Canadian Historical Festival: Becoming a National Figure

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students investigate a famous Canadian in history and then present their biographical research in the first person as part of a ‘historical festival.’ The final presentations sees the students in historical costume in front on student-created historically accurate backdrops.

Time Required

1-3 lessons for student research; several lessons for class presentations

Historical Thinking Concept(s)

This lesson plan uses the following historical thinking concepts: establish historical significance, use primary source evidence, and take historical perspectives.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Appreciate the importance of past events,
• Employ skills necessary to conduct historical research,
• Recognize the geographic and political environment of an individual from Canada’s past,
• Apply speaking and presenting skills,
• Recognize the importance of individual Canadians to the development of Canada, and
• Relate the lives of Canadian historical figures to the events of their time.

Background Information

This is a general lesson plan for a Canadian historical festival centred on famous Canadians. Changes can be made to accommodate location, space, student population, community population, or any other variable. The project involves researching a famous person from Canadian history. Extensive information will be gathered and learned.

The Lesson Activity

Sir John A. Macdonald; Louis Riel; Thomas Scott; Gabriel Dumont; General Wolfe; Leif Eriksson; Samuel de Champlain; Jean Talon; Jacques Cartier; Marguerite Bourgeoys; General Montcalm; Marie Guyart; Laura Secord; Marie de la Peltrie; Sir Wilfrid Laurier; Jeanne Mance; John Cabot; Conte de Frontenac; Tecumseh; Captain James Cook; George Vancouver; François de Laval; Alexander Mackenzie; Louis-Joseph Papineau; Simon Fraser; Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley; David Thompson; Thomas Douglas (Lord Selkirk); Philomen Wright; Thayendanegea; Viscount Monck; Sir James Douglas; Robert Gourlay; James Bruce (Lord Elgin); George A. French; Marie-Marguerite d’Youville; Sir William Cornelius Van Horne; Joseph Howe; Lord Durham; William Lyon Mackenzie; James Murray; Henry Kelsey; Sir Francis Bond Head; Charles Tupper

Activating: How will students be prepared for learning?​

• Once students have identified their Canadian figure for research, have students research using Internet and/or textual sources.
• Instruct students to take extensive notes and keep a bibliographic record of their research.
• Included in the biographic research must be: 
  • descriptions of important dates and places in the person’s life,
  • achievements of the person, the person’s contributions to Canada’s development,
  • importance of the person to his/her time,
  • as well as a detailed physical description of the person.

Acquiring: What strategies facilitate learning for groups and individuals?

• Instruct students to use the notes/research to write an “autobiography” of themselves as if they are the person they have chosen to study. This must be written in the first person. Included in this biography must be all important information about the person’s life.
• Have students create a costume that allows them to dress up as their chosen person.
• Instruct students to create a backdrop that represents the person or the period their Canadian figure is from. (Inform students that they will stand in front of this during their culminating presentation.)

Applying: How will students demonstrate their understanding?

• Students present their historical figure/biographical research to other students in the school, as well as to parents and members of the community.
• Students will be in historical costume, standing in front of the backdrops they created. (You may wish to videotape the presentations.)
• Presentations must have a detailed biography of the person and be delivered in the first person.
• Students must be capable to answer any questions they are asked about the person or the time s/he is from.

Materials/Resources

• Internet/library access for student research
• Collection of Canada’s History magazines for students’ biographical research (optional)
• Art materials for backdrop rendering
• Historical costumes
• Videography equipment (optional)

References

• Historical Figures, The Canadian Encyclopedia
• List of Canadians, Wikipedia
• Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall, Canadian Museum of History