Empires & Explorers
Silk roads, treasure fleets and the people who crossed the map. Trade, power and travel from A2 to C1.
Who it's for
Marked for all levels: the topic carries the lesson, and you set the difficulty by what you ask of the answer.
Stories from history, told for English learners at any level. More History lesson plans
Skills it practises
- Speaking: discussion questionsevery lesson
- Vocabulary: a target word listevery lesson
- Reading: a text or news storyevery lesson
Lessons
- Zheng He's Giant ShipsSix hundred years ago, China sent enormous ships across the ocean with gifts, sailors and a giraffe. A simple sea story for A2 students.48 minA2Free
- The Silk RoadSilk, spices, paper and ideas moved thousands of miles along a chain of desert markets. Past tenses and opinions for B1 students.48 minB1Outline
- 1492: The Year the Map ChangedColumbus sailed west looking for Asia and reached islands he did not expect. What followed changed two worlds, for very different reasons. Balanced discussion for B1 students.48 minB1Outline
- The Largest Land Empire in HistoryIn one lifetime, riders from the steppe built an empire stretching from Korea to Hungary, then ran it with post horses, paper money and religious tolerance. Cause, effect and speculation for B2 students.48 minB2Outline
- The City Between Two ContinentsByzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul: one city, three names, two continents and centuries as the hinge between empires. Passives and layered history for B2 students.48 minB2Outline
- Judging the PastStatues, museum labels and the uncomfortable question of whether yesterday's people can be measured with today's ruler. Nuanced, evaluative discussion for C1 students.48 minC1Outline
How to use it in a lesson
- Lessons run 48 minutes, with a timing on every stage, so you can see before you start what fits your slot.
- Start with "Zheng He's Giant Ships": its whole plan is on this site, stage by stage, with the target vocabulary, free to read and to teach from on any video call.
- For a shorter slot, skip a practice stage or cut the discussion short: the stages are a guide, not a script.
Teach Empires & Explorers with your student
Lesson 1 of this course is free. A free account opens it in the interactive player, and the rest of the course is included with Starter. Teaching it live with your student in the Tuton classroom starts with a 7-day free trial.
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