Learn basic facts about Alberta’s Indigenous peoples and the early explorers
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THIS WEEK’S FEATURED POST
Week of Feb. 2/26
This simplified version of information in Canada’s citizenship guide focuses on several of the first Europeans to explore Canada.
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Lesson plan overview
| Task | To learn and understand some key facts about Alberta’s early history. |
| CLB level | CLB Stage I (CLB 3-4) |
| 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 closing reflection questions. (Encourage students to respond in full sentences.) |
| Cultural focus | Understand some basic facts about Alberta’s history. |
| Specific task learning objectives | Students learn basic facts about Indigenous peoples and early European settlement in Alberta. Students understand a basic timeline of some events in Alberta’s history. Students learn some facts about the history of the fur trade, using Fort Edmonton as an example. Students will discuss their current knowledge of Alberta history and historic sites. |
| ESL Directions original video (🎥) and audio (🔊) activities? | This lesson 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 are going to learn some facts about Alberta’s early history.
- What is history?
- What do you already know about Alberta history?
Skill-building activities
- Vocabulary flashcards* 🔊
- Let’s listen to the vocabulary again* 🔊 (Ask students to pay attention to the pronunciation and meaning of the words. You can also ask the students to share the meanings verbally.)
- Alberta history timeline*
- Head-Smashed-In hotspot image* (With clickable links to buffalo hunting, the Head-Smashed-In World Heritage website, and information on tipi building.)
- Fort Edmonton hotspot image* (With clickable links to information on the fur trade, Fort Edmonton, and York boats.)
Skill-using tasks
Assessment/review tasks
FEATURED CONTENT
Reflection questions
- Did you learn anything new about Alberta’s history today?
- Have you been to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump?
- Have you been to Fort Edmonton?
- Have you been to any other historic sites in Alberta?
- Are there historic sites you would like to visit?
RELATED PAGES
Alberta regions
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Alberta wildlife
The lesson plan introduces students to some wild animals found in Alberta. Aimed at CLB Stage I (1-3) learners, the lesson’s…
Keep readingALBERTA YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Click on the small right arrow at the top right of this video to see the Alberta YouTube playlist or visit the Alberta 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 an ESL teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, I specialize in teaching online classes of beginner ESL students.
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