Historica Canada Education Portal

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...

This learning tool complements Historica Canada’s Richard Pierpoint Heritage Minute by exploring his life and the experiences and contributions of Black soldiers in the War of 1812.

Watch the Minute!

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.

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.

This lesson is based on viewing the Grant MacEwan biography from The Canadians series. MacEwan was a writer, historian, and politician. He wrote numerous books about agriculture and history, and he held several political positions including an appointment as the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta.

Studying the life of Grant MacEwan will provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety of topics. Students will learn about sustainable development, land use, goal setting, and...

This lesson is based on viewing the Bill Miner biography from The Canadians series. It explores the life and legend of this American train robber. Among his many heists, Miner robbed a CPR train and was sentenced to life in prison, although he managed to escape and eventually died in a Georgia jail at the age of 69.

Bill Miner's life spanned the late 1800s and the turn of the century. Students will use Miner's life as a way to explore the significant social, environmental,...

This lesson is based on viewing the Alfred C. Fuller biography from The Canadians series. Alfred Fuller (1885-1973) was a turn of the century entrepreneur. He was the eleventh of twelve children on a Nova Scotia farm and later became the founder of the internationally successful, multi-million dollar Fuller Brush Empire.

An examination of Fuller's life provides students with the opportunity to discuss what they think accounted for his success. Students can also be introduced to...

This lesson is based on viewing the Heritage Minute, "Halifax Explosion," which focuses on the heroic act of Vince Coleman, who died while alerting a passenger train about the explosion in Halifax harbour on December 6, 1917.

Using the example of Vince Coleman, students will discuss the definition of a hero. Do heroes have to be famous? What role do heroes play in society? Students will also imagine how Coleman's children might have felt about his actions, and how the people he...

This lesson plan is based around several Footprints videos: Normie Kwong, Russ Jackson, Ron Lancaster and Angelo Mosca. Watch the minutes with your students prior to conducting the activities.

The first Grey Cup game was played on a cold, blustery day in December 1909. The 1950 Grey Cup - The Mud Bowl - was such a mess that at one point a referee mistakenly thought a Winnipeg player was drowning in a puddle. Toronto's Exhibition Stadium was host to the 1962 Fog Bowl, a Grey Cup game...

This lesson plan is based on viewing the Footprint videos for the Edmonton Grads, Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays and the World Series Championships, and the 1976 Canada Cup Team. The Edmonton Grads' astonishing record ended when they disbanded at the beginning of the Second World War. The conflict between East and West was as cold on the ice as off during the 1976 Canada Cup. The Toronto Blue Jay victory at the World Series helped to subdue ever-present concerns of American...