Historica Canada Education Portal

This lesson is based on viewing the Joseph Scriven biography from The Canadians series. Discover the tragic and fascinating story of Scriven, who wrote What a Friend We have in Jesus, which remains one of the most popular Christian hymns.

Studying the life of Joseph Scriven provides students with a starting place to research the larger topics of religious conflict, religious charity, evangelicals, and immigration in the nineteenth century.

Joseph Scriven lived a...

This lesson is based on viewing the W.A.C. Bennett biography from The Canadians series. William Andrew Cecil Bennett was the premier of B.C. for twenty consecutive years in the second half of the twentieth century. He ran the province with a mix of socialist, capitalist, and populist tactics; and his political dynasty transformed the economic, social, and cultural face of B.C.

By writing opinion pieces and engaging in discussion and debate, students will assess the leadership of...

An introduction to working with primary evidence including photos, graphs, and text from the time period. Most of the presentation is visual, with a minimum of text. Students work in small groups with each group assigned a different topic.

Depending on time available, the topics could be rotated if the content was important. But if it is used for teaching historical method only, then one activity should be adequate.

This particular lesson is the introduction, including a "practice...

This lesson is based on viewing the Sam Hughes biography from The Canadians series. Hughes was the controversial Minister of Militia during the First World War. There is still debate over whether Hughes was a visionary or an unstable bigot.

Students will develop critical thinking skills by examining the life and actions of Sir Sam Hughes, as well as the reactions to his opinions and policies. With individual or group activities, students are encouraged to draw conclusions and...

A mind map is a visual note. It can also be an illustrated expression of a student's understanding of a concept or event and the inter-relationship of information to that concept or event. Mind maps are similar to concept maps, word webbing, and bubble writing. All of these tend to share similar processes, such as brainstorming, conceptualizing, illustrating, and making connections or relationships.

Mind maps can be done in groups or by individuals. They are visual organizers...

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.

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

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

This lesson is based on viewing the Northern Dancer biography from The Canadiansseries. In 1964, Northern Dancer was the first Canadian horse to win the Kentucky Derby. This famous Canadian racehorse also became the first non-human to be inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

In a variety of writing, role-playing and creative activities, students will explore the importance of Northern Dancer's accomplishments to Canadian history and identity.

E.P. Taylor...

After the students have done some background reading on the Dieppe Raid, take the class to a beach to have a full discussion of the event and to participate in readings of soldiers' diaries.

Introduce "The Raid on Dieppe" as it is traditionally presented using textbooks. Have students note descriptors use such as "fiasco" and "carnage." Have students read more recent representations of the raid that can be found at the Department of Veterans Affairs website and the Juno...

This lesson is based on viewing historical photographs from the TimeLinks Image Archive. This website has a collection of over 2,000 images from Manitoba’s history. TimeLinks is concerned mainly with the decade from 1910 to 1920.

Students will learn how to interpret historical photographs. This will include identification of objects, persons and events. Students will consider the time, the place, and the purpose behind the photographs.

Time Allowance: 75 minutes

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This lesson is based on viewing the Mona Parsons biography from The Canadians series. Although her story isn’t well known, Mona Parsons led a fascinating life. This Nova Scotia-born woman became part of a resistance unit in Nazi occupied Holland. She was imprisoned for her actions, but she managed to escape and make her way to safety by posing as a German.

Students will learn about:

- The life of Mona Parsons
- Nazi occupation of Holland during WWII
- Women in the war years
- The...

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.

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...

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.

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

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

The focus of the project is for students to create a postcard from the past. The aim for students will involve three steps.
• First to interview a grandparent or great grandparent about a memory. This memory may express what life was like for them as a child or perhaps a wartime memory.
• Second will be to obtain a photograph of the grandparent or great grandparent that will be used on the postcard. This may be achieved using a photograph, scanned photograph or drawing.
• Third will be...

This lesson will familiarize students with the controversy that followed Canadian troops in the early years of the First World War as they prepared for war in the trenches. Specifically, students will learn of the disputes and arguments that occurred around the suitability of the Ross Rifle for service on the battlefields of the First World War. Problems with the Ross Rifle led to the eventual withdrawal of the rifle in July of 1916 on the orders of the British Commander, Sir Douglas...

This lesson is based on viewing the Northrop Frye biography from The Canadians series. It explores the life and writings of Frye, who was one of Canada's greatest thinkers. He struggled with questions about Canadian identity and the nature of Canada with depth and humour. His ideas and passion have influenced many of today's writers and thinkers.

These activities challenge students to explore the issues and ideas that Frye wrote about and taught. Students will explore these...