Airbnb handing over keys to Barbie Dreamhouse

An EFL and ESL English Lesson

Lesson Collection
A photo of a Barbie house.

Date: 3rd July 2023

Level: B2 Upper-intermediate

Grammar: Transitive phrasal verbs

Topics: Movies, Travel & Transport, The Arts & Culture

Printables: 10-Page Lesson, Single-Page Lesson

Worksheets: Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Writing

Lesson

Text

Airbnb handing over keys to Barbie Dreamhouse

To mark the release of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa overlooks the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s companion Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.

The picturesque property is a three-storey hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the closets and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can take in the breathtaking surroundings.

Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a promotion for the movie they will be putting up a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and resources to families and communities all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’ confidence in school.

Information sources (external links): architecturaldigest.comharpersbazaar.com

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Warm-up activities and vocabulary

Activities:

Write a short sentence describing a movie. Each word has to start with a different letter.

Finish the imaginary sentence, including a colour, “I’m picking up the keys for...”

List some iconic fictional duos or couples.

Vocabulary:

1. Scan the text and find a word or phrase that means:

  • A. holiday house (paragraph 1)v...
  • B. holiday destination (paragraph 1)r...
  • C. friend (paragraph 1)c...
  • D. giving (paragraph 1)h...
  • E. floor (paragraph 2)s...
  • F. clothes (paragraph 2)o...
  • G. setting (paragraph 2)s...
  • H. gift (paragraph 3)d...
  • I. groups (paragraph 3)c...
  • J. self-belief (paragraph 3)c...
Answers
  • A. villa, B. resort, C. companion, D. handing over, E. storey, F. outfit, G. surroundings, H. donation, I. communities, J. confidence

2. What does the italicised phrase below mean — increasingasking for, or giving?

  • they will be putting up a donation
Answer
  • giving

3. Which word below doesn’t belong?

  • picturesque — companion — impressive — breathtaking
Answer
  • companion (the others describe scenery)

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Reading comprehension true or false

  1. The Barbie Dreamhouse stay is for a week.
  2. The villa is full of Barbie toys.
  3. The Airbnb marketing is presented by a fictional character.
  4. The villa is on the hills of Malibu.
  5. Barbie’s bedroom has animal skin rugs.
  6. Guests can have fun with everything in the villa.
  7. There is an elevator to the first floor.
  8. Ken was busy surfing and forgot to advertise the price.
  9. Airbnb are giving some money to a related cause.
  10. Save the Children gives help to families.
Answers
  • 1. False, 2. False, 3. True, 4. True, 5. False, 6. True, 7. False, 8. False, 9. True, 10. True

Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms match-up

Match the words on the left to their endings to make phrases from the text.

  1. shell-
  2. figure
  3. mark the
  4. live-
  5. handing
  6. overlooks
  7. three-
  8. courtesy
  9. breathtaking
  10. overnight
  1. release
  2. surroundings
  3. of
  4. pink
  5. stays
  6. over
  7. the beach
  8. storey
  9. action
  10. out
Answers
  • 1D, 2J, 3A, 4I, 5F, 6G, 7H, 8C, 9B, 10E

Match the words on the left from the text to their synonyms.

  1. picturesque
  2. outfit
  3. iconic
  4. donation
  5. resort
  1. famous
  2. destination
  3. beautiful
  4. clothing
  5. gift
Answers
  • 1C, 2D, 3A, 4E, 5B

Match the words on the left from the text to their antonyms.

  1. impressive
  2. figure out
  3. confidence
  1. unexciting
  2. doubt
  3. misunderstand
Answers
  • 1A, 2C, 3B

interactive  |  top

Grammar gap-fill cloze: transitive phrasal verbs

Change the verbs into their correct forms before putting them in the correct spaces.

  1. try on
  2. check out
  3. put up
  4. figure out
  5. build up
  1. hand over
  2. give away
  3. set up
  4. pick up
  5. take in

To mark the release of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are 1._______________ overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa overlooks the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation 2._______________ like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s companion Ken who is 3._______________ the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.

The picturesque property is a three-storey hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also 4._______________ the closets and 5._______________ Ken’s outfits and 6._______________ some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can 7._______________ the breathtaking surroundings.

Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t 8._______________ the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a promotion for the movie they will be 9._______________ a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and resources to families and communities all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping 10._______________ girls’ confidence in school.

Answers
  1. 1G giving away, 2H set up, 3F handing over, 4B check out, 5A try on, 6I pick up, 7J take in, 8D figure out, 9C putting up, 10E build up

Vocabulary multiple-choice cloze

To mark the 1._______________ of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa 2._______________ the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s 3._______________ Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to 4._______________ guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.

The picturesque property is a three- 5._______________ hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the 6._______________ and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can take in the 7._______________ surroundings.

Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a 8._______________ for the movie they will be putting up a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and 9._______________ to families and 10._______________ all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’ confidence in school.

1.
A. reveal
B. day
C. release
D. date
2.
A. overlooks
B. sits
C. stands
D. oversights
3.
A. confident
B. competitor
C. condition
D. companion
4.
A. highest
B. cost
C. host
D. coast
5.
A. starry
B. storey
C. stored
D. starred
6.
A. closets
B. wallets
C. cracks
D. pillows
7.
A. breathing
B. breathtaking
C. breezy
D. windy
8.
A. promotion
B. prime
C. genre
D. generation
9.
A. sources
B. rescuers
C. resources
D. raises
10.
A. parties
B. guests
C. hosts
D. communities
Answers
  1. 1C, 2A, 3D, 4C, 5B, 6A, 7B, 8A, 9C, 10D

Writing cloze

Spell the missing words correctly.

  1. a e r l e s e
  2. r o l v s k o e o
  3. o n c i c i
  4. n c o i o a n m p
  5. h t s o
  1. y t r o s e
  2. o c h i s n s u
  3. c l s o s t e
  4. u s t e s n
  5. e n a g h t a k t r b i
  1. m n o p o t r o i
  2. t i n o a o d n
  3. s u r c e s r o e
  4. i m c s m i t e n u o
  5. f e i c d n o e n c

To mark the 1._______________ of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa 2._______________ the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the 3._______________ pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s 4._______________ Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to 5._______________ guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.

The picturesque property is a three- 6._______________ hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather 7._______________, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the 8._______________ and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at 9._______________ guests can take in the 10._______________ surroundings.

Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a 11._______________ for the movie they will be putting up a 12._______________ to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and 13._______________ to families and 14._______________ all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’ 15._______________ in school.

Answers
  • 1. release, 2. overlooks, 3. iconic, 4. companion, 5. host, 6. storey, 7. cushions, 8. closets, 9. sunset, 10. breathtaking, 11. promotion, 12. donation, 13. resources, 14. communities, 15. confidence

Fill-in last letters

T_ mar_ th_ releas_ o_ th_ liv_-actio_ movi_ Barbie, Airbnb ar_ givin_ awa_ overnigh_ stay_ i_ _ rea_-lif_ Barbie Dreamhouse. Th_ vill_ overlook_ th_ beac_ i_ Malibu, California an_ i_ a_ impressiv_ recreatio_ se_ u_ lik_ th_ iconi_ pin_ to_. Althoug_ th_ resor_ i_ courtes_ o_ Airbnb, i_ i_ actuall_ Barbie’s companio_ Ken wh_ i_ handin_ ove_ th_ key_. I_ th_ Airbnb pres_ releas_, Ken say_, “_ can’_ wai_ t_ hos_ guest_ insid_ thes_ on_-o_-_-kin_ — dar_ _ sa_, on_-o_-_-Ken? — dig_”.

Th_ picturesqu_ propert_ i_ _ thre_-store_ hillsid_ vill_. I_ feature_ Ken’s bedroo_ wit_ it_ shel_-pin_ be_, leathe_ cushion_, an_ anima_ ski_ rug_. Th_ luck_ guest_ ca_ als_ chec_ ou_ th_ closet_ an_ tr_ o_ Ken’_ outfit_ an_ pic_ u_ som_ memorabili_ t_ tak_ hom_. Ther_ i_ _ firs_-floo_ balcon_ slid_ tha_ goe_ t_ th_ poo_ outsid_, wher_ a_ sunse_ guest_ ca_ tak_ i_ th_ breathtakin_ surrounding_.

Airbnb sai_ Ken i_ no_ muc_ o_ _ mathematicia_ an_ h_ couldn’_ figur_ ou_ th_ pric_ an_ s_ al_ stay_ wil_ b_ fre_, “afte_ al_, Ken’_ thin_ i_ beac_, no_ mat_”. Howeve_, a_ _ promotio_ fo_ th_ movi_ the_ wil_ b_ puttin_ u_ _ donatio_ t_ th_ charit_ Save the Children. Th_ charit_ give_ suppor_ an_ resource_ t_ familie_ an_ communitie_ al_ ove_ th_ worl_. Airbnb sai_ th_ mone_ wil_ g_ toward_ helpin_ buil_ u_ girl_’ confidenc_ i_ schoo_.

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Cool-down discussion, keywords, and game

Discussion questions:

  • Is it more special to see a movie on its opening night?
  • What is the best room in a house for you?
  • Live-action or animation — which is best for movies based on characters such as Barbie or Mario?
  • What charities do you know and what do they do?
  • What types of holiday destinations are there and what ones do you like?

CEFR B2 10 lesson keywords:

(a = adjective / n = noun / v = verb)

  • breathtaking (a)
  • closet (a/n/v)
  • community (n)
  • companion (n)
  • host (n/v)
  • overlook (n/v)
  • promotion (n)
  • resource (n/v)
  • release (n/v)
  • storey (n)

Beginning with each letter below, think of a word to do with parts of a house.

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

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Interactive exercises

Reading comprehension interactive true or false

Choose the correct options from the pairs

Airbnb handing over keys to Barbie Dreamhouse

To mark the release of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa overlooks the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s companion Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.

The picturesque property is a three-storey hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the closets and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can take in the breathtaking surroundings.

Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a promotion for the movie they will be putting up a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and resources to families and communities all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’ confidence in school.

1.
The Barbie Dreamhouse stay is for a week.
2.
The villa is full of Barbie toys.
3.
The Airbnb marketing is presented by a fictional character.
4.
The villa is on the hills of Malibu.
5.
Barbie’s bedroom has animal skin rugs.
6.
Guests can have fun with everything in the villa.
7.
There is an elevator to the first floor.
8.
Ken was busy surfing and forgot to advertise the price.
9.
Airbnb are giving some money to a related cause.
10.
Save the Children gives help to families.

reading worksheet  |  lesson  |  top

Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms interactive match-up

Select the correct matches from the dropdown menus

Phrases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Synonyms
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Antonyms
16.
17.
18.

lesson  |  top

Grammar gap-fill interactive cloze: transitive phrasal verbs

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

To mark the release of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are
1.
overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa overlooks the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation
2.
like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s companion Ken who is
3.
the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to host guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.
The picturesque property is a three-storey hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also
4.
the closets and
5.
Ken’s outfits and
6.
some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can
7.
the breathtaking surroundings.
Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t
8.
the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a promotion for the movie they will be
9.
a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and resources to families and communities all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping
10.
girls’ confidence in school.

grammar worksheet  |  lesson  |  top

Vocabulary multiple-choice interactive cloze

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

To mark the
1.
of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa
2.
the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the iconic pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s
3.
Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to
4.
guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.
The picturesque property is a three-
5.
hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather cushions, and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the
6.
and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at sunset guests can take in the
7.
surroundings.
Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a
8.
for the movie they will be putting up a donation to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and
9.
to families and
10.
all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’ confidence in school.

vocabulary worksheet  |  lesson  |  top

Interactive writing cloze

Type the words correctly in the boxes

To mark the
1.
of the live-action movie Barbie, Airbnb are giving away overnight stays in a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse. The villa
2.
the beach in Malibu, California and is an impressive recreation set up like the
3.
pink toy. Although the resort is courtesy of Airbnb, it is actually Barbie’s
4.
Ken who is handing over the keys. In the Airbnb press release, Ken says, “I can’t wait to
5.
guests inside these one-of-a-kind — dare I say, one-of-a-Ken? — digs”.
The picturesque property is a three-
6.
hillside villa. It features Ken’s bedroom with its shell-pink bed, leather
7.
,
and animal skin rugs. The lucky guests can also check out the
8.
and try on Ken’s outfits and pick up some memorabilia to take home. There is a first-floor balcony slide that goes to the pool outside, where at
9.
guests can take in the
10.
surroundings.
Airbnb said Ken is not much of a mathematician and he couldn’t figure out the price and so all stays will be free, “after all, Ken’s thing is beach, not math”. However, as a
11.
for the movie they will be putting up a
12.
to the charity Save the Children. The charity gives support and
13.
to families and
14.
all over the world. Airbnb said the money will go towards helping build up girls’
15.
in school.

writing worksheet  |  lesson  |  top

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