Suggestions for Classroom Activities

The activity pages in this section have been designed to assist teachers in developing classroom programs based on the theme of Canadian citizenship. Teachers are encouraged to have the activity pages colour-photocopied and distributed to students to foster classroom participation.

The following teaching ideas are intended as starting points for classroom activities. Teachers will want to adapt and modify these learning tools to meet the needs of their classes.

There are endless possibilities for student participation. For example, a quiz could be developed using information from the national, provincial and territorial pages. Classes could also participate in historical role playing. Some students could be assigned to represent provinces or territories already in Confederation while others could represent British North American colonies contemplating union with Canada. The resulting debate could lead to a greater understanding of our historical past as well as an appreciation of our evolution into nationhood and what it means to be a Canadian citizen.

Getting Started

Use the Symbols Around Us page to draw students' attention to everyday symbols that they encounter. Have students begin a symbol search using the newspaper, YellowPages, school, home, community and other sources that could spark a sense of adventure. Present the enclosed Symbols of Canada poster to your class. Discuss the various Canadian symbols, pictorial representations and other material contained in the poster.

Canadian Flags

Use the Flags in Canada page to identify the flags shown and discuss the story that each one tells. Have students note where they see flags flying in their community. Assign students different provinces and territories and ask them to write an imaginative story of the life of a young person in that area of the country.

Heraldry

Discuss the meaning of the coats of arms presented on the Heraldry page. Translate Canada's motto (A MARI USQUE AD MARE) into as many languages as possible.

Have students use the Creating Your Personal Coat of Arms page to tap their creativity in drawing a personal coat of arms.

Emblems of Canada

Give students two or three days to complete a homework assignment in which they find as many Canadian flags as possible. Note product labels inside people's shirts, "Made in Canada" tags in stores, stickers on book spines, blue pages in the phone book, flags on and in public buildings, and anything produced by the Government of Canada, as possible examples. Have a discussion about why the flag is an important identifier.


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Floral Emblems

Use the Floral Emblems page to identify the floral emblems shown and to discuss the location and characteristics of each one.

Research the wildflowers growing near your school or at a local conservation area.

Plant flowers and trees around the school that symbolize the importance of the environment.

Stamps of Canada

Use the Stamps of Canada page as a springboard for the study of Canadian stamps.

Student stamp collectors might enjoy presenting their collections to the class.

Canadian Heroes

Ask students to think about what makes someone a hero. Then ask them to identify some Canadian heroes. These heroes can be individuals such as Prime Ministers or athletes, or groups of people such as peacekeepers, war veterans, artists or scientists. Why do students admire these people? What characteristics do students think they share with their heroes?

Organize a Canadian hero quiz for students. Here are a few examples to get you started:

Q. Who was the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons and later as Governor General of Canada?
A. Jeanne Sauvé
Q. Name the Inuit film-maker who has won many awards for his productions.
A. Zacharias Kunuk
Q. Who was the first Canadian woman in space?
A. Roberta Bondar
Q. Name the young Canadian who raised money for cancer with his "Marathon of Hope".
A. Terry Fox

Supplemental Activities

Encourage students to write a What Canada Means To Me essay and to investigate the schedule of events for upcoming holiday celebrations in the community. Write out the words to O Canada and have the students copy them down to foster memorization and discuss of their meaning.

A year-end "Celebrate Canada" assembly could involve displays of students' work and class projects, choral readings, a guest speaker (local politician), Canadian folk songs, a Canada cake prepared by students, slides brought in by students from trips taken to different parts of Canada, and special Canada Day messages.

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