The Hockey Sweater: A Social Studies Lesson About Canadian Culture (Upper Elementary)
As a professor at the University of Alberta, I taught curriculum and instruction in social studies to aspiring teachers. When I think about teaching children about Canadian culture, I often return to one story: The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier. It’s not just about hockey, or even about the Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry—though it’s certainly got that—but about childhood, pride, and community. It’s a story that gets kids laughing, thinking, and maybe even squirming a little in their seats, because who hasn’t felt a little embarrassed or out of place?
The story itself is simple: a boy wants a Montreal Canadiens sweater. He gets one, all set to wear it proudly—except his mom orders the wrong one. The Toronto Maple Leafs sweater arrives instead. Cue horror. Cue small-town judgment. Cue reflection on what it means to belong. For teachers, it’s a goldmine. Kids love the drama, but underneath there’s a whole conversation about culture, identity, and tradition.
If you want to share it with students, there’s a beautiful animated version on YouTube. It’s just the right length for upper-elementary attention spans and helps bring the story to life:
Here’s the YouTube link: Watch The Hockey Sweater – Animated Short
Grade 5 Lesson Idea: Hockey, Community, and Canadian Culture
Goal:
Use the story to spark conversations about how community, tradition, and identity shape the way we see ourselves—and how others see us.
Materials:
YouTube animated version of the story
Paper, pencils, crayons or markers
Optional: pictures of old Canadiens and Maple Leafs sweaters
Plan:
1. Watch & Talk (20 min)
Start by asking: “Have you ever wanted something badly and ended up with something else?”
Show the animated short. Pause at funny or tense moments. Ask: What’s the boy feeling here? Why is the sweater so important to him?
2. Discussion (15 min)
How do sports teams connect to communities?
Why does it matter to be part of a group—or team—like the town’s Canadiens fans?
Can you think of a local tradition, team, or event that everyone rallies around?
3. Writing (15 min)
Prompt: “Design your own hockey sweater. What does it say about you? Your values? Your community?”
Students write a short story or paragraph about wearing it, what happens, and what others observe.
4. Creative Twist (20 min)
Students actually draw their sweaters. Colours, symbols, logos—anything that matters to them.
Optional: Post them on a classroom wall and talk about what each one says about its designer.
Why It Works for Upper Elementary
Kids get the humour, they get the tension, and they get thinking. It’s a story about Canada, yes, but more importantly, it’s a story about people, choices, and pride in who you are. And when you let them create their own sweaters and stories, you get a classroom full of voices and perspectives all celebrating culture in their own way.