Learn about Halloween’s origin and traditions
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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 about the origin of and current customs related to Halloween |
| 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 Halloween customs they will see celebrated in Canadian media, ads, and public spaces. |
| Specific task learning objectives | To familiarize students with Halloween vocabulary. To help students participate in the traditions of Halloween. To encourage them to talk about any similar holiday traditions in their home countries. |
| 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. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to learn about Halloween traditions.
- When is Halloween?
- What happens on Halloween?
- What are some words related to Halloween?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Let’s listen to the vocabulary again* (Ask students to pay attention to each word’s pronunciation and meaning.) 🔊
Skill-using tasks
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Assessment/review tasks
- Vocabulary quiz*
- Pair or no pair*
- Pair-matching game*
- Spin the wheel* (Ask students to answer each question in their own words.)
Reflection questions
- Does anyone here celebrate Halloween? What do you do to celebrate?
- Do your children go out “trick or treating”? If so, do you make or buy costumes for them?
- Do you decorate your home for Halloween? If so, what decorations do you have?
- Is there a similar festival for children in your country? What happens during this festival?
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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 a TESL Canada certified ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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