Learn about Canada’s three Northern Territories
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn about Canada’s three Northern Territories. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 2-4) |
| Delivery method | Online |
| Class size | 10-15 students (vary the number of activities according to your class size) |
| Estimated time | 2.5 to 3 hours. This class includes a lot of vocabulary. Depending on your schedule and class size, you may want to split this lesson plan over two classes. |
| 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 may only have experienced one part of Canada. Here they broaden their knowledge by learning about a region that may have a very different history and geography. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Beginning ESL students learn some basic facts about Canada’s history in the Discover Canada study guide. Students learn about some of the history, geography, and economy of Canada’s three Northern Territories. Students compare any similar regions in their first countries with this Canadian region. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson includes original 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 learn about Canada’s three Northern Territories.
- What is a territory?
- Does anyone know the difference between a province and a territory?
- What are the names of Canada’s three territories?
- What do you know about these territories?
Skill-building activities/Skill-using tasks
Part 1: The Northern Territories
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Let’s review the vocabulary and definitions* 🔊 (Pay attention to the order, pronunciation, and spelling of each word or phrase. Think about what the definitions mean.)
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Listen to and read a passage about Canada’s Northern Territories*🔊 (This activity also includes comprehension questions.)
- Multiple-choice questions*
- Gap fill*
Part 2: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Let’s review the vocabulary and definitions* 🔊 (Pay attention to the order, pronunciation, and spelling of each word or phrase. Think about what the definitions mean.)
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Listen to and read a passage about Canada’s three Northern Territories* 🔊 (This activity also includes comprehension questions.)
- Gap fill*
Assessment/review tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Canada’s Northern Territories* 🎥 (Listen to the full passage.)
- Group sort* (Decide where to place each content item.)
- Spin the vocabulary wheel:
- Vocabulary pair or no pair:
Reflection questions
- Tell us three new words you learned today.
- What can you tell us about Canada’s Northern Territories as a whole?
- What can you tell us about each territory?
- Has anyone visited any of the Northern Territories? What was your experience like?
- What is the coldest temperature you have experienced in Canada? What was that experience like? Do you have any advice for other students on how to keep warm during a Canadian winter?
- Do you have areas in your home countries that are similar to the Northern Territories (e.g., very far north, with few trees or tundra)? How are these areas the same as or different from the Canadian territories?
RELATED PAGES
Introducing Canadian citizenship
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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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