Woolly Bears and American Folklore - Reading Comprehension for Adult ESL

For some of us, the mere sight of a woolly bear caterpillar scurrying across a path or sidewalk can take us back to our childhood. But what do our adult ESL students know of the woolly bears? When their young children (or young siblings) come home excitedly talking about woolly bears, do our adult ESL students know what they're talking about? Let's help them connect with this adorable quirk in American culture...whether or not you truly believe the woolly bears have any say in what happens during winter.

I created this resource for adult ESL teachers whose students are also parents or have younger siblings in elementary school. Imagine your student comes to class confused because their eight-year-old ran through the door yesterday, breathless with excitement about the "fuzzy caterpillars that predict winter." Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could understand what their child was talking about and join in the conversation instead of feeling left out of the culture their kids are growing up in?

The woolly bears go home with them

Here's what I love most about this resource: it doesn't stay in your classroom. When your students go home and can explain to their curious children why that little caterpillar might mean a snowy winter is coming, something beautiful happens. Suddenly, mom or dad learning English AND sharing in their child's wonder about the world. They're building bridges between the culture they came from and the one they're creating together as a family.

This is true even if woolly bear winter predictions are a bunch of hooey. (The very best kind of hooey, I think.)

Your students deserve to be part of a conversation that lights up their children's eyes. This little resource can help make that happen.

WHAT'S INSIDE:

25-page print-and-teach PDF

✅ A1: one-page text with some visual support + one-page worksheet with true/false statements, yes/no questions, and multiple-choice questions (includes answer key)

✅ A2: one-page text + one-page true/false worksheet + two-page multiple-choice worksheet + short answer worksheet. (includes answer keys + answer guide)

✅ B1: one-page text + true/false worksheet, multiple-choice worksheet, and short answer worksheet. (includes answer keys and answer guide)

Please take a look at the preview.