping students get the hang of the basics of law. It breaks down what laws are, why they’re important, and how they’re different from regular rules. Filled with discussions, listening activities, and real-life legal situations, this lesson makes learning about law interesting, enjoyable and easy to understand.
I’ve been dipping my toes into legal topics in my lessons, and I thought this would be a fun way to get students (and myself!) familiar with the idea of law in a straightforward and interactive manner. This class is perfect for A2/B1 students since it helps with listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills while also introducing some handy legal vocabulary.
The lesson is based on a short video called What is Law? by Lex Animata and features discussions, vocabulary matching, and real-life legal case studies. If you’re on the lookout for a lesson that makes learning the basics of law engaging, check out the end of this post for the full presentation, lesson plan, and teacher’s notes.
Warmer: Rules and Laws
Start the lesson by having students chat about the rules they have at home, school, or work. Encourage them to throw in words like government, punishment, and fine to naturally bring up some key legal terms. After that, check their thoughts by discussing a simple definition of a law and comparing it to what a rule is.
Video Input: What Is Law?
Once students get the hang of the basics about laws, it’s time to dig a little deeper! Start by giving them a list of questions to discuss in pairs. After that, play the video What is Law?. While they’re watching, they should write down answers to some key questions like: What is law? Why do we even have laws?, or Who makes the laws? Once the video wraps up, they can team up to compare their answers before having a class discussion. It’s a fun way to see what everyone understands and spark some great conversations!
Vocabulary in Use: Legal Terms Matching
Next, go over some important legal terms from the video. Students match words like community service, crime, and fine with their definitions. After they finish the matching game, they can use these words in opinion-based sentences to really get a handle on what they mean. I thought that since the class may be a bit too heavy on the video aspect, it could be a good moment for students to share their thoughts on the law-related statements.
Finish off this part by reading true or false statements, and playing the video again. Students watch the video and check the answers.
Discussion: Sharing Opinions on Law
It’s time to put what they’ve learned to the test! Start by giving students a scenario about someone who isn’t a responsible dog owner. Let them read another person’s take on this behavior and have them match some questions to the answers provided. This part is useful because (pre-)intermediate students might need a little help for what’s coming next.
Role-Play: Legal Scenarios in Real Life
Once they’ve got the answers sorted, give them some different legal situations to discuss, for example, What crime was committed?, What law comes into play?, or What punishment do you think is fair? Read the scenarios and have them present their opinions in pairs. Some situations include a driver speeding through a school zone, or someone stealing a small item from a shop. Encourage students to debate their views and back them up with legal terms. It’s a fun way to practice speaking and think critically!
If you want a fun and hands-on law lesson for A2/B1 students, you’ve found it! Take a look at the links below to grab the complete lesson materials, like the presentation, worksheet, and notes for teachers.
Have you ever taught legal vocabulary in your ESL classroom? What did you do?
