After the unexpected power blackout across parts of Spain last Monday, I found myself thinking: what if this weren’t just a short-term outage? What if we really had to prepare for something bigger – like an actual emergency situation? That moment inspired this B2 apocalypse lesson plan, a reading and speaking session on how to survive an apocalypse.
Whether your students are preppers or skeptics, survival-themed lessons always lead to lively, creative conversations. This class uses an adapted article from WikiHow as its core input and challenges students to think critically about what they would do in a global disaster scenario. We work on reading for gist and detail, explore survival vocabulary, and finish a role-play simulation and a grand discussion on whether the students would be able to survive an apocalypse. Personally, I don’t think I’d last long without Wi-Fi🙈. I’ve already shared a blog post with Effective Time Management Tips For Self-employed Online Teachers, but maybe it’s time to tackle the other challenges of teaching online too.
Scroll down to grab the presentation and worksheet I used for this class!
Warmer: Would You Rather (Apocalypse Edition!)
Begind by completing a Would You Rather activity with a survival twist:
- Would you rather have unlimited water but no food, or unlimited food but no clean water?
- Would you rather be underground with no communication or outside with a working radio?
Students choose their answer and explain their reasoning. It’s great for activating both imagination and survival vocabulary.
Reading for Gist: How Would YOU Survive?
Next, students check out a short intro from a survival guide and chat about the big question – How to survive an apocalypse? This is also the title of a WikiHow article that’s been adapted for the class. Using prompts like supplies, medicine, hygiene, escape plan, and skills, students brainstorm strategies and compare answers in pairs.
Then move into the first reading of the article, How to survive an apocalypse, Students read to see which of their ideas appear in the text. It’s an easy gist activity that gets them scanning for content connections.
Reading for Detail: Spot the Survival Myth
Here’s where things get more analytical. Students reread the article, but this time they know that each paragraph contains one false piece of information. For example, Stockpiling food for 5-7 days? Hmm…That’s not enough! or A whistle to hunt for food? 🤔In pairs, students spot the false detail in each paragraph and suggest realistic replacements.
Vocabulary: Match and Apply
Then, students identify survival-themed vocabulary in context. The words in question are stockpiling, self-sufficient, or first aid kit. They match each to a definition and later use the words in a mini writing activity. This vocabulary is practical, tangible, and easy to personalize in follow-up tasks.
Writing: Three Survival Tips
Now that they’ve got the vocabulary and content, it’s time to create. Students write three practical tips for surviving an apocalypse using the new language. They then share tips in groups and vote on the most useful or original one.
Stockpile water and canned food for at least 30 days.
Create an escape plan and agree on a safe meeting point with your family.
Pair Speaking: What’s in Your Emergency Backpack?
Ask students to imagine they’re trapped in a city after a disaster. With only a backpack, they must choose eight survival items from a list of 15 (including radio, duct tape, gas mask, canned food, etc.). Students negotiate in pairs, justifying each choice and prioritizing what matters most. Then compare the answers with the other pairs.
End with a whole-class discussion – Would you survive an apocalypse? It sparks humor, debate, and some very honest self-assessments!
This B2 apocalypse lesson plan can be a hit at any time of the year – not just after a big event like the Blackout Monday. If you’re looking for a lesson that blends vocabulary, critical reading, and speaking practice in a fresh, creative way, this one’s for you.
Click below to grab the How to Survive an Apocalypse lesson plan, student worksheet, and teacher’s notes!
Would you survive an apocalypse? Why (not)?
