2010 Governor General's Award Finalists
Canada's History Society in partnership with TD Bank Financial Group today announced the 25 finalists for the 2010 Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History – the nation’s top teaching prize. Now in its 15th year, the award honours teachers who excel at bringing history to life for their students.
A national judging panel will next select six recipients out of the 25 finalists, based on a submission outlining the nominee’s innovations and achievements in the field of teaching Canadian History or Social Studies. Those six recipients will receive $2,500, a gold medal and a trip this fall to the Awards ceremonies at Rideau Hall. Their respective schools will also be awarded a cash gift of $1,000. The program, including the Awards prizes are made possible through the generous support of TD Bank Financial Group.
The 2010 Finalists are:
A grade 3/4 split class of "New Canadians" gain a stronger connection between their personal history, Alberta's history and Canadian history by examining Alberta's stories involving Aboriginals, Voyageurs and Early Settlers. The year long inquiry led the students to explore each group's experience and then in turn, to understand how these groups had influence upon on another, shaping Alberta into what it is today. This collaboration of shared experiences led the students to the writing and production of a play performed both in live acting, as well as through 'shadow play' for the entire school, parents and community members.
Over four-five weeks, students relive the Seven Years’ War by researching, learning military tactics, designing an intelligence report, creating props, role-playing, and learning marching techniques. They then simulate the battle on the Plains of Abraham with over 120 grade seven students. As a final task, students are asked to envision the effects of a French victory on Canada today.
Believing that students learn best by connecting to their own world, which assists in developing an understanding of Canadian history, students engage in six active experiences within their own community. These learning opportunities include visits by a local historian, an overnight investigation of Fort Malden, visiting The Park House, a Loyalist home, a geo-caching scavenger hunt of seven local historic locations (Amazing Race Style), participating in a Fathers of Confederation/Explorers Wax museum and lunches based on "Order of Good Cheer."
"Museum of Canada" - Students are transformed into curators of the National Museum of Canada. They must explore, their own heritage or an event that has helped to shape Canada, and design an exhibit that represents and preserves an important aspect that has had an impact on the lives of Canadians today.
Students discover the “history in their own backyard” by researching WWI and WWII soldiers from their community. Through engagement in primary document research, veterans’ visits, local fundraising and trips of remembrance to Ottawa and Europe, students develop historical thinking abilities and gain experience in community partnerships.
"National Battlefield Park Job Application" has students research French and English perspectives of the Plans of Abraham. Students then apply for the role of tour guides in National Battlefields Park as if they were French Canadian Students from Quebec.
With an emphasis on critical thinking, students develop an understanding of the various factors that affect immigration policies in Canada and how the policies shape Canadian culture. Through simulations, group activities, discussion and individual assignments, the students are given a differentiated approach to experience this broad and relevant subject matter.
"Life on a Seigneury" is a student research project incorporating roleplay and the design of farm plots based on historical evidence. Over the course of the lesson, they participate in town meetings, trade resources as a coureurs de bois and design their own game.
"75th Anniversary Museum Project" - Through primary source research and several trips to local museums and archives, the Grade 12 students of Preston High School in Cambridge explored the history of the school and the city. After compiling information on each decade of the schools' existence they created eight 'museum' rooms (one for each decade) and a ninth room to honour Preston's war veterans. Alumni of Preston High School were then invited to visit these museum rooms to experience Preston's legacy and its part in Canadian history.
Five Key projects encompassing 99 years of Canadian History: Canada, Quebec and the Constitution: A Group Essay; Cree Star Blanket; 1939-45 Assessing Canada's War Effort; Art & History Personal Content; and The Clothes Make the Person.
Honour and Remember by Making it Real" is a series of multiple lesson plans and projects on WWI, The Winnipeg General Strike, as well as, a Hong Kong Commemoration Ceremony, the organizing of a History Conference and the 'Portraits of Valour' Writing Contest.
Life in Quebec between 1850 and 1917 is examined through theatrical presentation. Students write and produce a play based on research focusing on aspects of growing up during that time period. The unit also incorporates in-role letter writing and analyzing the lyrics of a song related to subject matter.
For the students of Portage Collegiate Institute history is a problem, or a mystery to be solved. The "War Monument Research" is a project designed to involve the students in activities based in historical investigation and research. Students learn research and communication skills involved in investigating a twentieth century casualty of war from Canada's past. Students visit a local war monument, conduct research and complete worksheets so that they can reveal the life and war service of a local soldier who died in the Great War.
Over the course of five months students learn about the evolution of Iroquois culture and lifestyle from the 1500s to European contact and its role in shaping present-day Canada. Using a cross-curricular approach, students are taught the various facets of Iroquois culture and are provided various culminating tasks to demonstrate their learning.
This elementary project has student research a local First Nation, under the premise that they are owners of a newspaper that has published an inaccurate story on the Sto:lo people. Students are challenged to a) find out what is inaccurate and b) correct it. The students present their solutions in the form of a rewritten story, a tv news broadcast or a museum display to parents and the school.
This school division project — a first of its kind — involves 21 teachers. 450 grade 1, grade 5, and grade 9 students researched and told local community stories. They identified local place names, researched the community and its sites, interviewed seniors, consulted local historians, visited the Museum of the Highwood and Okotoks Museum and Archives and compiled the data into a website.
"Roots of Democracy: Ancient Athens and Iroquois Confederacy" is based on seven critical challenges to understanding Canadian Government, culminating in a final product of 'A Critical Thinking Magazine' & History of Democracy Gallery.
Seven-year-old historians and archaeologists uncovered the stories behind an array of Inuit artifacts and art pieces borrowed from the Glenbow Museum. These young archaeologists carefully examined and researched the cultural significance of these pieces in an effort to unearth the stories beneath them. As a demonstration of their deep understanding, these grade 2 students wove the details about these artifacts into a series of compelling historical narratives to create fresh new digital interpretations of Inuit ways of life. These digital stories are now displayed online in their own "virtual museum" which you can visit.
During a month-long process the students study and research New France from 1745-1820. Using a variety of tools the teacher provides students with a solid foundation from which to work in groups and independently, giving them a well-rounded view of Quebec in 1820.
"Moving Forward with the Past" is a Social Studies Unit comparing a modern schoolroom with one from the 1900s. Culminating in a visit to Heritage Park, a historical town-site, students would ride stick ponies through the town, stable them in a barn and experience learning in a one room schoolhouse.
"SCA Remembers Project" - Using primary source documents,students select and research Nova Scotian soldiers that were killed in action during World War II. After visiting battlefields and grave sites in Europe, students then prepare and present multimedia projects to school and community groups.
Jennifer Smolders –Bishop Allen Academy, Etobicoke, ON
"All of Our Voices : A Collective Approach to Responsible Proactive History Education" is a series of lesson plans in a year long unit in relating multiple perspectives to Assimulation of Nations (1920); 1910 (propaganda posters); and 1940 (Japanese interment & Holocaust).
"Reel History" is a grade 5 class project that looks at Immigration yesterday and today. Students found out what it was like to come to Canada many years ago through Pier 21 in compared to what it is like immigrating to Canada today. Students research, interview, make local connections, write journals, take field trips to document and create a documentary video on the subject.
Historical role play that illustrates the use of effective historical inquiry and communication skills. The role play requires students to step into the shoes of Canada's famous and not so famous suffragists, pioneer newspaper women and politicians as they recreate and stage Nellie McClung's 'Mock Parliament' at the Walker Theatre and debate the 1917 Wartime Elections Act in the House of Commons. Newspaper women report on the events and interview the suffragists and politicians to create historical newspapers of this momentous debate in Canadian women's history.
An optional after school senior Canadians In World War history course comprised of 2 1/2 hours a week that is a prerequisite for European battlefield tours. Field trips to Vimy Ridge (2007); France Belgium (2009); and Holland (2010).