From engineering to metaphors

Ewa | Oct 17, 2025Oct 20, 2025

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• talk about engineering, machines and daily items;
• practise engineering vocabulary;
• learn and apply figurative expressions and metaphors.

With this lesson, students discuss engineering areas they find interesting, explore vocabulary for mechanical parts (e.g. fuse box, valve, gasket) and talk about their function. They review words for structures, machines and how they work (e.g. propeller, conductor, percolate) and chat about tech, design and daily items. Students also work with phrases with figurative meaning (e.g. hinge on, crank up, blow a fuse), share their experiences and role-play a conversation using these expressions.

WARM-UP AND VOCABULARY

This lesson starts with a warm-up. Students say which areas (e.g. mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and civil engineering) they find most interesting or would like to learn more about. They explain their answer. After that, students read sentences about mechanical parts and their functions and practise engineering vocabulary. They name different objects in photos (e.g. hinge, fuse, valve). Next, students say which objects from the previous task they can find in different places (e.g. a gate, a bike, a washing machine) and what they can do in multiple situations (e.g. the power supply cuts off, a door is squeaky). Following that, they match the halves of sentences about machines, structures and how they work. Afterwards, students discuss questions about technology, design and everyday objects.

MORE ENGINEERING VOCABULARY AND DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson, students get a card with words (e.g. a propeller, a lever, a probe). They have three minutes to explain each word without using its root form. Students make their partner guess as many words as possible and swap roles. Moving on, they practise engineering vocabulary by choosing the correct words to create phrases with figurative meaning (e.g. a safety valve, a cog in the machine). Afterwards, students complete statements with the expressions from the previous exercise (e.g. The last time I blew a fuse…), adding ideas and details. Finally, they imagine meeting a colleague at a party and talking to them. First, students get a card with sentences (e.g. I was riveted!) to include naturally in the chat. While talking, students take note of the sentences they think are on their partner’s card. Then, they check their guesses.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students review engineering vocabulary and complete the gaps to create words. They then choose three of the words and write a sentence using their metaphorical meanings. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

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