History Box

Bookings are accepted on the Canadian Museum of History website via the online form. Requests for history boxes are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is no charge to the school. History boxes are free to borrow. The cost of shipping is also covered by the Canadian Museum of History thanks to our generous donors.

The Canadian Museum of History wants the History Boxes to reach as many schools as possible. For that reason, loans will be limited to one box per school, per semester. We encourage teachers to share the History Box between classes while it is at their school.

Please note that schools are eligible to borrow one Discovery Box from the Canadian War Museum and one History Box from the Canadian Museum of History within the same semester.

The History Box will be delivered by courier. Arrangements will be coordinated by the Canadian Museum of History’s Learning team. Please ensure that someone is available to receive the delivery at the arranged time.

History Box loans are available only to primary, elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools in Canada.

During the summer, the history boxes will return to the Canadian Museum of History for maintenance and will not be available to borrow.

All material developed by the Canadian Museum of History for the history boxes is available in both French and English. When artifacts or archival material included in the History Box are unilingual, we provide either an equivalent piece in each language, or a translation of the text.

Yes! Since each province and territory has its own unique curriculum, we have taken common themes from across the country and used them as guides for content, activity suggestions and lesson plans.

We recommend using objects as entry points to talk about different periods in Canada’s history, or as lessons in historical inquiry to build students’ critical thinking and historical skills.

The History Box can be used from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (Quebec Secondary five), but is targeted primarily at grades 4 to 8 (Quebec Cycle 2 to Secondary 1). Backgrounders, lesson plans and suggested learning activities (supported by Historical Thinking concepts) are included with the History Box, making it possible to adapt the lesson plans to your students and learning outcomes.

Yes. All objects can and should be handled by students! We recommend that students wash their hands before and after handling the objects.

The clothing items included in the history boxes are all reproduction materials. They are sturdy enough to be worn, provided that they are treated with care. For more information, please review our Safe handling guidelines (PDF).

Note – Birchbark moose call: For sanitary reasons, we recommend that students do not put their mouths on the mouthpiece.

Note – Hats and clothing: Please use your best judgment regarding allowing students to try on and share the clothing, in particular hats and jackets.

Note – Artwork: The History Box includes many pieces created by Indigenous artists specifically for use in this Box. They are one of a kind, and cannot be easily replaced. Please take care when handling them.

No, the teacher resources and USB stick must be kept with the History Box. However, you may copy any of the materials you wish.

Please do not write on or alter any items in the History Box.

Yes! While the Box was designed for in-person and hands-on learning, you can still use it while teaching your students virtually.

Visit our online component on the Teachers’ zone, and read these tips and tricks for using the History Box in a virtual setting (PDF).

The cost to replace a History Box is $5,000. The school responsible for the reservation will be charged the full replacement cost if the History Box is not returned.

When the History Box arrives at your school you will be required to complete an artifact inventory and condition check. If any items are missing or damaged, please notify the Canadian Museum of History immediately and we will send a replacement object.

If an item is broken while the History Box is in your school, please notify the Canadian Museum of History so we can send a replacement object.

The History Box contains everything you need to lead activities in your classroom. If you’ve booked a box, the following resources are included to help you use it in class: artifact backgrounders, contextual photographs and a timeline.

The General Overview provides activity suggestions and guiding questions. Lesson plans are linked to curricula for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 (Secondary 5 in Quebec), and include all the necessary handouts and resources for use in the classroom.

Digital resources designed to support the use of the History Boxes in the classroom are also available, including artifact backgrounders, activity suggestions and lesson plans for all levels. They can be found on the Teachers’ Zone, our online educational website.

We also invite you to have a look at our virtual version of the History Box, available in the Teachers’ Zone. This online educational package includes digitized images of each object from the physical History Box, along with video interviews, historical backgrounders, additional resources, and suggestions for class activities.

The Canadian Museum of History offers many additional online and on-site educational resources.

Teachers’ Zone

Plan a school visit

Virtual school programs

Join our Teachers’ Club

Educational resources

Email: historybox@historymuseum.ca
Telephone: 819-776–8281
Telephone (cell): 819-776-8291