
Learn the basic vocabulary needed to describe winter weather
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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
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…
Keep readingLesson plan overview
| Task | To learn the basic vocabulary related to winter weather. |
| 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 importance of Canadian winter weather alerts and some ways to keep safe during extreme weather. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students will learn vocabulary related to extremely cold weather. Students will see these words used in full sentences in a role play activity. Students will learn some of the hazards associated with this weather. |
| 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. |
Lesson plan
Warm-up: Introducing the topic and defining our terms
- Today, we’re going to talk about winter weather.
- What is weather?
- What do you know about Canada’s winter weather?
- What are some words to describe extremely cold weather?
- What is Environment Canada? What does it do? What are some other weather sites in Canada?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards*
- Listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Pay attention to how to say the words and what they mean.)
- Definition match-up*
Skill-using tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
- Winter weather* 🎥 (A role play using this lesson’s vocabulary.)
- Role play and comprehension questions* 🔊 (Listen to and read the role play you watched on the video above. Answer the comprehension questions to ensure you understood the role play.)
- Fill in the blanks*
- Matching pairs*
- Find the match*
Assessment/review tasks
Reflection questions
- Is this your first winter in Canada? What do you think winter here will be like?
- Have you ever been outside in extremely cold weather in Canada?
- Were you prepared for this kind of weather (for example, in your clothing)?
- How are you keeping safe outdoors this winter?
- Any ideas on how to enjoy being outside in the winter?
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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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ABOUT ESL DIRECTIONS
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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