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Canadian History in Your Classroom

Browse the Canadian-history-themed packages below — each is full of museum objects, archival documents, short interviews, activity suggestions and more. All content has been developed in consultation with diverse cultural communities and topic experts, and reflects current Canadian curricula.

Please check back often, as we will continue to enrich these packages and develop new ones, while also reflecting the latest in scholarship, learning, and ways of teaching.

Featured Package

Early Black Communities

Since the 17^th century, people of African descent have come to Canada in various capacities, have formed thriving communities, and, despite battling decades of systemic anti-Black racism across the country, have continued to enrich Canada’s cultural, social and historical identities.

Packages

Organized by theme, each package features a collection of digitized museum artifacts, archival documents, video clips, audio clips, and activity suggestions for your class. Browse packages below.

Black Women: Changemakers of the 19^th and 20^th Centuries

This Teachers’ Zone package explores the pivotal roles Black women played in shaping a more just and representative Canadian society in the 19^th and 20^th centuries through activism, community building, culture, education, and politics, and their resilience in the face of systemic anti-Black racism.

Black-and-white photograph of woman reading a book with three children.

Early Black Communities

Since the 17^th century, people of African descent have come to Canada in various capacities, have formed thriving communities, and, despite battling decades of systemic anti-Black racism across the country, have continued to enrich Canada’s cultural, social and historical identities.

A square section of a rainbow banner on a grey background.

2SLGBTQIA+ History and Identities in Canada

2SLGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion in Canada have come through determined community activism for political, social and legal change.

Sepia photograph showing church congregation dressed in their Sunday best. - Une photographie sépia montrant des membres d’une paroisse en habits du dimanche.

African Nova Scotians: 20th Century Canadian Legacies

Over the past 400 years, African Nova Scotians have created communities, shaped their own identities, and made significant contributions to Canadian society. Explore African Nova Scotian community life, arts and culture, and advancements in civil rights through objects, images and oral history.

children holding birchbark moose call

History Box

Online accompaniment and resources for our feature travelling education kit: History Box.

Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act

In times of crisis, how do we protect freedoms while also protecting national security? Explore the three crises that prompted the invocation of Canada’s War Measures Act.

Objects

Objects are the key elements in each package, and include digitized museum artifacts, archival documents, and video and audio clips. To explore individual objects, click on the items below.

Apothecary Jar

Women of New France

Religious Statuette

Women of New France

Paper document with hand-written French text in dark ink.

Record of Marriage of Catherine Moitié and Désiré Viger, 1667

Women of New France

An old map of Québec City. Long, parallel lines indicate properties.

Map of the Government of Quebec, 1709

Women of New France

Sepia-toned family tree showing six generations.

Family Tree

Women of New France

Picture of wooden sugar mould with hearts carved out

Maple Sugar Mould

Women of New France

Old document with hand-written French text. Important parts are highlighted.

Letter from Agathe de Saint-Père de Legardeur de Repentigny to the Minister of Marine and Colonies

Offensive Language

Women of New France

Image of a broken antique blue and white china teacup

Teacup

Women of New France

Thank you to our donors!

This project has been generously supported by The Rossy Foundation.

With support from the Wilson Foundation and individual donors across Canada.