How I Use Thematic Units to Teach Elementary ESL Students

 Teaching English Language Learners in elementary school can  feel overwhelming to plan meaningful, language-rich lessons every week. That’s exactly why I use thematic units in my classroom with all you need to write your lesson plan.

 You can explore the 10 thematic units here:   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elementary-ESL-Teaching-Units-EXPLORE-Bundle-10-Thematic-Units-14383276

My Elementary ESL Teaching Units- EXPLORE- Bundle, which includes 10 ready-to-use with minimal prep thematic units are designed specifically for elementary-age ELLs (typically grades 2–5).  These units are: transportation, town,farm, beach, routine verbs, weather, seasons, time,community helpers, adjectives.

This Bundle Supports Mixed Ability Levels. In one class, you might have newcomers alongside students who are ready for richer tasks. Thematic units allow you to differentiate easily—with visual supports, simple worksheets, and extension activities all in one place.

 Each unit includes:

Flashcards vocabulary cards for visuals and frequent review to introduce vocabulary. They are included in every unit to give students clear visual support, and make language practice interactive, hands-on, and easy to reuse throughout the lesson.

Transportation unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2024/12/transportation-flashcards-for.html

Small cards are included in each unit for hands-on practice, games, sorting, and sentence-building activities that encourage active student participation.

 town unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/03/town-small-cards-for-elementary-esl.html

Cutouts are included to promote hands-on learning through matching, sorting, and interactive language activities. Adjectives blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/06/adjectives-craft-stick-puppets-sorting.html

Worksheets help students reinforce vocabulary and language structures through guided, independent practice and review. Farm Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/04/hands-on-farm-vocabulary-activities.html

Engaging games for production in group or partner interaction.They are important in this resource because they keep students motivated while providing meaningful, repeated practice of language skills in a low-stress, engaging way.

Beach Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/05/beach-unit-games.html

Spelling activities are important because they help students connect sounds to letters, reinforce vocabulary, and build confidence in reading and writing English words.

Seasons Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2020/03/seasons-and-nature.html

Printable books to support thematic literacy. They give students a meaningful way to practice reading, vocabulary, and sentence structure while creating a take-home product they feel proud of. 

Transportation Unit Blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/02/transportation-layered-book-for.html

Holidays: Christmas.  The bundle includes themed units for popular holidays, helping students practice language through familiar, engaging celebrations and seasonal vocabulary.

Weather Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/12/christmas-snowglobes-numbers-120.html

Use the unit materials in centers where students can practice vocabulary through:

Matching games.  Telling the time blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2019/04/telling-time-for-esl-learners.html

Memory cards. Community helpers Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/07/community-helpers-jobs-and-occupations.html

Sentence Association. Routine Verbs unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/07/routine-verbs-small-cards-for-eslefl.html

Students rotate through activities.

There are add ons:

Activities focusing on numbers 1–20 help students develop counting skills, number recognition, and number vocabulary through visual, hands-on, and engaging practice that supports early math and language development. Farm Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/counting-120-cows-numbers-activities.html

Prepositions of location is also found in several units. It will help students understand how objects relate to each other in space (in, on, under, next to, etc.) through visual and hands-on practice. This is especially important for ELLs, as prepositions are challenging to learn and are best taught in context, supporting clearer sentence building, better comprehension, and more confident oral language use.

Beach Unit blog post:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/09/beach-prepositions-activities-with.html

Finally, Teaching tips to make planning easier and more effective. The 3ps lesson plans are ready to follow.

Follow me on Instagram for creative activities, classroom tips, and exclusive sneak peeks of my teaching resources! There Hands-on games and activities for young learners, freebies and more:   https://www.instagram.com/rosamelia_eslteacher/

Counting 1–20 cows | Numbers Activities for Elementary ELLs

 This resource (Counting to 120 Cows – ESL Number Words & Activities (1-120) is included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-Unit-for-Elementary-EFL-3790548

The Counting Cows 1 to 20 resource can be used to support math and language development. This resource perfect for math centers, ESL lessons, or thematic farm units.Many ESL students struggle to connect numerals with quantities and spoken language at the same time. This cow-themed counting resource solves that problem by combining visual quantity, number recognition, and simple speaking tasks in one engaging activity set.

These Counting Cows 1 to 20 flashcards are designed to help elementary English language learners build number recognition, counting skills, and English vocabulary through a farm-themed visual experience.  Each card helps students make the connection between numerals, quantities, and number words.

Cow Line-Up Numbers with flashcards: Give each student a flashcard and have them line up in numerical order from 1 to 20. Then, mix up the cards and have them fix the sequence again.

 Find My Match:
Cut the word out of the flashcards and have one with numerals and another with cows. Hand in the parts randomly in to your students. They will walk around the room to find their matching pair (for example, the “15” card finds the cow image with fifteen grass pieces).

Games with the Small Counting Cow Cards. These smaller cards are ideal for hands-on games, centers, and pair work. Their compact size makes them perfect for tabletop activities.

Number Bingo. Use the printable blank bingo grid. Students write any number from 1 to 20 on each space. The teacher calls a number, and students cross it out. The first to fill a row or column shouts, “Moo Bingo!”. Have the save the grid and use it to play at any time during the unit.

I used the small counting cow cards along with fun foam letters and numbers for a hands-on writing activity. Students built and wrote number words and numeral.  This activity helps children strengthen spelling, number recognition.

Students look at the small counting cow cards and write the numbers words and numeral with a pencil on their paper.

Match the Cows and Numbers small cards. Students count the grass on each cow card and find the matching number. This simple hands-on activity helps students connect quantity with numerals, strengthens counting and reinforces number recognition in English. It’s also great for pair or small-group work, encouraging communication and cooperative learning.

Students start by coloring the numbers on each grass piece in the first worksheet. Then, they complete the answer worksheet by writing the color words that match each number. These worksheets help students connect numbers, colors, and words.

Read and Color the Grass worksheet set. Students read simple sentences and color the pieces of grass according to the instructions.

Complete the Number Sequence worksheet where students fill in the missing number words and numerals to complete each sequence. Completing number sequences helps students develop number sense and understand numerical order. It also builds logical thinking, pattern recognition, and counting fluency.

In this worksheet, students match each numeral to its number word and then color the spaces as directed by the teacher.

In this worksheet, students unscramble the mixed-up letters to form the correct number words. This activity strengthens spelling, word recognition, and problem-solving skills.

Number Matching Games where students connect the numeral, number word, and quantity shown on the cards. The interactive format keeps learners engaged while reinforcing both math and English language skills through play.

Use the game board with four different paths. When students land on a square, they say the number and using any of the cards available, match it to the quantity cow card. The students with the most cards wins.

This is another game. Students write the number words using the letters and teen words tiles available.

The prepositions for the farm unit is included in thsi resource:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/09/farm-prepositions-of-place-activities.html

Please check my Pinterest board to find more ideas and resources for the farm unit.

https://www.pinterest.com/ei98srl/esl-animals-unit/farm-animals/

I made my covers using Creative Fabrica, here is my affliate link:    https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/pastel-seamless-cow-pattern-digital-pape/ref/2670802/?sharedfrom=pdp

Farm Prepositions of Place Activities with a Rooster and Barn

 This resource ( Farm Prepositions of Place Activities for Elementary ESL/ELL – Printable Rooster & Barn Pack)  is included here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Farm-Unit-for-Elementary-EFL-3790548

Students should review prepositions of place because they are essential for describing location. Using concrete visuals like a rooster and a barn makes abstract grammar more meaningful, while also reinforcing vocabulary and sentence structure in this printable resource for Elementary ESL.

Prepositions describe relationships in space, and flashcards make these abstract concepts concrete and easy to understand. Have students build sentences for each flashcard in this farm theme. Give points to the students that create the longest sentence.

Students can see the same prepositions in different contexts, as in this Draw and Write Activity. Dictate what students have to draw and students follow instructions and then show the flashcard for correction.

Teacher: Draw a red barn. There is a rooster next to the barn.

Flashcards can be used for guessing activities. One student picks a flashcard secretly. Others ask yes/no questions: “Is the rooster in front of the barn?” until they guess correctly.

Place the barn flashcard on the table, open slots for next to, under and cut the door of the barn. Learners can describe where the rooster or follow a command.

Play (Command following) with the small cards. The teacher calls out instructions using cards and directions, for example “Bring me the card with the rooster behind the barn.” Students race to identify and grab the correct card. The first student to bring it back scores a point. Continue with different target cards each time.

Place the small cards in a line on the table. Students roll the dice that you have previously assembled and select the matching card, then give the answer. Continue rolling until all the cards have been answered.

For fast finishers have them create their own barn and animal cut-outs. Turn the barn into a 3D prop by gluing it onto a toilet paper roll. With a movable rooster cutout, students can physically place the animal in different positions. There is a colored and a b/w version.

Idea. Teacher Says – Similar to Simon Says, the teacher gives commands: “Put the rooster on the barn,” “Place the rooster on the barn,” etc. Students follow by moving their rooster cutout.

Idea. Student Leader – A student gives instructions to the class using prepositions while everyone positions their rooster.

Idea. Question & Answer Practice – One student puts the rooster in a position secretly. Others ask yes/no questions: “Is the rooster behind the barn?” until they guess correctly.

Take a look!

Students can either listen to the teacher’s instructions (e.g., “Draw the rooster in front of the barn”) or roll a preposition dice to decide where to place or draw the rooster.

This worksheet can be done using the dice.

There are two fill-in-the-blanks worksheets where students complete simple sentences using prepositions. These worksheets reinforce both writing and grammar.

Two more worksheets: Sentence & Picture Matching Worksheet and a  Read, Draw & Color Worksheet

This resource also includes a matching mat where students pair preposition flashcards with the correct word and puzzle sentence, reinforcing word-picture connections. Use the matching mat as a station.

Find a fun board game (shown above) where students move around the farm-themed path by rolling a die and making sentences with prepositions.

Counting to 120 Cows – ESL Number Words & Activities (1-20) is part of this resource:   https://eflelementaryresources.blogspot.com/2025/10/counting-120-cows-numbers-activities.html

Find creative resources and engaging activities to make learning English fun for your students. Follow me on Instagram for teaching tips, freebies, and more!  Follow me at @rosamelia_eslteacher

The cover were made using paper from Creative Fabrica. Here is my affliate link:           https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/farm-life-seamless-patterns/ref/2670802/?sharedfrom=pdp