Caring about the Past: Engaging with Historical Empathy

Register today!

Online Event
Thursday, April 25, 2024
6pm – 9pm Eastern
Free to attend, but pre-registration is required.

Why did the people in the past think and behave the way they did? How did people feel when faced with adversity, injustice, or other struggles? Can we ever really know?

Building historical empathy and attempting to understand the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of people in the past is a challenging and worthwhile endeavour. Historical empathy encourages us to consider context and evidence, practice taking a historical perspective, and can shed light on the experiences of traditionally marginalized people. It can also help build empathy in the present, promoting a greater understanding of other peoples’ experiences and creating caring, engaged citizens.

This event brings together educators, historians, museum professionals, and researchers to explore innovative ways of engaging with history that promote empathy, understanding, and a deeper connection to the past.

Check out the programme

Presenters:

• Sara Karn (McMaster University) will provide a framework for historical empathy.
• Anna Pearson (teacher and PhD candidate, York University) will discuss experiential learning through battlefield study tours.
• Mélissa St-Pierre (Huron-Wendat Museum) will discuss how the Huron-Wendat Museum encourages empathy through its mission and vision. 
• Geneviève de Muys (Musée de la civilization) will discuss how the Musée de la civilization established their new permanent exhibition to include the words of people who are often under-represented in this type of exhibition.
• Graham Lowes (Canadian Museum of Human Rights) will introduce participants to the Witness Blanket and discuss how to incorporate a trauma-informed approach in bringing voices of residential school survivors to the classroom.
• Greg Miyanaga (grade 2/3 teacher, Coquitlam School District) will discuss teaching about Japanese internment through hands-on, minds-on, and hearts-on learning.

RECOMMENDED READING & RESOURCES

Reading

Barton, K. C., & Levstik, L. S. (2004). Teaching history for the common good. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Karn, S. (2024). Walking in their footsteps: Historical empathy and experiential learning on battlefield study tours. Historical Encounters, 11(1), 30-42. https://doi.org/10.52289/hej11.103 

Karn, S. (2023). Historical empathy: A cognitive-affective theory for history education in Canada. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne de l’éducation, 46(1), 80-110. https://doi.org/10.53967/cje-rce.5483 

Lévesque, S. (2008). Thinking historically: Educating students for the 21st century. University of Toronto Press.

Classroom Resources

Historical empathy: A primer for history and social studies educators (Sara Karn) 

Historical empathy: A collection of resources for teachers (Sara Karn)

Pedagogical Triangle (Facing History & Ourselves)

Lesson Plan: Preparing for Difficult Conversations (Jacqueline Cleave, Canada’s History)

Lesson Plan: Paying Attention to Emotions When Learning (TC2)

Lesson Plan: Come Walk Awhile in Our Shoes (Peter Kear, Historica Canada)

Museums

Canadian Museum for Human Rights 

Musée de la civilisation 

Musée Huron-Wendat 

Websites

Landscapes of Injustice 

The Witness Blanket