4th Grade  Project 1 week

"Canada's History: Drama, Murals, and Maps!"

Jan Reiniger
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage 4th-grade students in an immersive exploration of Canada's historical development through key events and documents. By participating in interactive activities such as role-plays, map-making, and collaborative art projects, students will deepen their understanding of how the Treaty of Paris, Royal Proclamation, and Quebec Act shaped the nation's identity. This hands-on approach encourages students to connect with historical figures and events, fostering a personal and meaningful connection to Canada's past.

Learning goals

Students will develop an understanding of how historical documents and events like the Treaty of Paris, Royal Proclamation, and Quebec Act influenced the formation of Canada's identity. They will learn to analyze primary sources and visualize territorial changes through map-making activities. By engaging in role-play and collaborative art projects, students will demonstrate their ability to interpret historical impacts on diverse communities. The project will enhance students' skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and creative expression, fostering a deeper connection to Canada's history and its cultural evolution.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Products

Throughout the project, students will create letters or journals from historical perspectives, role-play skits, and annotated primary source documents. By the end, they will collaboratively produce a mural that visually represents the impact of key historical events and documents on Canada's identity. This mural will incorporate student artwork, historical symbols, and contributions from the 'History in Motion' event, showcasing their understanding and creativity.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Time Traveler's Workshop' where students are immersed in the historical context by creating and exchanging letters or journals. Each student writes from the perspective of a First Nation, French colonist, or British colonist, expressing their hopes and concerns about Canada's future. This activity sets the stage for empathetic understanding and encourages students to explore diverse viewpoints as they embark on their historical exploration.

Exhibition

Students will participate in a 'History in Motion' event, showcasing their collaborative mural and timeline that illustrate the impact of historical documents and events on Canadian identity. The exhibition will be interactive, inviting guests to walk through the timeline and add their reflections or thoughts on sticky notes. This event will foster community engagement and allow students to share their insights and artwork with peers, teachers, and family members, creating a dynamic and reflective learning experience.