Activities
There are two types of activities: Package Activities and Object Activities.
Package Activities are project-based activities designed to accommodate one or more classes. These activities involve the use of historical thinking concepts while exploring the whole package, resulting in a more comprehensive experience.
Object Activities are short inquiry-based activities that typically take 5–25 minutes. These activities encourage students to think critically about the objects being presented, and to use historical thinking concepts.
Both types of activities were created with the guidance of educators from across Canada, and incorporate current educational theory and approaches.
Package Activities
Explore project-based Package Activities by scrolling down.
ACTIVITY 1
Divide the class into two groups and have each group select either the Congress of Black Writers or the Sir George Williams affair to create a photo essay.
Have students:
- Create groups
- Discuss event of choice
- Explore the topic, then map out a storyboard in detail to convey the issue
- Organize selected images in a PowerPoint presentation
Note for teachers:
Each group will create a photo essay based on one of the events that happened in Montréal: the Congress of Black Writers OR the Sir George Williams affair.
The photos should explore the issue and the people involved in the event. A brief introduction to the photo essay should be written, as well as a descriptive caption for each photo. The photo essay should send a message that tells the story: who, what, where, when and why. The problem, the solution, and the result should be identified. Students may use a collection of photos pertaining to a person or the situation that led up to the event.
ACTIVITY 2
Creating a T-chart, compare the Congress of Black Writers and the Sir George Williams affair.
Have students identify and list factors that influenced the civil rights movement in the United States and Canada (for example, separate use of water fountains).
How did these factors influence the Congress of Black Writers and the Sir George Williams affair? Students can create a blog showcasing the sense of collective identity shared by a community of people based on race.
ACTIVITY 3
Reflect on the Sir George Williams affair and the trial that took place. Pretend that the trial was heard by a judge and jury. Assume the role of the prosecutor (who asks for a verdict of guilty) or the defence attorney (who asks for a verdict of not guilty).
A decision must be made; write your closing statement using the following template (use provided prompts):
Your Honour, members of the jury, today you heard testimonies about __________________________________. I would like to remind you of the situation that led us here today. Remember to think about the lives of the students and their desire to obtain an equal educational opportunity when you make your decision.
However . . .
Each one of these students . . .
When you make your verdict, please find the defendants . . .
Thank you.
Object Activities
Explore inquiry-based Object Activities by clicking on individual objects below.
