Who Made the Elevator? English Class Lesson

50-minute English Lesson

In this English class lesson, ELL students learn how one invention changed the design of modern cities.

Read the story

English Class Lesson about Elevators

Elevators make life easy. We do not need to walk up high places or carry big bags to our room. Where did elevators come from?

Elevators are old. About 2300 years ago, they were used to move water and building materials. The Romans used them to move animals into the Coliseum. People enjoyed watching lions and tigers and bears fight men. Slaves turned big posts to move the elevators.

Steam power later replaced human power. Steam power moved elevators in small buildings. But, from time to time they had problems. Sometimes the line pulling the elevator broke. When the line broke, the elevator fell and the people riding inside were hurt or died. That’s why most people did not want to ride early elevators.

In 1853, one man changed that. His name was Elisha Otis. He did not create the elevator. He made an elevator brake. That made them safe. The brake worked very well, but people did not believe it at first.

Otis wanted to change people’s minds so he made a show. He made a small elevator outside that people could see. It was quite high. Otis stood on top. His helper cut the line holding the elevator. People were surprised. The elevator did not fall. Otis was safe.

His plan worked. A few years later, a store in New York City put in the first elevator for people. The store became famous. People thought elevators were now safe.

Elevators changed modern life. Without a safe elevator, high buildings would not be possible. People would not walk up many floors.

The modern city is possible because of Otis. He changed the way people thought with a good idea and a good story.

Listen without reading

English Class Lesson about otis

English listening lesson: Gap Fill

Listen to the story again and fill in the blanks.

Elevators make life __________ . We do not need to walk up high places or __________ big bags to our room. Where did elevators come from?

Elevators are old. About __________ years ago, they were used to move water and building __________ . The Romans used them to move __________ into the Coliseum. People enjoyed watching lions and tigers and bears __________ men. Slaves turned big __________ to move the elevators.

Steam power later __________ human power. Steam power moved elevators in small buildings. But, from time to time they had problems. Sometimes the line pulling the elevator __________ . When the line broke, the elevator __________ and the people riding inside were __________ or died. That’s why most people did not want to ride __________ elevators.

In __________ , one man changed that. His name was Elisha Otis. He did not __________ the elevator. He made an elevator __________ . That made them safe. The brake worked very well, but people did not __________ it at first.

Otis wanted to change people’s minds so he made a __________ . He made a small elevator outside that people could see. It was quite __________ . Otis stood on top. His helper cut the line __________ the elevator. People were __________ . The elevator did not fall. Otis was safe.

His plan __________ . A few years later, a store in New York City put in the __________ elevator for people. The store became __________ . People thought elevators were now __________ .

Elevators changed __________ life. Without a safe elevator, high buildings would not be __________ . People would not walk up many floors.

The __________ city is possible because of Otis. He changed the way people thought with a good __________ and a good story.

ESL discussion questions

Talk about the esl story.

1. Where does the story take place?
2. What problem gave Otis a good idea?
3. Retell the story of Otis’ public show.
4. What are the pros and cons of elevators?
5. How did Otis’ invention change modern cities?
6. If we didn’t have elevators, what might cities look like?

Synonym match

MATCH THE WORD OR PHRASE ON THE LEFT WITH THE CORRECT SYNONYM.

ESL listening activity: anagrams

MOVE THE LETTERS. MAKE A WORD FROM THE ESL LISTENING STORY.

1. AIDE
2. MNREOD
3. UOHTGHT
4. MEAST
5. ASLAMIETR
6. LSUDGNIIB

Writing practice

Write the five sentences. Put the words in the correct order.

1. and / People / watching / lions / fight / tigers / and / men / bears / enjoyed
2. small / power / elevators / buildings / moved / Steam / in
3. Otis / is / modern / because / possible / city / of / The
4. Without / buildings / high / not / possible / safe / would / a / elevator / be
5. elevators / turned / posts / Slaves / to / the / big / move

Another English class lesson activity

Try this free English class lesson: it’s a geography quiz. Think you the names of rivers, mountains, and places? Try the quiz.

Watch a video and take notes

Did you like this listening and reading lesson about elevators? Click to watch a video about elevators and practice your note-taking skills.

1. Watch the video.
2. Take notes.
3. Make a list of at least seven facts.

Get the worksheet

Want to print out these ESL listening activities? Click to download the PDF worksheet.