The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-6, Grades 7 & 8

Lesson plans listed by division. They address the U.S. National Geography Standards. Some lessons can be linked quite easily to the Ontario Social Studies and Geography curriculum. There are printable maps and worksheets with online resource links.

Lesson ideas with some links to worksheets. American examples are given but Canadian adaptations can me make to lesson ideas.

Graphic Organizers to assist students with reading comprehension.

• Compare and Contrast
• Chain of Events
• Prereading Activity
• Cubing: An Exercise in Perspective
• Sensory Visualization Chart
• Building Background Knowledge

This is an American site but the lesson plan format can be adapted to Canadian historic sites.
 

Suggestions for using primary sources: objects, images, audio, statistics, and the community.

A group of dedicated Ontario Teacher-Librarians have written a series of lessons/units for kindergarten through to grade 12 organized around the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and promoting active, global citizenship. 

Maps and facts about Canada. Also includes quizzes, and lesson plans on cartography. There are interactive maps by theme.
Level: Intermediate, Senior, Adult  Keywords: maps, map outlines, rivers, lakes

A sampling of Social Studies lessons and on-line activities for grades 1-6. U.S. content but some application to Ontario/Canada curricula. e.g., The New Nunavut.

Lesson plans, interactive activities, worksheets, and links for grades k-8.

New Zealand's Ministry of Education teacher resources for Social Studies. 

• Effective Teaching in Social Studies 
  • Teaching Strategies: Teaching ideas and worksheets to use with your Social Studies curriculum: graphic organizers, cooperative learning, writing and presenting, oral and visual activities. 

You will be presented with many ready to use activities to engage your students.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has a collection strong in history, literature and music.

• For Students - links to sites by subject area
• Educators Toolkit - tools to improve research skills.
• Defining Primary and Secondary Sources
• Internet Research Skills
• Copyright for Students
• Decoding Political Cartoons
• A Tale from the Map Vault

An educational project meant to help you learn more about primary sources held at Library and Archives Canada. You will find a wide selection of documents -- texts, photographs, maps, newspaper clippings and much more. All the sources featured on The Evidence Web are linked to specific themes in Canadian history or culture.

• Theme - choose to investigate a theme
• Format - select text, map, photographs, or art
• Time - select a time period
• Place - select a place to start your investigation

 
On this Website you'll find a selection of radio and television clips from the Archives of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

• Explore the Archives Timeline to access subject specific links and useful information.
• On This Day: Canada and world news items linked by the day.
• For Teachers: Educational material for grades 6-12.
• Topic Index
• CBC Days to Remember: Links through the decades.

• Educational Resources - Images Canada Lesson plans in html, pdf, RTF
• An Early Canadian Photo Album
• Using Pictures to Read the Past
  Two lesson plans and an idea bank structured around using primary sources have been developed for Images Canada. The lesson plans include detailed guidelines for educators, including learning outcomes/expectations/objectives, suggested criteria for assessment, instructions for classroom use, and worksheets.
• Activities and Writing Projects

 Library of Congress lesson plans and Collection Connections.

• Collection Finder
• Why Use Primary Sources? - a pdf file that highlights the purpose of using primary sources in the classroom.
• Lesson Plans -Click on using Using Primary Soruces in the classroom for getting started ideas.
• The Historian's Sources - Lesson Plans including student worksheets
• Features and Activities - Extensive lists of lesson plans and student worksheets for online and offline
• Document Analysis Worksheets - Written document, Photograph, Cartoon, Poster, Map, Artifact, Sound Recording, Motion Picture
• Introductory Activity 

Explanation of primary documents and use in the classroom.

This web site focuses on Victoria, Canada, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

• Victoria Newspapers 1858-1921
  This index contains four integrated collections, drawn from a number of newspapers published in Victoria between 1858 and 1921. - A rich source of social history of the area.
• Victoria's Timeline

Archive of Early America primary source material from the 18th century displayed digitally.

• Explore The World of Early America
  • American Freedom Documents
• Movies On-line
  • The Life of George Washington
  • Declaring Independence
  • Paul Revere- Messenger of the Revolution
  • The shot heard around the world
  • The treason of Benedict Arnold
  • The real face of George Washington
  • Molly Pitcher- An American Heroine
• How to read a 200 year old document - explanations of the spelling and meanings of words. Well worth taking the time to read.
• The Early American Digital Library - historical pictures and maps.
• The Early American Review - A Journal of Fact and Opinion On the People, Issues and Events Of 18th Century America.

For intermediate/senior students- You will have to adjust some of the language to reflect the needs of a classroom in Canada.

• Analizing Primary Sources
  • Artifacts
  • Maps
  • Movies
  • Photographs
  • Posters
  • Sound Recordings
  • Documents

•  Questions from your memory book (pdf file)
• The Life and Times of Winnie Lackore - a sample of the answers with pictures.

Teacher's Guide with student hand-outs to guide them through using primary sources.

•  Image Detective http://www.edc.org/CCT/PMA/image_detective/index.html  Think critically about the turn of the century America. - An online investigation--

• See How to Read an Image (graphic novel format)
• Investigations
  • Women at the turn of the century
  • Picturing Prairie Life?
  • New in 1900
  • Lewis W. Hine: The Camera as a Tool for Social Reform - Child Labor
  • Edward Curtis' Indian Photographs: Fact and Fictions

• Investigative Techniques
• Classroom Resources
  • Primary Sources

Describes the method that involves all students in the learning.

 A tutorial for teachers about strategies for reading, writing, oranizing, discussion, and vocabulary in Social Studies.

• ABC Brainstorm | Worksheet
• Carousel Brainstorm
• Clock Buddies | Worksheet
• Column Notes | Worksheet | Fact or Opinion | Prediction Chart | Sample Headings
• Comparison-Contrast Charts | Chart | Venn- 2 Item | Venn-3 Item | Venn with summary | Venn variations
• Concept of Definition Map | Definition Map
• Graphic Organizers | Graphic organizer link
• History Frames/Story Maps | History Frame | Story Map | Event/Story Pyramid | Somebody-Wanted-But-So | Cross-Discipline Connections
• Inquiry Chart | Chart
• KWL | KWL Chart | KWL Modified
• Opinion -Proof | Chart
• Power Thinking
• Problem-Solution | Chart
• Question-Answer Relationship | QAR Chart | QAR Concept Chart
• Questionsing the Author
• Pattern Puzzles
• Raft Papers | RAFT Form | Criteria Framework
• Reciprocal Teaching
• Selective Underlining
• Semantic Feature Analysis
• Summarizing | Sum it up Sheet | Sum it up directions | Lesson Closure
• Thesis-Proof | Thesis-Proof Chart | Thesis-Proof Evidence
• Think-Pair-Share
• Three-Minute Pause
• 3-2-1 | 3-2-1 Chart |
• Venn Diagrams | Venn Diagram | Venn Diagram - 3 | Venn Diagram with Summary | Venn Diagram Rotated | Variation 1 | Variation 2
• Vocabulary Word Maps | Vocabulary Word Map | Version 2
• Frameworks for Choosing Comprehension Strategies
  • Before-During-After Framework
  • Writing and Comprehension
• Resources for Teachers

 Simcoe County Historica Fair Unit and support documents

• Historica Fair Unit of Study - outline
• Culminating Task Unit Overview
  CT1-1 Judging Rubric
  CT1.2 Awards - updated with 2009 awards
  CT 1.3 Suggested Outline for Historica Fair Project
  CT 1.4 Tracking Sheet (Excel)
  CT 1.5 Descriptors
  CT 1.6 For Teachers
  CT 1.7 Project Log
  CT 1.8 Fair Student List (excel)
  Student Project PowerPoint - National Fair Projects
• Stage One of Research
  BLM 1.1 Viewing Organizer
  BLM 1.2 Research Topics
  BLM 1.3 Think/Pair/Share
  BLM 1.4 Student Workbook
  BLM 1.5 Stage One: Wonder and Explore- Student Self Assessment
  BLM 1.6 Resource Planning
  BLM 1.7 Understanding Your Assignment
  PPT Student Projects.ppt
   
• Stage Two of Research
  BLM 2.1 Smart Ideas Scoring
  BLM 2.2 Smart Ideas Instructions
  BLM 2.3 Stage Two: Search and Select- Student Self Assessment 

• Stage Three of Research
  BLM 3.1 Stage Three: Think and Connect - Student Self Assessment
   
• Stage Four of Research
  BLM 4.1 Stage Four- Create and Share - Student Self Assessment
   

• Citing Sources
  • Resources Used- Internet Sites
  • Resources Used - Encyclopedia online
  • Resources Used - Interview
  • Resources Used - Personal E-mail
  • Resources Used - Books
     
• Historica Fair Unit (above unit in one 52 page word document)

• Program Overview - What is a Fair?
• The Fairs
• Student Project Guidelines
• National Fair Informantion
  • Rules and Criteria for National Fair Projects
  • Teacher Reference Kit
  • Participant Agreement

Explanation of awards and criteria for selection

• Volunteers
• RBC Aboriginal History Award
• CN Veterans Award
• Archives of Ontario Award
• Ontario Genealogical Society Award
• Laurier LaPeirre Medal
  • Laurier LaPierre Award Criteria and Nomination Form (MSWord doc)
    • Each school can nominate three students for the Senator Laurier LaPierre Award
      One student for each grade level 3/4, 5/6, 7/8
    • May be nominated by a student, teacher and/or school for consideration
    • May be awarded to an individual who presents his/her individual project or participates in a 
      group and /or classroom project – but must be awarded to an individual, NOT the project.
    • Student may only receive the medal once during his /her participation in the Fairs Program.
    • In the same year, student may not be selected as a medal recipient and recipient of the Hbc Explorer Award or delegate to the National Fair or participant in a Regional Exchange.
  • Criteria for awarding the medal:
    • Project must have a Canadian theme. Projects can interpret various aspects of Canadian heritage on a local, provincial, national or international level.
    • Enthusiasm for learning about history, heritage and culture.
    • Determination and dedication to research a topic.
    • Willingness to share his/her passion for heritage with peers and school/community.
    • If in a group, showed a high degree of interest and displayed teamwork

• School Fair Planning Guide (suggestions)
• Planning Outline for Teachers
• Getting Started
• Project Topic Suggestions
• Project Contract
• Display Checklist
• Scoring Rubric -MSWord
• Scoring Rubric- pdf