Lesson Plan: 5-Second Summaries
Topic: 5-Second Summaries
Age: Teenagers/Young Adults
Level: Advanced (C1-C2)
Time: Approximately 60 minutes
Objective:
In this lesson, students will engage in a game of 5-Second Summaries to practice concise
speaking, listening skills, and critical thinking. The activity aims to improve their ability to
summarize information quickly and effectively while enhancing their vocabulary and
knowledge of movie titles.
Materials:
Index cards (enough for each player)
Writing utensils (pens or pencils)
Timer (preferably a digital timer with a visible countdown)
Set-Up:
1. Preparation:
o Each player prepares three index cards with different movie titles written on
them. These should be well-known movies that the other players are likely to
recognize.
o Cards are placed face down in front of each player without revealing the titles
to others.
2. Location:
o Arrange seating in a circle or around a table where all players can easily see
and hear each other.
Lesson Outline:
1. Introduction and Rules Explanation (10 minutes)
Teacher Script: "Welcome, everyone, to our 5-Second Summaries game! Today, we're going
to challenge our quick thinking and summarizing skills."
Objective Explanation: "Each of you has prepared three movie titles on index cards.
Your task is to describe the plot of these movies in just five seconds without using any
words from the title or mentioning any actors' names."
Game Rules:
o "Player One will pick up their first card, start the timer for five seconds, and
describe the movie's plot."
o "Other players will try to guess which movie it is based on the summary."
o "After the timer ends, Player One reveals the movie title."
o "We'll rotate turns so that everyone has a chance to describe their movies."
2. Practice Round (10 minutes)
Teacher Script: "Let's start with a practice round to get comfortable with the game."
Demonstration:
o "Player One, pick up your first card, and let's begin!"
o "Start the timer for five seconds and describe the plot."
o "Other players, make your guesses!"
o "Time's up! Player One, reveal the movie title."
3. Game Play (30 minutes)
Teacher Script: "Now that we've practiced, let's dive into the game!"
Sequence:
o "Each player takes turns describing the plot of their movies in five seconds."
o "Remember, be concise and avoid using any giveaway words!"
o "Players, make your guesses quickly to keep the game moving."
o "Rotate turns until all players have described their movies."
Challenge Rounds:
o "For an extra challenge, try a round with only three seconds or even just one
second!"
4. Debrief and Discussion (5 minutes)
Teacher Script: "Let's discuss our 5-Second Summaries game."
Discussion Questions:
o "What strategies did you use to describe the movie plots in five seconds?"
o "Which movies were the easiest or hardest to guess based on the summaries?"
o "How did you feel trying to guess the movies from the brief descriptions?"
5. Reflection and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
Teacher Script: "Before we finish, take a moment to reflect on what you learned today."
Reflection:
o "Write down one thing you found challenging or enjoyable about playing 5-
Second Summaries."
o "Consider how summarizing information quickly can help in everyday
communication."
Homework:
Reflect on today's game of 5-Second Summaries. Write a short paragraph analyzing one of
the movies described, focusing on how effective the summary was in conveying the plot and
why it may have been challenging to guess.
