Skip to main content
Intermediate – Middle School
Historica Canada's profile picture Created by
Historica Canada

Citizenship Challenge - Lesson Plans and Worksheets

The Citizenship Challenge Lesson Plans and Worksheets are educational resources for teachers, group leaders and individuals to help them prepare for Historica Canada's Citizenship Challenge, a national contest that asks students to take a mock citizenship exam.

Teachers and group leaders, register to access the answer keys.

Note: Although the Lesson Plans and Worksheets refer to the Discover Canada guide, it is not necessary for educators to obtain or use the Discover Canada guide to complete...
Elementary – Primary
Historica Canada's profile picture 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
Historica Canada's profile picture Created by
Historica Canada

The Fenian Raids Education Guide

Historica Canada has created this Education Guide to mark the sesquicentennial of the Fenian Raids, and to help students explore this early chapter in Canada’s history. The Fenian Raids have not figured prominently in Canadian history, but they are often cited as an important factor in Confederation. Using the concepts created by Dr. Peter Seixas and the Historical Thinking Project, this Guide complements Canadian middle-school and high-school curricula. It invites students to deepen their...
Historica Canada's profile picture Created by
Historica Canada

"The Book of Negroes" and Black History Education Guide

The purpose of this Guide is to enhance your students' knowledge and appreciation of the Black Canadian experience, drawing from Lawrence Hill's award-winning historical fiction, The Book of Negroes, the remarkable journey of Aminata Diallo and the historic British document known as the "Book of Negroes." Structured around themes of journey, slavery, human rights, passage to Canada and contemporary culture, this Guide asks students to examine issues of identity, equality, community, and...
Elementary – Primary
Gabriel Kreiner's profile picture Created by
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

Letters from the Past


Overview


The student will write a fictitious letter as if they are a pioneer in the Canadian west in the early part of the twentieth century. The student is to include the changes and challenges homesteaders would face and the adjustments to their lifestyle these would cause. As well, the student also must include a drawing depicting their fictitious dwelling.

Background


This study focuses on the people who have contributed to Canada's history and development, beginning with the original...

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...
Immigration

Immigrating to Canada


Overview


An emigrated Canadian will share his/her experiences in a class room setting.

Aims


- Enable students to develop strategies re: listening to an oral story
- Enable students to develop strategies re: posing questions to a visitor
- Enable students to continue to further develop oral communication skills
- Enhance students' skills in being a host to an invited guest

Background


The student imagines that they are a youth living in Europe in the 1800s. They have just decided to emigrate to...

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...

Black History Brochure


Overview


This social studies project has strong language arts and art connections. Students will design and produce a brochure to promote some aspect of Black history in Canada. Each student will focus on a historical figure, community, event, or institution which has made an important contribution to Canadian history.

Aims


• Listening to and analyzing information from various sources/media
• Discussing information and ideas with understanding and sensitivity
• Taking notes and highlighting key...

An Immigrant's Letter Home


Overview


The student will create a document demonstrating empathy with the experiences of immigrants to Canada.

Activities


Time Allowance:
3 hours

Procedures:

Activity: An Immigrant’s Letter Home

Outcome

The student will create a document demonstrating empathy with the experiences of immigrants to Canada.

Content

Immigrants underwent a variety of experiences as they adjusted to life in a new land. Many would never return to their countries of origin, and their only contact with family was through...

Canada Bound


Overview


Nearly every Canadian can trace their family tree back to an ancestor who immigrated to Canada at some point. Somewhere back in time, most of us have a homeland from which our forefathers, fathers, or selves immigrated. For what reasons did they immigrate and what method did that immigration take?

How long ago the immigration took place may dictate the mode of travel. If the ancestors arrived many generations ago the method of travel was likely limited to boats. Later arrivals may...
Immigration

Soddie


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Heritage Minute, "Soddie," that focuses on the realities that immigrants in the 1880's faced when they arrived on the Canadian Prairie.

Aims


Students will explore the myths and realities of immigration in the 1880s. Students will create posters and speeches "selling" the idea of immigration, and will role-play the experiences that immigrants would have had once they arrived on the Canadian Prairie.

Students will compare Clifford Sifton's immigration...

Orphans


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Heritage Minute, "Orphans," that tells the story of the Québec families who adopted Irish orphans in the 1850's.

Aims


Students will learn more about the experiences and histories of immigrants in Canada by interviewing people in the community and classmates. They will also discuss ways to make immigrants feel welcome in their new homes.

Students will research the history of various immigrant groups in Canada, and discuss the relationship between...

Frontier College


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Heritage Minute, "Frontier College." Frontier College was Canada’s first organization to work towards equal education. Since the College's beginnings in Ontario in 1899, thousands of volunteer teachers have educated students of different ages, professions, and levels of wealth in various locations across Canada.

Aims


Students will briefly describe the history and importance of Frontier College and distinguish between a teacher in the 1900’s and a...

Showing all 15 Learning Tools