Search Results | Historica Canada Education Portal

Intermediate – Middle School

Created by
Historica Canada

Think Like a Historian: The Halifax Explosion

The Think Like a Historian series of videos and resources is a curriculum-based learning tool to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources.Watch the videos, and download the education guide and worksheets to learn the five key steps to analyzing primary sources.

In this series, we look at letters and sketches from the Halifax Explosion of 1917.

Elementary – Primary

Created by
Historica Canada

Here's My Canada Timeline

In 2017, Canada turns 150! In marking Canada’s sesquicentennial, Historica Canada is highlighting 50 events that have helped shape our country since Confederation. At the same time, it is important to note that that the human history of what is now known as Canada began well before 1867. Indigenous peoples lived on this land long before European contact, and have histories that significantly predate modern Canada. We can look back upon many proud moments in our history, but must also examine...

Intermediate – Middle School

Created by
Historica Canada

The Canadian Encyclopedia Teacher Guide

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a free, bilingual resource of over 20,000 fact-checked articles and learning tools about Canada's history and culture. The Canadian Encyclopedia has hundreds of resources for teachers including timelines, quizzes and education guides covering provincial and territorial curriculum topics for social sciences & history, Indigenous studies, geography & sciences, civics and more. Visit thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.

Elementary – Primary

Created by
Historica Canada

Indigenous Arts & Stories Teacher's Kit

This learning tool is intended to help teachers support their students in the Indigenous Arts & Stories competition (formerly known as Aboriginal Arts & Stories). Using this guide, educators can assist Indigenous youth with the creative process of developing their art and writing. It offers suggestions for dealing with sensitive issues, for motivating Indigenous students, and for encouraging youth to reflect on culture, identity and expression.

Elementary – Junior

Created by
Aida Kane

Picnotes

https://www.picnotes.org

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

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...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

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...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Nell Shipman

Overview

This lesson is based on viewing the Nell Shipman biography from The Canadians series. Shipman was a silent screen legend who is credited with performing her own stunts, filming the first nude scene, and being a devoted animal rights activist.

Aims

Students will explore the life and accomplishments of Shipman, paying particular attention to her concern for animal rights.

Background

Filmmaking as we know it today began little more than a century ago with the birth of silent screen...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Ruby Keeler

Overview

This lesson is based on viewing the Ruby Keeler biography from The Canadians series. Keeler was an actor and performer who made her film debut in 42nd Street, which kicked off a string a musical hits in the 1930's starring Keeler.

Aims

In a variety of creative and role-playing exercises, students will examine Keeler's contributions to the art world, and reflect on the times in which she lived.

Background

Ruby Keeler was born on August 25, 1910 in Halifax, NS and immigrated with her...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Flashes in Time: Explorer Tableaux

Overview

Students will, after researching background information on early exploration of Canada (Cabot, Cartier, Champlain, Frobisher and Hudson), role play/create tableaux based on situations in which contact was made between the explorers and Indigenous people.

Aims

Main objectives of the project: Through role playing of historical situations (and creation of representative tableaux), students will demonstrate an understanding of how contact between people in Canada’s early history resulted...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

John McCrae

Overview

This lesson is based on viewing the John McCrae Heritage Minute, which shows Canadian Army surgeon John McCrae writing the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields."

Aims

Students will discuss the meaning, imagery, language and message of the poem, "In Flanders Fields."

Students will study the poem, "In Flanders Fields" and discuss its language, imagery, and message. They will compare this poem with other poems about the First World War, and discuss whether they contain realistic...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Winnie

Overview

This lesson is based on viewing the Heritage Minute, "Winnie," which recounts the true story of the Canadian soldier's bear that became the inspiration for writer A.A. Milne.

Aims

Students will discuss the cultural importance of meaningful symbols by looking at how animals are personified and anthropomorphized in literature and popular culture.

Secondary students can often learn a great deal about common literary themes and devices through exploring childrens' stories. These...

The Arts

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Stratford

Overview

This lesson is based on viewing the Historica Minute, "Stratford." In 1953, entrepreneur Tom Patterson and artistic director Tyrone Guthrie transformed Stratford, Ontario, from a small railroad town into the Canadian home of Shakespearean drama. The Stratford Festival attracted international recognition and served as the prototype for dozens of other Canadian festivals.

Aims

Students will understand the development of the Stratford Festival and its impact on the Arts in Canada by...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Remembrance Day: Integrated Arts Lesson Plan

Background

Start this activity by introducing your students to Canadian writer John McCrae with the Heritage Minute about his poem "In Flanders Field" and to the Unknown Soldier by reading "Waiting in Line" from Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul (text below).

"Waiting in Line"

As I approached the Peace Tower at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa I saw it: a line of orderly, polite, patient, Canadians - waiting. Without a word, I joined the line and many more followed. The young man in front...

Created by
Historica Canada Teacher Community

Canada's Other Ice Show

Overview

This lesson plan is based on viewing the Footprint videos for Barbara Ann Scott, the Jelineks, and Petra Burka. Artistry or athleticism? The one has been the doppelganger of the other throughout the history of figure skating. Can a sport that judges athletic performance as a creative expression be a sport at all?

Aims

To increase student consciousness of the history of Canadian success in figure skating; to increase student appreciation for the pioneers of figure skating in Canada;...

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