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Historica Canada Education Portal

Learning Tools & Collections

Showing 46 - 60 of 188 tools

Military History
Secondary – Junior

Mona Parsons


Overview


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.

Aims


Students will learn about:

- The life of Mona Parsons
- Nazi occupation of Holland during WWII
- Women in the war years
- The...
Social History
Intermediate – Middle School

Sam Steele


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the Sam Steele biography from The Canadians series. 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...
Women's History
Intermediate – Middle School

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 pictures....
Military History
Intermediate – Middle School

Snapshot in Time - A Wartime Memory


Overview


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...
Military History
Secondary – Junior

The Ross Rifle and the Equipping of Canadian Soldiers in the First World War


Overview


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...
Social History
Secondary – Junior

Northrop Frye


Overview


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.

Aims


These activities challenge students to explore the issues and ideas that Frye wrote about and taught. Students will explore these ideas...
Research and Writing
Intermediate – Middle School

The ABC's of Canadian History


Overview


Students often experience difficulty in mastering the precise vocabulary used in social studies and history courses. Faced with this difficulty, they are sometimes reluctant to ask for clarification of the terms used. The result is a loss of learning opportunity. Here is a way of clarifying those concepts and literally keeping them in the forefront of the students' minds. It is based on one of our oldest educational learning tools... remember how you learned your ABC's.

Aims


Development...
Political History
Secondary – Junior

William "Bible Bill" Aberhart


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the William Aberhart biography from The Canadians series. Former school principal turned Baptist preacher, William Aberhart took Alberta politics by storm in the 1935 election. During the Depression, his promise of a $25 dividend to every citizen struck a winning note for his recently created Social Credit Party. His schemes didn't pan out, but his party ruled Alberta until 1971.

Aims


With writing, debates, and role-playing activities, students will be...
Military History
Secondary – Senior

Memories of War


Overview


The teacher will ask the students to research how different groups of Canadians were affected by Canada’s participation in the Second World War. Students will then create a journal that follows the life of a fictitious Canadian before, during and after the war. Although the students will be creating a piece of fiction, the journals they write must be historically accurate and make reference to historical events. The teacher will assign, or allow students to choose, their character...
Military History
Secondary – Junior

The First World War and Canadian Points of View


Overview


An exploration of different points of view of Canadians during the First World War.

Aims


Students will be able to explain the causes of the First World War and how Canada became involved. Students will be able to analyse the effectiveness of propaganda posters and create one that represents a specific point of view. 
Visually and in writing, students will be able to express a point of view from a specific group of Canadian people during the First World War. 

Activities


Time...
Indigenous History
Elementary – Junior

Mi'kmaq Storytelling


Overview


To have students demonstrate an understanding of the importance of oral tradition and beliefs in early Mi'kmaq society.

Aims


To have students create their own belief story and petroglyph.

Background


As part of the social studies curriculum students should develop an understanding of the traditional ways of life and beliefs of the Mi'kmaq. They will work to create a story that might be told by the early Mi'kmaq people in order to gain a greater understanding of the importance of the oral...
Military History
Secondary – Junior

Vimy Glide


Overview


The students will be analyzing the organization of the Canadian Army. Students will be able to identify the basic command structure and composition of the Canadian Army for both the First and Second World Wars. They will perform a platoon maneuver according to specific objectives in this lesson they will attempt to re-enact the Vimy Glide that was used during the First World War.

Aims


Students should become more familiar and comfortable with understanding the different units and...
Social History
Secondary – Junior

Morris "Two Gun" Cohen


Overview


This lesson is based on viewing the "Two Gun" Cohen biography from The Canadians series. The video combines both the biography of a unique Canadian, Morris Cohen, with a history of modern China. Cohen, was an outcast and criminal within Canadian society, but he made a significant global contribution as Dr. Sun Yat-sen's personal bodyguard and close friend.

Aims


Students will study the story of "Two Gun" Cohen to learn more about a variety of themes in Canadian and World history....
Women's History
Intermediate – Middle School

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...
Research and Writing
Intermediate – Middle School

"Who's Your Hero?"


Overview


Students will research and examine the qualities of a past or present hero in Canada. They will develop a personal definition of a hero, while working on a project that represents a Canadian Hero. Students will be provided with a project framework to guide them through the research process. After completing the research framework each student will represent their hero in their choice of medium. Projects can range from electronic, video based, posters, to drama and song.

Aims


•Examine...

Showing 46 - 60 of 188 tools

Showing 1 - 10 of 16 collections

Milestones Education Guides

Explore these education guides, which were created as part of the Milestones Education Campaign.


This collection contains 4 Learning Tools

Sources Primaires

Une collection d'outils pédagogiques pour aider les éducateurs et les élèves dans l'analyse des sources primaires.


This collection contains 14 Learning Tools

Les femmes dans l'histoire

Une collection de guides pédagogiques explorant l'histoire des femmes au Canada.


This collection contains 13 Learning Tools

Women in History

A collection of learning tools focused on the roles of women in Canadian history.


This collection contains 21 Learning Tools

Primary Sources

A collection of learning tools designed to support educators and students in primary source analysis.


This collection contains 10 Learning Tools

Think Like a Historian: The Battle of Vimy Ridge

The Think Like a Historian series is a tool for educators and students to build skills to analyze and interpret primary sources. In this series, we look at Photographs, Newspapers, and Personal Letters from the Battle of Vimy Ridge.


This collection contains 4 Learning Tools

Pensez comme un historien : La bataille de la crête de Vimy

La série Pensez comme un historien est un outil pour les éducateurs et les étudiants pour développer des habiletés d’analyse et d’interprétation des sources primaires. Dans cette série, nous jetons un coup d’œil à des photographies, des journaux et


This collection contains 4 Learning Tools

Indigenous History

A collection of learning tools focused on Indigenous history in Canada.


This collection contains 20 Learning Tools

Showing 1 - 10 of 16 collections