Free ESL Resources for High School

Free ESL Resources for High School Students

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This guide includes advice, best practices, and some resources that can help support your ELL teens.

Discover classroom-ready free ESL resources for high school—perfect for English I, English II, and ELDA. These quick-use downloads help teens build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills without extra prep.

Looking for Free ESL Resources for High School that are ready to use and easy to share? You’re in the right place. On this page you’ll find classroom-tested activities and printable downloads created specifically for teen English learners. Each resource is designed to help students build reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills—without adding extra prep to your already busy schedule.

These Free ESL Resources for High School include grammar helpers like desk mats and task cards, engaging reading and poetry samples with audio support, and interactive speaking games such as charades and my popular Word Dash! vocabulary challenge. You’ll also find writing prompts and scaffolded graphic organizers that guide students through the writing process and give them the confidence to express their ideas.

What you’ll find in these Free ESL Resources for High School

Grammar helpers (desk mats, task cards)
Reading & poetry samples with audio
Speaking games (charades, Word Dash!)
Writing prompts and scaffolded organizers

Cover image for “Author the Ending – Free Future Tense Narrative Writing Activity,” showing a printable haunted house story starter with a purple house illustration and a smiling student pointing to the worksheet. — Free ESL narrative writing activity—students complete a haunted house story using the future tense.

Cover image for “Word Dash! Free Traditional ESL Vocabulary Game,” showing a printable game board inspired by the Mexican word game ¡Basta! with a red FREE banner and a smiling student pointing to the template. — Free ESL vocabulary game—Word Dash! is a fun, fast-paced activity inspired by the classic Mexican game ¡Basta!

Cover image for “Free ESL Charades Sample Cards,” showing four sample charades cards with actions like “Take a Test” and “Zone out in class,” labeled as a free download from the ESL Charades Cards Bundle. — Free ESL charades sample cards—fun teen-friendly game with 4 visual and text-only cards from all CEFR levels.

Cover image for “Free Name Poem Template – ESL Writing Activity,” showing a printable name poem worksheet with colorful FREE graphic and a smiling student pointing to the template. — Free ESL name poem template—build confidence and encourage identity expression in A2–B1 English learners.

Cover image for “Free ESL Poetry Resource – Hope is the Thing with Feathers,” showing an A1-level adapted poem sheet with MP3 audio, Google Slides, and PowerPoint included, plus a large red FREE banner. — Free A1 ESL poetry resource: Hope is the Thing with Feathers adapted poem with audio and slides.

Cover image for “Freebie: A1 Grammar Sample – ESL Grammar Task Cards,” featuring colorful task card previews on plurals, be-verbs, and subject pronouns with a large red FREE banner. — Free A1 ESL grammar task card sampler—7 beginner-friendly topics for teen English learners.

Cover image for “Free A1 ESL Reading Sample – The Necklace,” showing a simplified beginner text with icons, comprehension questions, and a red FREE banner. — Free A1-level ESL reading of The Necklace with beginner-friendly text, comprehension questions, and answer key.

Cover image for “Free B1 Poem Handout – ‘I, Too’ by Langston Hughes,” featuring a printable poetry worksheet with QR code, annotation symbols, and a bold red FREE label. — Free B1-level ESL poem handout for I, Too by Langston Hughes with annotation guide and short-response questions.

Cover image for “Free Mini ESL Desk Mat – Present Progressive Tense,” featuring a colorful printable desk mat showing verb forms with am/is/are plus -ing and a red banner reading “100% Free.” — Free printable ESL desk mat for practicing the present progressive tense—cut, laminate, and place on student desks.

Cover image for “To Kill a Mockingbird ESL Novel Companion – Chapter 1 Free Sample,” showing a vintage-style illustration of two children looking into a tree, with text noting simplified ESL summaries, visuals, and MP3 audio. — Free ESL novel companion for To Kill a Mockingbird—Chapter 1 with simplified summaries, visuals, and MP3 audio.

Cover image for “Free ESL Biography Sample – Celia Cruz,” showing a bright orange background with a black-and-white photo of Celia Cruz, a red FREE label, and text highlighting A2/B1 level comprehension with answer key. — Free A2/B1 ESL biography of Celia Cruz with comprehension questions and answer key.

Cover image for “Free ESL Informational Text – Día de los Muertos,” showing a vibrant photo of a person in traditional Day of the Dead costume with a red FREE label and a SAMPLE stamp. — Free A2/B1 ESL informational text on Día de los Muertos with comprehension questions and answer key.

Cover image for “Free ESL Anticipation Guide – The Night Face Up by Julio Cortázar,” showing a printable anticipation guide with agree/disagree statements and a colorful Aztec-inspired illustration. — Free ESL anticipation guide for The Night Face Up, leveled A1–B2 with printable and digital versions.

Cover image for “Free A1 ESL Dolch Sight Word Pronunciation Test,” showing teacher checklist, student reading sheet, and reflection page with a large red FREE label. — Free A1-level ESL Dolch Sight Word Pronunciation Test with teacher checklist, student sheets, and reflection worksheet.

Cover image for “Free Argumentative Essay Outline & Example,” showing printable outline pages and a sample essay with both English and Spanish support, plus a yellow FREEBIE label. — Free argumentative essay outline and sample with English and Spanish support for ESL and ELA students.

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How to use these Free ESL Resources for High School

Print or assign digitally for bell-ringers, stations, or sub plans
Pair freebies with your current unit for targeted support
Share with your team—everything here is teacher-tested

Because every classroom is different, these free materials are flexible. Use them as bell-ringers, independent work, small-group stations, or sub plans. Pair them with your current unit to provide targeted language support, or share them with your grade-level or ESL team—everything here is teacher-tested and ready for immediate use. Whether you teach English I, English II, or ELDA, these activities save time while keeping lessons fresh and interactive.

Want to go beyond a quick download? Many of these freebies link to blog posts that explain practical strategies for integrating them into your lessons. Browse the posts below to discover tips, step-by-step directions, and real-classroom examples that show how other teachers are using these Free ESL Resources for High School to boost engagement and language growth. If you enjoy what you find here, be sure to explore my full collection on Teachers Pay Teachers at Sunshine’s Secondary ESL Studio.

Want more? Browse all my freebies on TPT → Sunshine’s Secondary ESL Studio

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Browse my latest blog posts packed with free strategies, ideas, and resources for secondary ESL classrooms.