Learn about Edmonton’s numbered streets and avenues
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | Learn how Edmonton’s grid system of numbered streets and avenues works. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 1-3) |
| 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 how to say Edmonton addresses correctly. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the closing reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students may feel more at home in their new city by understanding how Edmonton’s system of streets and avenues works. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students understand the four parts of Edmonton addresses. Students learn how to say an Edmonton address. Students identify some Edmonton districts and landmarks. Students discuss how comfortable they feel finding their way around their new city. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson plan includes original 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 learn how to read and understand Edmonton addresses.
- What is an address?
- What is a map?
- What are the four directions on a map?
- What is a street? What are some examples of Edmonton streets?
- What is an avenue? What are some examples of Edmonton avenues?
Skill-building activities
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- Vocabulary flashcards* 🔊
- Let’s review the vocabulary* (Ask your students to pay attention to how to say the words and what they mean.) 🔊
- Let’s identify the four directions on a map of Edmonton* (Note: Edmonton works on a grid system in which streets go north-south, and avenues go east-west.)
- Identify some main Edmonton areas* (This will help us to understand where we are in Edmonton. The numbered streets and avenues are mostly in the older neighbourhoods in central Edmonton.)
Skill-using tasks
Here’s an example of a typical Edmonton address: 17812-70 Ave NW.
- What do all of the parts of this address mean?
- Where in Edmonton is this address (e.g., North Side, South Side, Downtown, Millwoods, or West End)?
- How do we say this address?
The activities below will help your students to find the answers to these questions.
- Parts of an Edmonton address* (Learn about the first three parts of an Edmonton address.)
- Let’s practice street and avenue addresses. (These activities are also a good chance to teach your students how to say an Edmonton address. For example, 1912-170 St. is “nineteen-twelve 170th Street”):
- Looking at a Google map of Edmonton* (Enlarge the map as needed in order to answer the questions.)
- What about the last part of your address?*
Assessment/review tasks
- Go to Google Maps:
- Search “Edmonton, AB.”
- Click on the “Street View” icon at the bottom right of the map.
- Zoom in on various addresses in central Edmonton.
- Ask students to tell you what each part of the address means.
- Ask them to guess where this is in the city. (e.g., North Side, South Side, West End, Downtown, or Millwoods). Remember that street numbers go up at you go north and that avenue numbers go up as you go west.
- Vocabulary quiz*
Reflection questions
- How easy is it for you to get around Edmonton?
- Is it easier to find your way now than when you first arrived here?
- Do you use paper maps or a GPS program?
- Edmonton is a very new city. How old is the place you come from?
- How do the streets work in your original city? Are they numbered, or do they use names? Is it easy to find your way around your original city?
- Are numbered streets and avenues new to you? Do you find them easy to use?
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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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