Shannon Rankin's First World War artifact project requires students to create and compose critical reflections on and interpretations of Canada’s First World War story.

This episode of the Teaching Canada’s History podcast is part of our series speaking with the finalists of the 2023 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching. This award recognizes excellence and innovation in the teaching of Canadian history. To learn more, visit CanadasHistory.ca/Awards [https://gate.sc/?url=http://CanadasHistory.ca/Awards&token=fbc985-1-1772058421531].

Shannon Rankin's Museum Display Project helps students reflect on First World War

Ben Gross and Dan Kunanec (Don Mills Collegiate Institute, Toronto, Ontario)
Recipient of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

Ben Gross (pictured right) and Dan Kunanec (pictured left) developed an interdisciplinary collaboration  between a World History course and a Hospitality and Tourism course.  Anchoring learning in food history, students studied Ashkenazi and  Sephardic life in Europe and how that history travelled to Canada with  survivors of the Holocaust. After weeks of preparation, the classes  combined for a day of cooking with Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter. In  the wood-fired oven, students cooked cholent, challah, and kugel with  Pinchas. The focus of the conversation was Pinchas’s memories of food in  Poland as a young boy and his experiences of change and adaptation when  he came to Canada. The students created a website documenting their  learning, including recognition of deep connections between the  experiences that they learned about and those of their own families.

Interdisciplinary collaboration between World History and Hospitality/Tourism

David Lynch (St. Michaels University School, Victoria, British Columbia)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

Over the past six years, David Lynch has developed a year-long, multi-stage project-based approach to teaching B.C’s Social Studies 10. “Through their Eyes” engages students with the historical thinking concepts as they explore twentieth-century Canadian history through the real-life experiences of 225+ (extra)ordinary Canadians. These diverse individuals and their divergent experiences act as an enlightening window into the past, humanizing events and equipping students with concrete evidence that they use to assess, challenge, and even develop their own historical explanations and narratives.

Real-life experiences of (extra)ordinary Canadians

Sarah Stewart (St. Joseph Scollard Hall, North Bay, Ontario)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

Sarah Stewart asked her students to explore topics such as the ‘60s Scoop, the Métis struggle for recognition, the 1969 "White Paper,” and the High Arctic Relocation for an awareness campaign project. The purpose of this project was to encourage students to examine key issues that Indigenous Peoples in Canada have faced and to develop an understanding of how extensively racism has influenced government policies and society. In part one of this project, students filled in a planning sheet to gather information about their topic, determined its historical significance, and identified their target audience. Students utilized several historical thinking concepts to understand the context in which these injustices occurred. In part two, students wrote a recruitment letter to a potential spokesperson who could provide a platform to assist them in publicizing their message. In part three, students chose a media form (brochure, poster, podcast, etc.) to create their awareness campaign.

Historical thinking concepts applied to awareness campaign

Suzanne Uher (Traditional Learning Academy Online, Surrey, British Columbia)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

The Canadian Roundtable Debate project brings to light the major issues in Canada "today" while putting Suzanne Uher’s students into the shoes of Canadian politicians. Students are walked through an eight-week unit where they choose the major Canadian political party they wish to be a part of, and an MP from that party (present or past) who would be of interest to them to portray. In small party groups, they research an issue to become experts on and defend in the debate. Individually, students write news articles as their chosen MP to extend their knowledge; their work is then compiled in a class newspaper, The Hill Times. Debating as a "real person" is the highlight for the students, allowing them to dive into both Canadian history and current events.

The Canadian Roundtable Debate

LouAnn Davis (St. Michael's Elementary School, Stephenville Crossing, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

LouAnn Davis’s project took place as part of the primary music program. The school has a high percentage of children with Indigenous ancestry, and it is important that they have the opportunity to learn about this culture, which was an opportunity that was denied to their parents and grandparents. For the project, students in the primary choir learned The Beatles' song “Blackbird,” which had been translated into Mi’kmaq, as well as the song “Seeds” by Indigenous Artist Julian Taylor. The song “Seeds” addresses residential schools and talks about the resiliency of Indigenous peoples. LouAnn Davis, with fellow primary teachers, used these songs as a springboard for thinking about and discussing residential schools, their Mi’kmaq culture and language, and how important it is to restore this culture and language within their school and community.

Resiliency of Indigenous peoples through song

Debbie Mar (Sema:th Elementary School, Abbotsford, British Columbia)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

Through a creative, interdisciplinary approach and with deep purpose, Debbie Mar’s grade 3/4 class paid tribute to local Second World War veterans by educating their school and community about the special friendship between Canada and the Netherlands — and the sacrifices made by Canadian citizens. The Tulip Project bloomed in 2018 upon the receipt of 75 red Liberator tulip bulbs from the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. An impactful film — The Tulip Project — documenting students’ learning, has captured the hearts of Canadians. Inspired by previous classes, students continue to carry the torch of education, commemoration, and remembrance. The Tulip Project blooms to this day.

The Tulip Project: The liberation of the Netherlands

Jason Vander Meulen (Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Waterloo, Ontario)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

In Jason Vander Meulen’s grade 10 history project, students developed an Investor Pitch for an early 20th century invention. The Investor Pitch was used as a creative medium to communicate historical findings because of connections to the recent, regional history of Waterloo. The area is the home of the BlackBerry and many start-up incubators; the tech sector has long been an important engine of the community. After exploring this regional history of innovation and learning the components of the start-up pitch, Vander Meulen introduced the concept of disruptive technologies and explored some modern examples. Students researched an invention or innovation from the first half of the last century. The inquiry coincided with a focus on ways of life and on social history, positioning the students for an immersive approach to the assignment. In their teams, students developed a historical persona and their pitch decks while incorporating the findings of their research.

 Investor Pitch for an early 20th century invention

Julie Gaudreault (École Panet, Sainte-Béatrix, Québec)
Lauréate du Prix d’histoire du Gouverneur général pour l’excellence en enseignement 2024

Pour plus d'informations, visitez HistoireCanada/Prixenseignment [https://www.histoirecanada/Prixenseignment].

Dans le cadre de ce projet, le personnage historique de Louis Cyr a servi de fil conducteur et a su capter l’intérêt des élèves. Afin de répondre à cette grande question, Louis Cyr était-il un homme de son époque, les élèves ont travaillé en équipes en consultant des sources primaires et secondaires tant en classe qu’à la Maison Louis-Cyr. Des objets d’époque, photographies, publications dans les journaux, manuels d’histoire, visioconférence sur l’industrialisation, questions soumises à un historien ne sont que des exemples des sources analysées tout au long de ce projet d’une durée de trois mois. Chaque équipe a eu à se questionner sur un aspect différent de la société québécoise vers 1905 pour comparer la vie de Louis Cyr à celle de ses contemporains. Durant le projet, les élèves ont visité la Maison Louis-Cyr à deux reprises. Lors de la deuxième journée, ils ont accueilli leurs parents et amis et ont fait part de leurs découvertes historiques à la Maison Louis-Cyr en étant les guides dans le musée. C’est avec les yeux brillants et remplis de fierté, tout en dégustant des bouchées préparées par certains élèves ayant exploré le métier d’un jour de cuisinier, que s’est terminé le projet !

Le personnage de Louis Cyr

Alysa Ferguson (Juniper School, Thompson, Manitoba)
Finalist of the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching
For more information about the award visit CanadasHistory.ca/TeachingAward [https://www.canadashistory.ca/teachingaward]

The Truth and ReconciliACTION plan is an inclusive initiative that unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, community members, organizations, and School District of Mystery Lake representatives. Developed by Alysa Ferguson as part of the school's land-based learning program, participants engaged with and delved into authentic learning experiences with a hands-on approach. The program's primary objective was to fortify students' pride in their traditions, deepen their knowledge, and foster a stronger sense of place and belonging within the school community on Treaty 5 Territory. Following the Indigenous medicine wheel, the program aligned activities with the seasons, though adjustments are made based on students' inquiries, curiosity, and interests. Through this approach, students explored Canada's history and truths, aiming for understanding, healing, and personal growth to empower them as present and future change makers.

Following the Medicine Wheel

Join renowned historians and witnesses to history for a deep dive into Canada's storied past, from Indigenous cultures and the fur trade to the world wars and much more. Because history lives in all of us. Produced by the award-winning team at Canada's History magazine.

Theme music: Red River Jig by Alex Kusturok.

Canada's History Podcast

This special podcast series features some of the finalists for the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching [https://www.canadashistory.ca/awards/governor-general-s-history-awards/about-the-awards]. The award recognizes teachers from across the country for their exceptional work in teaching Canadian history. It is also an opportunity to promote and facilitate the sharing of best practices and innovative teaching ideas within Canada’s history education community.

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Cette série spéciale de balados met en lumière quelques-uns des finalistes francophones du Prix d'histoire du Gouverneur général pour l'excellence en enseignement [https://www.histoirecanada.ca/prix/prix-d-histoire-du-gouverneur-general/au-sujet-des-prix]. Ce prix reconnaît des enseignants de partout au pays pour leur travail exceptionnel dans le domaine de l'enseignement de l'histoire canadienne. Il permet aussi de promouvoir et de faciliter le partage de pratiques exemplaires et d'idées pédagogiques novatrices au sein de la communauté canadienne de l'enseignement de l'histoire.

Canada's History

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