Is the Biggest City Always the Capital? From the USA to the Commonwealth

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Is the biggest city always the capital?

How this version works

Same sessions and same goals as the class.
One step at a time.
Short texts with a Listen button.
Key words in yellow.
Answers are hidden: click to check.

Your road map

Session 1: Water First, Cities Next

Goal: Understand why cities grew near water.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

What is the capital of the USA?

Is Sydney the capital of Australia?

Look at the engraving

Step 1

Look at the engraving at the top of the page.

Step 2

Read the first line under it.

Step 3

Answer: where is the scene?

Where is the scene?

The engraving was published in 1870. The Capitol is where the United States Congress meets.

Read: water first, cities next

Step 1

Listen to the text. Then read it.

Two hundred years ago, there were very few roads.
People used to travel by boat.
So the first big cities grew near water: the sea, a river, a lake.
In 1825, a canal linked New York to the Great Lakes. New York grew very fast.
Capitals were often chosen in the centre of the state.

Step 2

Answer the question.

Why did the first cities grow near water?

Map search

Map of the 50 states of the USA with their capitals — **The states and their capitals.** Open the large version.Map: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Atlas of the United States (2003) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Step 1

Find California on the map.

Step 2

Find its capital. It is in bold.

Step 3

Say the sentence.

Sentence starters

The capital of California is…
It is not far from…
It is on the banks of…

Answer key

The capital of California is Sacramento. It is on the banks of the Sacramento River, not far from San Francisco.

Homework

Learn 5 words: road, boat, harbour, capital, centre. Write 3 sentences: “… is not far from …”.

Oral option: say your 3 sentences to a classmate or record them (1 minute).

Session 2: The Capital Trap

Goal: Compare a big city and a capital.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

What did people use to travel by?

Where were capitals often chosen?

Story: Inès and the map

Step 1

Listen to the story.

Inès is in Austin, in Texas.
She thinks the capital of Texas is Houston.
But the capital is Austin.
Houston is bigger: it has a port, oil and business.
Austin was chosen in 1839 because it is in the centre.

Step 2

Answer.

What is the capital of Texas?

Grammar: compare

Step 1

Read the rule.

Rule	Example
twice as big as	Houston is more than twice as big as Austin.
much smaller than	Albany is much smaller than New York City.

Step 2

Complete with the word bank.

twicemuchas

Houston is more than ______ as big as Austin.
Sacramento is ______ smaller than Los Angeles.
Albany is not as big ______ New York City.

Answer key

twice
much
as

Pronunciation: -ate

Step 1

Listen and repeat.

/eɪt/ verbs	/ɪt/ nouns
to relocate, to debate	the Senate, a candidate

Homework

Write 2 sentences to compare two French cities. Use “much bigger than” and “twice as big as”.

Oral option: say your 2 sentences (30 seconds).

Session 3: A Capital Built for a Deal

Goal: Explain why Washington, D.C. was built.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

What is the capital of Texas?

Complete: Houston is twice ___ big as Austin.

Read: Washington, D.C.

Step 1

Listen. Then read the 5 facts.

After independence, the USA had no permanent capital.
In 1790, the North and the South made a deal.
The capital was built in the South, on the Potomac River.
It was named after George Washington.
Congress met there for the first time in 1800.

Step 2

Answer.

Why was the capital built on the Potomac?

The Juneau mystery

Juneau, a small city at the foot of a green mountain, seen from the water — **Juneau, the capital of Alaska, August 2009.**Photo: Wknight94 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Step 1

Look at the photo.

Step 2

Say what is behind the city.

Sentence starters

Behind the city, there is a…
In front of the city, there is…

Fact: you cannot drive to Juneau. You go by plane or by boat.

Answer key

Behind the city, there is a mountain. In front of it, there is water.

Grammar: the passive

Step 1

Read the rule: be + past participle.

The city was built. It was named after Washington.

Step 2

Choose.

The capital ___ on the Potomac.

The site ___ in 1791.

Homework

Write 3 sentences about Washington, D.C. Use “was built”, “was named”, “was chosen”.

Oral option: say the 3 sentences (1 minute).

Session 4: Capitals by Compromise

Goal: Explain one Commonwealth capital to others.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

Why was Washington, D.C. built on the Potomac?

How can you go to Juneau?

Jigsaw: how it works

Step 1

Read ONE country card with your group.

Step 2

Keep 5 key words on a card.

Step 3

Explain your country to your new group in 1 minute.

Sentence starters

In my country, the capital is…
The biggest city is…
It was chosen in… because…

Canada: Ottawa

Parliament Hill in Ottawa: Gothic buildings with green roofs and towers on a wooded cliff above a wide river — **Parliament Hill, Ottawa, seen from the Ottawa River, 2012.** On the left, the Centre Block and the Peace Tower; in the middle, the round Library of Parliament.Photo: Hudation · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Before 1857, Canada had no permanent capital.
Toronto, Kingston, Montreal and Quebec City all wanted it.
On 31 December 1857, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa.
Ottawa was between the English-speaking part and the French-speaking part.
Today Toronto is the biggest city. Ottawa is the capital.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
Ottawa	Toronto	31 December 1857	A compromise between English-speaking and French-speaking Canada, far from the US border

Australia: Canberra

Aerial view of Parliament House in Canberra, a long low building in a green landscape, with hills behind — **Parliament House, Canberra, seen from above, 2005.** This building opened in 1988. The first Parliament building in Canberra opened in 1927.Photo: Malcolm Tredinnick · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In 1901, Australia became one country.
Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital.
The answer: a new city between them, Canberra.
Until 1927, Parliament met in Melbourne.
Parliament met in Canberra for the first time on 9 May 1927.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
Canberra	Sydney	Chosen in 1908, Parliament there from 9 May 1927	A compromise between Sydney and Melbourne

New Zealand: Wellington

The Beehive in Wellington, a round modern building, next to Parliament House, a white stone building with columns — **The Beehive and Parliament House, Wellington, 2024.** The round building is the Beehive, where the government works.Photo: Daderot · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

From 1841, the capital was Auckland, in the north.
The trip from the South Island was long, by sea.
In 1864, three Australians chose a new capital: Wellington.
Wellington is in the centre. It has a very good harbour.
Today Auckland is the biggest city. Wellington is the capital.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
Wellington	Auckland	1864 (choice), 1865 (move)	A central position between the two islands and an excellent harbour

South Africa: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein

The Union Buildings in Pretoria: a long building in light stone with two towers, under a blue sky — **The Union Buildings, Pretoria, 2024.** Designed by Herbert Baker and completed in 1913.Photo: Ruby D-Brown · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In 1910, four colonies became one country: South Africa.
They chose three capitals.
Pretoria: the President and the government.
Cape Town: Parliament. Bloemfontein: a high court.
The biggest city is Johannesburg, the city of gold.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein	Johannesburg	1910	A compromise: each region got part of the power

India: New Delhi

Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, a huge palace in red and cream stone with a dome, at the end of a wide avenue — **Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 2008.** Built as the Viceroy’s House and completed in 1929, it is now the home of the President of India.Photo: Scott Dexter · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Before 1911, the capital of British India was Calcutta (Kolkata).
In 1911, King George V moved the capital to Delhi.
British architects built a new city: New Delhi.
In 1947, India became independent. New Delhi stayed the capital.
Mumbai is the financial capital.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
New Delhi	Mumbai	Announced on 12 December 1911, inaugurated in 1931	Delhi was the historic seat of earlier empires; the British wanted a new imperial capital

Nigeria: Abuja

The National Assembly in Abuja, a white building with a large green dome, palm trees in front — **The National Assembly, Abuja, 2018.** Nigeria’s Parliament sits under the green dome.Photo: Kabusa16 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In 1960, Nigeria became independent. The capital was Lagos.
Lagos is on the coast. It was very crowded.
In 1976, the government decided to build a new city in the centre: Abuja.
The government moved to Abuja on 12 December 1991.
Today Lagos is still the biggest city.

Capital	Biggest city	When?	Why?
Abuja	Lagos	Decided in 1976, government moved on 12 December 1991	A central, neutral place, easy to reach from every region

Home group grid

Step 1

Listen to each expert.

Step 2

Write the capital and the biggest city.

Country	Capital	Biggest city
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
India
Nigeria

Answer key

Country	Capital	Biggest city
Canada	Ottawa	Toronto
Australia	Canberra	Sydney
New Zealand	Wellington	Auckland
South Africa	Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein	Johannesburg
India	New Delhi	Mumbai
Nigeria	Abuja	Lagos

Homework

Finish the grid. Learn the 6 capitals.

Oral option: record a 1-minute audio about your expert country.

Session 5: One Commonwealth, Many Capitals

Goal: Understand what the Commonwealth is.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

What is the capital of Nigeria?

Who chose Wellington?

Read: the Commonwealth

Step 1

Listen. Then read the 5 facts.

The Commonwealth is a group of 56 independent countries.
It was born in 1949.
Most members used to be part of the British Empire.
King Charles III is the Head of the Commonwealth.
The USA became independent in 1776. It is not a member.

Step 2

True or false?

The USA is a member of the Commonwealth.

India is a member of the Commonwealth.

Permanence or break?

Step 1

Read the 2 words.

Word	Meaning
permanence	something from the past that we keep
break	a new start

Step 2

Choose for each capital.

New Delhi was built by the British. India kept it. It is…

Abuja was built after independence, to start again. It is…

Grammar: used to

Step 1

Read: used to + verb = before, not now.

Lagos used to be the capital. Now it is Abuja.

Step 2

Complete.

used to beused to meet

Auckland ______ the capital of New Zealand.
Parliament ______ in Melbourne.

Answer key

used to be
used to meet

Homework

Write 3 sentences with “used to” about the capitals.

Oral option: say your 3 sentences (1 minute).

Session 6: Debate

Goal: Give your opinion with an example.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

How many countries are in the Commonwealth?

Is the USA a member?

The question

Debate

Should a capital be the biggest city?

Step 1

Choose your team: for or against.

Step 2

Choose 2 arguments in the table.

Step 3

Say each argument with an example.

Arguments

For	Against
A big city already has airports, roads and hotels: it is easy for everybody to come.	A capital in the centre is fairer for all the regions: think of Abuja or Wellington.
Business, media and government in the same place save time and money.	A smaller capital keeps political power away from business power.
Building a new capital costs a fortune: Abuja was built from scratch over many years.	A new capital can avoid choosing between two rival cities, like Sydney and Melbourne.
Ambassadors and international organisations prefer a city that the world knows.	Moving government jobs out of a crowded city can reduce traffic and housing problems.

Useful language

I think that…, because…
For example, …
Moreover, …
I see your point, but…

Homework

Write your opinion in 4 sentences: I think… because… For example… But…

Oral option: give your opinion in 1 minute, at your desk or in a voice note.

Session 7: The Capital Trap Game

Goal: Play and prepare the final task.

Recap

Step 1

Click the right answer.

Give one argument for: the capital should be the biggest city.

Complete: I see your point, ___

The Capital Trap Game

Step 1

Choose a round.

Step 2

Read the question slowly.

Step 3

Click your answer.

Guess the capital

Step 1

Click “Next clue”.

Step 2

Guess the capital.

Prepare the final task

Step 1

Choose 2 capitals: one in the USA, one in the Commonwealth.

Step 2

Fill the plan with key words.

Part	My key words
Capital 1: when? why?
Capital 2: when? why?
My opinion

Homework

Prepare your final task with the plan.

Oral option: rehearse your presentation twice, with a timer.

Final Task

Same task as the class, with adapted support. Spelling mistakes are not counted when the word is recognisable.

Option A: oral (2 to 3 minutes)

Step 1

Use your plan with key words.

Step 2

Present 2 capitals: one in the USA, one in the Commonwealth.

Step 3

Say your opinion.

Sentence starters

Today I’m going to compare… and…
… was chosen in… because…
… is much bigger than…, but…
In my opinion,…

Option B: writing (120 to 150 words)

Step 1

Use the plan.

Step 2

Write 3 paragraphs: capital 1, capital 2, my opinion.

Step 3

Check: capital letters for names, past tense.

was chosenwas builtused to bemuch bigger thanbecausebutin my opinion

Assessment grid (adapted)

Criterion	A2+	B1	B1+
Content /8	2 to 4: one capital, a few facts	5 to 6: two capitals, when and why	7 to 8: two capitals, clear comparison and opinion
Language /6	1 to 2: simple words	3 to 4: words of the unit, a comparison	5 to 6: comparatives, passive, used to
Clarity /6	1 to 2: hard to follow	3 to 4: clear with help	5 to 6: clear, names well pronounced or well spelled

Extra time: one third more. The teacher can read the instructions aloud.

Professeur

Pour le professeur

Version adaptée de la séquence de seconde générale, pour les élèves dyslexiques, dyspraxiques ou ayant des difficultés d’attention. Mêmes séances, mêmes objectifs et même tâche finale que la classe : l’élève travaille avec la classe, sur la même question.

Police très lisible, interligne large, pas d’italique, une consigne par étape.
Textes réduits à cinq phrases clés, avec un bouton d’écoute (voix anglaise du navigateur).
Questions à choix avec correction immédiate, banques de mots, amorces de phrases.
Devoirs avec une option orale ; tâche finale de 120 à 150 mots à l’écrit, 2 à 3 minutes à l’oral, grille sur 20 adaptée.
Tiers-temps et lecture des consignes à voix haute si besoin. Les fautes d’orthographe ne sont pas comptées quand le mot est reconnaissable.

Start here

How this version works

Your road map

Session 1: Water First, Cities Next

Look at the engraving

Read: water first, cities next

Map search

Session 2: The Capital Trap

Story: Inès and the map

Grammar: compare

Pronunciation: -ate

Session 3: A Capital Built for a Deal

Read: Washington, D.C.

America Faceted

The Juneau mystery

Grammar: the passive

Session 4: Capitals by Compromise

Jigsaw: how it works

Canada: Ottawa

Australia: Canberra

New Zealand: Wellington

South Africa: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein

India: New Delhi

Nigeria: Abuja

Home group grid

Session 5: One Commonwealth, Many Capitals

Read: the Commonwealth

Permanence or break?

Grammar: used to

Session 6: Debate

The question

Arguments

Session 7: The Capital Trap Game

The Capital Trap Game

Guess the capital

Prepare the final task

Final Task

Option A: oral (2 to 3 minutes)

Option B: writing (120 to 150 words)

Assessment grid (adapted)

Professeur

Pour le professeur