50-minute English Lesson
In this adult ESL lesson plan lesson, we talk about inventions and learn how Post-It notes were discovered.

Read the story
Post-It Notes
Post -It notes are small pieces of yellow paper with glue on the back. It looks like a simple product, but it took 12 years to develop.
The history of Post-It notes begins in 1968.
Spencer Silver worked for a company called 3M. He was trying to make glue that could be used to build planes. Instead of strong glue, he made weak glue.
His weak glue had two unusual features. First, it would stick to any flat surface. Second, the glue didn’t separate from paper, so it could be reused many times.
For years, Spencer searched for a practical use of this uncommon glue. He failed. Then in 1974, something happened.
Art Fry also worked at 3M. While singing in a choir, he had a problem. His music book wouldn’t stay open. He put paper inside the book to mark the page, but the paper kept falling out. He needed something that could stick to paper, but wouldn’t damage the book. That’s when he thought about weak glue.
Back at work, he used the weak glue to make sticky paper. Workers at 3M made some sticky paper and gave it to people around the office. They loved it. It was a convenient way to leave messages.
In 1980, 3M tested the sticky paper. To their surprise, people loved it. Today, Post-It note paper is one of the world’s best selling office products.
The Post-It note story teaches us about creativity. Spencer and Art had a unique product with no practical use at first. By connecting the bookmark problem and weak glue, they created a useful product.
We are often told that to be successful in business, we need to find a problem and then create a solution. Sometimes we have a solution, but we need to find a problem.
Listen to the story without reading
Adult ESL Lesson Plan
Audio
Here is the listening file for this lesson.
Audio file: 2:16 min
Story length: 300 words

English listening lesson: Gap Fill
LISTEN TO THE STORY AGAIN AND FILL IN THE BLANKS.
Post-It Notes are small __________ of yellow paper with __________ on the back. It looks like a simple product, but it took 12 years to __________ .
The history of Post-It notes begins in __________ .
Spencer Silver __________ for a company called 3M. He was trying to make glue that could be used to build __________ . Instead of strong glue, he made __________ glue.
His weak glue had two __________ features. First, it would stick to any __________ surface. Second, the glue didn’t __________ from paper, so it could be reused many times.
For years, Spencer searched for a __________ use of this uncommon glue. He failed. Then in __________ , something happened.
Art Fry also worked at 3M. While __________ in a choir, he had a problem. His music book wouldn’t stay open. He put paper inside the book to __________ the page, but the paper kept __________ out. He needed something that could stick to paper, but wouldn’t __________ the book. That’s when he thought about __________ glue.
Back at work, he used the weak glue to make __________ paper. Workers at 3M made some sticky paper and gave it to people __________ the office. They loved it. It was a __________ way to leave messages.
In 1980, 3M __________ the sticky paper. To their surprise, people loved it. Today, Post-It note paper is one of the world’s best selling __________ products.
The Post-It note story teaches us about __________ . Spencer and Art had a unique product with no practical use at first. By __________ the bookmark problem and weak glue, they created a useful product.
We are often told that to be successful in business, we need to find a problem and then __________ a solution. Sometimes we have a solution, but we need to find a __________ .
ESL discussion questions
Talk about the esl story.
- What kind of story is this?
- What problem lead to the idea of a sticky paper?
- What is creatvity?
- The last paragraph talks about a solution and then a problem. What does that mean?
- Some people find interesting ways to use Post It Notes. Can you think of any examples?
Synonym match
MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.
1. unusual 2. practical 3. convenient 4. unique 5. stick | a. handy b. distinctive c. odd d. useful e. attach |
English listening lesson: anagrams
MOVE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM the English online story about inventions.
- SFULEU
- ERSISPUR
- VEEONTCINN
- ESURED
- GSORTN
- ELDPVOE
Writing practice
Write the sentences. Put the words in the correct order.
- unusual / glue / two / His / features / weak / had
- could / be / He / that / was / to / trying / to / used / build / planes / make / glue
- glue / thought / That’s / he / about / when / weak
- product / first / Art / and / with / practical / no / had / use / unique / a / Spencer / at
- are / yellow / glue / of / notes / small / back / the / pieces / PostIt / on / paper / with
More listening and reading
Learn more English online about inventions and people? Try this English listening comprehension lesson about YouTube.
Watch a video and take notes
Learn more? Watch a short video about Post It notes. It’s less than four minutes.
- Watch the video.
- Take notes.
- Make a list with at least eight facts.
Get the worksheet
Want to print out the worksheet for this English online lesson about Post It Notes? Click to download the PDF worksheet.
Click to see the answers for this adult ESL lesson plan about Post It Notes.
Copyright Notice
This text and audio file are copyrighted. They may be used for non-commercial educational purposes. They may not be used or adapted for any commercial purpose.