Learn the vocabulary needed to understand a weather forecast
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Week of Dec. 15/25
Teach your beginner ESL students about preparing for a traditional Canadian Christmas and encourage them to share their own cultural traditions.
The lesson includes interactive vocabulary activities, a short video, and reflection questions to…
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the basic vocabulary needed to understand a weather forecast. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 3-4) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 1.5-2 hours (depending on class size) |
| CLB Skills and Competencies | Speaking: Interacting with others Sharing information Listening: Interacting with others Comprehending information Reading: Comprehending information |
| Language focus | Learn the vocabulary needed to understand this topic. Learn the difference in meaning between the weather nouns and adjectives used in weather forecasts (the forecasts use both). Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students discuss the importance of weather forecasts in Canada, especially during times of extreme weather. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn basic vocabulary related to weather forecasts (both nouns and adjectives). Students can match weather types with symbols used in weather reports. Students understand a basic weather forecast. Students discuss where to find weather forecast information and what weather conditions might be hazardous in Canada. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson plan includes audio (🔊) activities. |
| Resource attribution | ESL Directions original resources are marked below with an asterisk (*). Feel free to use these, but please give credit to ESL Directions. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about weather forecasts.
- What is weather?
- What is a weather forecast?
- What are some words related to weather forecasts?
- Weather forecasts use both weather nouns and adjectives:
- What is a noun? Can you give me an example of a weather noun?
- What is an adjective? Can you give me an example of a weather adjective?
Skill-building activities
FEATURED CONTENT
- Weather nouns: Flashcards*
- Weather adjectives: Describe the weather fliptiles*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* (Think about how to say each word and what it means. This activity includes an optional grammar challenge.) 🔊
Skill-using tasks
- Sort weather words into nouns or adjectives*
- Put the nouns and adjectives into pairs*
- Match weather adjectives with its weather symbol*
- Mark the weather nouns and adjectives*
- Let’s listen to a weather forecast* (Listen to and read a weather forecast. Answer questions about each day’s forecast.) 🔊
Assessment/review tasks
- Nouns quiz*
- Adjectives quiz* (Use full sentences to describe the weather.)
- Match weather adjectives and symbols*
Reflection questions
- Where do you look at weather forecasts, e.g., Environment Canada, Weather Channel, radio, other?
- Why is it important to look at forecasts during winter? What weather can be dangerous in winter?
- Why is it important to look at forecasts during the summer? What weather can be dangerous in summer?
- Do you have a story about the weather in Canada?
RELATED PAGES
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Understanding weather forecasts
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Keep readingCANADA YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click the small arrow at the top right of this video to play the videos or go to the YouTube Canada Playlist.
CANADA WORDWALL ACTIVITIES
Wordwall is a very useful interactive lesson-creation site. If you sign up for a free Wordwall account, you will be able to see our “Canada” folder, which includes ESL Directions activities that you can add to your lessons.
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ESL teacher, movie buff, constant reader, and former editor and communications pro. Now a graduate of the Teaching English as a Second Language program at the University of Manitoba and a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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