LESSON PLAN: 50 Years since Chuvalo vs Ali

TIME FRAME: 70 minutes

GRADE/LEVEL: Grade 10 Academic
LEARNING GOALS AND CODED EXPECTATIONS:
Learning Goals
Students will discuss in small groups
how the Chuvalo-Ali fight had an
impact on the relationship between
Canada and the United States.
Students will be able to identify how
the fight contributed to Canadian
politics and explain how the event
effected the way Canadians felt
about their country.

Curriculum Expectations
D2.5 describe some key
developments in Canadas
relationship with the United States
during this period
D3.1 describe contributions of
various individuals, groups, and/or
organizations to Canadian society
and politics during this period and
explain the significance of these
contributions for the development of
identity, citizenship, and/or heritage
in Canada

Intro 20 minutes
-

Play the following 15 minute video celebrating the 50 year anniversary

of the Chuvalo-Ali fight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJQYfk1gmfs

Student Discussion/Tutorial 35 minutes

-

Give the students the handout and review the quotes about the fight
with them
Break the students up into groups of 5-6 and give them one laptop/iPad
per group
Give them the following website to use as a guide in their discussion.
The website is a review of the fight and the political and social
implications of it
http://www.cbc.ca/sportslongform/entry/ali-vs-chuvalo-brutality-beautymingled-in-truly-epic-brawl
Put the following guiding questions on the board for the students to
discuss
Why was the fight between Chuvalo and Ali so significant to Canadian
history? Why could you define the fight as a Canadian success even

though Chuvalo lost? How did the 50 year celebration highlight the
most memorable aspects of the fight and what it meant for Canada?

STUDENT HANDOUT:
On that night, in Maple Leaf Gardens, George Chuvalo went toe to toe with
Muhammad Ali, in a contest that was so controversial, so loaded with
meaning, so endlessly punishing, that Canadians have needed this full 50
years to get an honest appreciation of what exactly happened during those
15 rounds.

For the rest of his career, Ali said George Chuvalo was the toughest guy I
ever fought. (CBC Sports/NFB)

Why was the fight between Chuvalo and Ali so significant to Canadian
history? Why could you define the fight as a Canadian success even
though Chuvalo lost? How did the 50 year celebration highlight the
most memorable aspects of the fight and what it meant for Canada?