Learn the name of each provincial capital city
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the names of the capital cities of the 10 Canadian provinces. |
| 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 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. Use the appropriate grammar structures and vocabulary to respond personally to the reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Students will understand the significance of Canadian capital cities (i.e., as seats of the provincial governments) and will learn some facts about the three levels of Canadian government. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn the names, location, and pronunciation of Canadian provincial capitals. Students learn about two large Canadian regions (Western Canada and Eastern Canada). Students understand how capital cities are part of the provincial level of Canadian government. Students can match capitals and provinces. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson plan includes video (🎥) and 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. |
Notes for ESL teachers and students:
This is a shortened and simplified version of some of the information in Canada’s citizenship study guide (intended to introduce this topic to beginner ESL students).
Students who are eligible to write the citizenship test should consult the Government of Canada’s full official guide, Discover Canada: The rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Please check Discover Canada for any content changes made since this webpage was created.
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about the capital cities of Canadian provinces.
- What is a province?
- What does government mean?
- What is a capital city?
- How is a capital city different from other cities?
- Can you name some Canadian capital cities?
Skill-building activities
Canada’s levels of government:
- Canada has three levels of government. The provincial governments meet in capital cities. Here are the three levels:
- What does each level of government do?* (Use this optional activity if you want your students to learn more about the different levels of government.)
Learn the names of the provincial capital cities:
- Western Canada (4 capital cities):
- Eastern Canada (6 capital cities):
Skill-using tasks
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Assessment/review tasks
Reflection questions
- How many capital cities can you name? Can you also tell us which provinces these cities are in?
- Tell us how capital cities are different from other cities.
- How many Canadian capital cities have you visited? Are there cities you would like to visit?
- Do you have a favourite Canadian city? Why is it your favourite?
- What does the federal government do?
- What do provincial governments do?
- What do city governments do?
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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 an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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