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Historica Canada

Aboriginal Peoples: The War of 1812

The 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 presents an opportunity for Canadians to turn their attention to this significant time in the country’s history. The War of 1812 had a major impact on the future of British North America and, in particular, on the continent’s Aboriginal peoples, many of whom played an important role in protecting the Canadas (Upper and Lower Canada; now Ontario, Québec and Labrador) from American invasion.
Aboriginal Guide Cover - EN.jpg 267.45 KB
Elementary – Primary
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Gabriel Kreiner

ACCENT on Heritage

http://accent-patrimoine.ca/en/home/(Link redirects you, so open it in a new tab to keep the Education Portal open.)

An interactive bilingual platform centered on cultural and historical aspects of Alberta’s Francophone heritage.
ACCENT on Heritage banière.PNG 1.21 MB
Elementary – Junior

Build a Bank Note

In this lesson, students will:
• learn all about the design of Canadian bank notes, using the Canada 150 bank note—aspecial $10 note issued to celebrate 150 years of Confederation—as a guide;
• brainstorm which symbols they think should represent Canada;
• design their own bank note to illustrate what they feel best represents Canada at 150 yearssince Confederation;
• compare their design with the Canada 150 bank note and think critically about the ways ourcountry can be represented.

Designing Heritage Artwork


Overview


A lesson plan that gives students a chance to celebrate their heritage and have fun at the same time.

Aims


  • to explore and define the meaning of heritage
  • to examine how postage stamps or tattoos create and deliver their messages visually
  • to have students design their own heritage stamp, tattoo or other piece of art

Activities


Time Allowance:
45 minutes - 1 hour

Procedures:

Defining heritage: Have students watch some of the Historica Canada Heritage Minutes. What information is each of...
Social History

Stewart James


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Stewart James biography from The Canadians series. This Ontario born trickster made a name for himself around the world as the greatest inventor of magical tricks and puzzles that ever lived. His name lives on in magical circles years after his death and is spoken of with the greatest possible respect.

Aims


In a variety of activities, students will study the life of Stewart James and his world of magic. Students will also look at the strange genius...
Social History

One Country, Multiple Regions


Overview


This lesson offers students an opportunity to explore Canada's regional treasures and heritage. They will compare their own life in their own community and province to life in another province. This activity could also serve to offer opportunties for art and geography lessons.

Aims


This project is designed as a vehicle that will be applicable to any grade level or expectation within the Social Studies Curricula.

Students will develop the following skills:
• Research
• Presentation
•...

The Fur Trade Cafe


Overview


Your group has been transported back though time to the period of the Fur Trade in Canada (prior to Confederation). Your goal will be to create and perform a dramatic presentation to share your perspective of the social and economic impact of the fur trade through the eyes of your assigned role-playing characters. Your dramatic presentation will be the only way your classmates will develop a true understanding of the impact of the fur trade on your group.

Note: this assignment is...

Tom Thomson


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Tom Thomson biography from The Canadians series. Thomson is famous for his paintings of the Canadian landscape and his association with members of what became known as The Group of Seven painters.

Aims


In a series of brainstorming and writing activites, students will learn about Tom Thomson, The Group of Seven, and Canadian art.

Background


From amateur artist to national icon, Tom Thomson sprang into Canada’s collective memory in only a few short...

To Walk a Mile in Your Shoes


Overview


The aim of this lesson plan is to develop the concept of citizenship and immigration by requiring students to explore, reflect, and empathize with the situations and feelings that new immigrants experience. Students will be required to produce a short dramatization to demonstrate this. Students will explore what it would feel like to be an immigrant coming into Canada. They will explore different real life situations and empathize with the frustrations, excitement, and realities of...

Sam Steele


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Sam Steele biography from The Canadiansseries. Sam Steele, knighted by the King of England, was a courageous, determined man who helped "tame" Western Canada as one of the most important leaders of the North West Mounted Police.

Aims


Steele was directly involved in several pivotal events in Canadian history – everything from dealing with Louis Riel, Sitting Bull, and the miners in the Klondike Gold Rush to his involvement in the Boer War. The...

If These Walls Could Talk: History as a lens to the past


Overview

During this unit of study, students will explore the individuals who made significant contributions to our history and the Canadian identity. This project could also be completed using provincial histories and identities.

The students will research Indigenous peoples and past explorers using multi-media (online resources and informational texts). They are expected to use this research to make a wall of a related structure, create a voice of the structure and present that to the class....

Cemetery Studies


Overview


The public has long been fascinated with cemeteries. This program will make use of this fascination to engage the students while they learn. Cemeteries can be primary sources of information for much more than just social studies. This program will make use of the information available in local cemeteries to meet aspects of the mathematics curriculum.

Aims


Students will collect primary data found on the headstones and organize the data. Students will make use of a variety of methods...

Creating Autonomous Historians


Overview


Based on the concept of Literature Circles, the lesson will introduce students to History Circles, where small groups investigate a historical topic by each completing an individual task, sharing their work with their group, and planning as a group how to present their topic to the class or wider audience.

Aims


To introduce students to different aspects of the study of history, and allow them to approach a topic from a wide variety of learning styles.

In the introductory lesson,...

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