1. TITLE: Embracing Boredom: Unlocking Creativity
2. LEVEL: B2
3. VOCABULARY:
- Boredom (n.): the feeling of being uninterested or lacking in stimulation
- Daydream (v.): to have a series of pleasant thoughts or fantasies while awake
- Wander (v.): to move aimlessly or without a specific destination
- Apply (v.): to use or put into practice
- Downtime (n.): a period of time when one is not working or occupied
- Swiping (v.): to move one's finger across a touchscreen, typically to navigate or browse
- Dopamine (n.): a chemical in the brain that affects pleasure and motivation
- Paradoxically (adv.): in a seemingly contradictory way
4. LISTENING:
- What is a common misconception about boredom and creativity?
- How can boredom be beneficial in our daily lives?
- What do we tend to do instead of embracing boredom?
- What does the speaker suggest we do to manage boredom?
- What is the paradoxical way to deal with boredom?
5. GRAMMAR:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs in parentheses.
- When you're __________ (bore), your mind __________ (wander) and you __________ (daydream).
- If you __________ (find) yourself stuck, take some time to __________ (be) bored.
- We __________ (tend) to get our phones out immediately when we have some __________ (downtime).
- We __________ (be) afraid to let boredom into our lives.
- The more __________ (stimulate) experiences we have, the lower our threshold for boredom __________ (be).
6. ACTIVITY:
Have students work in pairs or small groups to brainstorm different ways to embrace boredom in their daily lives. They can then present their ideas to the class and discuss the potential benefits of incorporating more boredom into their routines.
7. HOMEWORK:
Write a short reflection on a time when boredom led to a creative solution for a problem or challenge. How did you feel during the process? How did it impact your mindset towards boredom?
8. ASSESSMENT:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the listening and grammar exercises.
- Boredom is often seen as a negative emotion, but it can actually be a __________ part of the creative process.
- When we __________ our phones away and allow our minds to __________, we may come up with a creative solution.
- It's important to __________ downtime in our lives and not __________ afraid of boredom.
- __________, the more we try to avoid boredom, the more we crave __________ and novel experiences.
- The best way to deal with boredom is to __________ it and learn to manage it ourselves.
Evaluation criteria:
- Correct use of vocabulary and grammar
- Reflection shows understanding of the concept of embracing boredom
- Participation in class discussion and presentation
9. CLOSING:
Reflect on the importance of embracing boredom in our lives and its potential benefits for creativity and problem-solving. Review the new vocabulary and grammar concepts learned in the lesson.