Now Known as Canada

How do the stories, perspectives, and relationships of the past help us to understand the lands now known as Canada today and to shape a better future? 

The country now known as Canada has been, and continues to be, shaped by many forces. Treaties and trade, cooperation and conflict, imperialism and colonisation, loss and resilience have all shaped the lands we call home today.

The relationships between different Indigenous Nations and communities, settlers, and Governments are complex and interconnected. In this lesson, Museum Educators create a collaborative learning environment where students share observations, ask questions, and build understanding together as they make meaning from the stories and perspectives reflected in objects and belongings from the galleries and learning labs. 

Elementary students will examine significant events, individuals, and perspectives that have shaped Canada’s history and the relationships between Indigenous Peoples and settlers. Through inquiry, discussion, and the examination of historical objects and stories, students will consider multiple perspectives, build historical understanding, and reflect on how the past continues to influence communities and relationships today. 

Secondary students will investigate how historical events, decisions, and relationships continue to shape contemporary issues such as sustainability, migration, equity, and community well-being. Through collaborative inquiry and discussion, students will examine historical and current perspectives, make connections between past and present, and explore meaningful ways to engage with these issues in their schools and communities. Together, they will develop ideas and action plans that support informed citizenship and positive change.

What makes these lessons unique is that they are taught by trained Museum Educators with diverse areas of specialization, who develop individual lesson plans around set learning goals. 

This allows them the flexibility and adaptability to meet student interests and follow where their curiosity leads, respond to class needs and ever-changing conditions in the dynamic environment of a busy Museum, and incorporate the latest studies, pedagogies, and technologies. 

We also understand the value of learning from the real thing whenever possible, not relying exclusively on models and copies. Even in gallery lessons, Educators take every opportunity to let your students engage in hands-on learning with something real that has its own history and stories to tell. 

These tested approaches to learning mean that you may never get the same lesson twice, but they will always be engaging, interactive, and memorable.

During the hands-on labs, students have the opportunity to interact with many objects, some of which are heavy. If a student lifts and drops an object, it may result in injury to themselves, to others, or to the collections. Please ensure students are following safety instructions and handling objects responsibly.