I used this during my second week with my second years. They were very interested in HS in Canada, and thought it looked like a fun time. Couple kept asking me if I was sure I meant high school, not Uni.

Lesson 2 - High School in Canada: Similarities and Differences


* This lesson is specific for Ontario, so some things may vary across the country, and even across the province (i.e., whether or not you have middle school)

1. Warm-up/intro. - Hang-man with “Today’s Topic: _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _” (High School in Canada)

2. Discuss school system in Canada (brief overview of elementary and high school - have students differences in Korea)

3. Have students in groups of 2-3 to complete a Venn Diagram showing the similarities and differences between school in Canada and Korea (they should be able to write a couple things in each section... then continue to fill it out throughout the lesson)
- Prompt students as needed with possible examples: how many years is high school in Canada? Do we have middle school in Canada? Is schooling free in Canada?

4. Show 2 video clips from Degrassi that depict high school in Canada
- After each clip ask students what they noticed and write things on board and discuss as needed
- Second clip should prompt many differences - cars, co-ed, sports, parties/dances, multicultural
- Discuss any differences they may not have noticed
- Have students add to their Venn Diagram - for students not completing require 2-3 points for each blank

5. Course selection - discuss course possibilities in Canada
- Look at mandatory vs. optional
- note that you do not have one 'home room' group that you are always with
- Talk about when school ends each day, and what students might do after school
- Have students fill in course selections for grade 9-10

6. Play ‘Heads Up, Seven Up” (tell them it is a common game in Canadian classrooms)
- Choose 5-7 students to stand at the front and all other students put their heads down and close their eyes
- Standing students choose one person to touch on the head students lift their heads, and stand up if their heads were touched
- If students guess the right person who touched them they can sit, if they guess wrong they switch places with the person who touched them

Don't forget to mention that movies are never watched in Canadian schools due to copyright laws (being followed).

Also, what about middle school?

Movies are shown in schools in Canada... just typically not ones downloaded illegally. Most  schools have movie collections available. Bill Nye is still a fav.

Quote from: krissyboo75 on September 07, 2015, 03:25:17 PM

Also, what about middle school?

Not sure the question... but I am from Ontario, so I tell my students that every province is different. In most places in Ont there is not middle school. I of course generalized.

The question was basically why didn't you include it. But I'm pretty sure only Ontario and Quebec don't have middle/junior high school.

I used a lesson similar to this, but comparing and contrasting with high schools in the US. It was pretty fun, and the students seemed to enjoy it.