ESL Lesson Plan: The Economics Of Halloween

In this B2 ESL lesson plan, students explore the business behind Halloween and examine how a traditional celebration has become a major industry. They begin by discussing Halloween spending, seasonal businesses, and whether companies should be allowed to profit from the holiday.

Students then watch a video about Spirit Halloween, learning how the company uses temporary stores, vacant buildings, short-term leases, and seasonal demand to build a successful business. They practise listening and comprehension while exploring the strategies and challenges behind the company’s unusual business model.

The lesson also includes vocabulary activities, Halloween idioms, and a business strategy task in which students decide whether different strategies would be good or bad for Spirit Halloween.

Students then explore the effects of advertising, consumerism, and Halloween spending before discussing whether the holiday has become too commercialised. The lesson finishes with a debate, a reading task, and a fun Halloween riddle activity.