Brian Clancy, Lisa Sheppard, and Catherine Morneault

Sussex Middle School, Sussex (New Brunswick)

Brian Clancy, Lisa Sheppard, and Catherine Morneault gave their grade six French immersion students a big challenge for their school year: “How can we collaboratively teach our community about the Canadian experience at Vimy Ridge and do something AWESOME in the process?” Students decided to craft a book-length collection of short essays that would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle. The project combined important outcomes in both language arts and social studies. Students conducted extensive primary and secondary source research to help imagine life on the ground and in the air in 1917. Each student produced a properly researched, planned, written and edited one-page history essay detailing a particular Vimy experience. When these small projects were collected, their teamwork had created an impressive 75-page travelling history lesson to share with our global neighbourhood and promote Vimy 100.