Resources For Teaching About Canada

Tina Storer, Education & Curriculum SpecialistCenter for Canadian-American Studies

Western Washington University

STUDY CANADA Summer Institute for K-12 EducatorsAcross the Salish Sea: Canada-US Connections in the Pacific Northwest

Seattle, WA and Victoria, BC – June 27-July 1, 2016

The best practice is simply to teach Canada

As seen in the video “Tom Brokaw explains Canada to Americans”, it is important for American students to know more about our northern neighbor and its relationship to our own nation:

Teaching Canada meets international education goals that consider North America first, encourage American students to be prepared as 21st century citizens who are good neighbors, good economic partners, good allies, and more.

Teaching Canada has students explore our international relationship beyond mutually-beneficial economic interests to include the stewardship of N. America and the world.

Teaching Canada advances student knowledge, provides comparative context for history and politics, and encourages global thinking.

Canada is perhaps the best comparative lens regarding all core social studies topics.

It’s important that American 8th Graders recognize that Canada is not a dictatorship.

Canada and the American Curriculum

As per the article “The Country Left Behind”, Canada sometimes falls in a curriculum “gap” that many educators aren’t aware of.

KEY TAN color: CDN content required in elementary school curriculum (grades: K-5) BLUE color: CDN content required in middle school curriculum (grades: 6-8) PURPLE color: CDN content required in high school curriculum (grades: 9-12) RED color: CDN content required in two different levels of K-12 school curriculum (grades: either K-5 & 6-8; or K-5 & 9-12; or 6-8 & 9-12) GREEN color: CDN content required in all three different levels of school curriculum

Resources for Teaching Canada

Key Question: Why aren’t more resources for teaching Canada available?

Canada only appears intermittently in social studies standards and, sometimes, is not addressed at all in K-12 classrooms.*

Standards (esp. California, Texas and New York) drive the textbook industry and, without standards that specifically mention Canada, Canada is often minimized and/or left out of textbooks even in key areas like economics.

National education organizations such as NCSS, NCHE, and NCGE support increased inclusion of Canada in curricula.

* To learn more, see SUNY Plattsburgh Study: The Country Left Behind by Dr. Joseph-André Senécal, Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont, on homepage of www.k12studycanada.org.

Resources for Teaching Canada

Preview:

US Department of Education Title VI National Resource Centers and Resources

Recommended Print Publications

Recommended Multimedia Materials (Videos, CD-ROMs, CDs)

Recommended Internet Websites

If time permits, resource tours of the K-12 STUDY CANADA teacher loan-kits.

The US DOE Title VI Program – Area Studies The launching of Sputnik I in 1957 led to the federal government’s most significantparticipation in modern foreign language and area studies research and training inhistory—The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) of 1958.

The federal Office of Education began administering the National ResourceCenters (NRC) Program under Title VI of the NDEA, and the U.S.D.O.E. continuesto administer it under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

The centers supported under the NRC Program conduct a broad range of activities that include instruction, outreach, scholarly research, maintenance of libraryresources, and teacher training. Collectively, these activities represent aprogrammatic effort that focuses on particular regions of the world and the relevantissues connected to those regions; and, they constitute a national capacity inmodern foreign languages and area and international studies.

From: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsnrc/index.html

National Resource Centers on Canada

U.S. Department of Education Title VI program provides a competitive grant, offered every 4 years, to support two National Resource Centers on Canada in the US:

1) Pacific Northwest NRC (U Washington and WWU)

2) Northeast NRC (U Maine and SUNY Plattsburgh)

Both NRCs on Canada offer:

Classroom Resources

Print Publications

Teachable Online Information

Online Curricula Multimedia Classroom Tools Instruction for Professional Development

National Resource Centers on Canada

...and partner with many organizations to serve K-12 educators: Embassy of Canada and Consulates of Canada in the US Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, UW Individual Teachers/Teacher-Librarians K-12 STUDY CANADA Teacher-Associates National Education Groups (eg: NCSS, NCHE, NCGE, CS4, ACSUS) State Councils of the above groups State and District-Level Social Studies Curriculum Directors/Coordinators Educational Collaboratives and Individual Schools Québec Government Offices in the US (and in Canada) State Government Offices (and Provincial Government Offices in Canada) US and State Departments of Education Canada-America Society (Seattle, WA) Faculties of Education at our own institutions and at other universities

National Resource Centers on Canada

Pacific Northwest NRC on Canada

Western Washington University Center for Canadian-American Studies

University of WashingtonHenry M. Jackson School of International StudiesCanadian Studies Center

Website: www.k12studycanada.org

Contacts: tina.storer@wwu.edu (Tina Storer) nfabbi@uw.edu (Nadine Fabbi)

Annual STUDY CANADA Summer Institute for K-12 Educators (since 1978) Canada Northern Neighbor (2nd Edition) O Canada! The True North Strong and Free! Newspapers in Education SupplementNCHE “Connections to Canada in US History” ArticlesHalf/Full-Day Professional Development Programs and Conference Workshops:

• Archives on the Arctic: Connecting to Global Issues…• From Coal Trains to Classrooms: Cross-Border Trade, Energy and Environmental Issues…

E-Resource Newsletters (every 2 months September-June) Teacher Loan-Kits (2 Types: Novel Collection (36) / Resource Valise (9 units)) Various Topic Resource Tours/Teaching Guides

K-12 STUDY CANADA Resources

Northeastern NRC on Canada

University of Maine Canadian Studies Center

State University of New York College at Plattsburgh Center for the Study of Canada and Institute on Québec Studies

Websites: www.umaine.edu/canam http://canada-acsus.plattsburgh.edu/cesca.htm

Contacts: barntzen@umit.maine.edu (Betsy Arntzen) sotheral@plattsburgh.edu (Amy Sotherden)

Northeastern NRC Initiatives

Canada Valise (Teacher-developed loan-kit with books, classroom artifacts and Grade 7 curricula by Les Buell)

Articles in Education Journals

Half/Full-Day Professional Development Programs and Workshops at Teacher Conferences:

• Canada and the New Hampshire Curriculum• Canada and the Massachusetts Curriculum• Canada and the New York Curriculum Annual (Alternate Year) Summer Institutes: • Québec Dimensions Summer Teachers’ Institute• Summer Institute for Teachers of French

Canada Community Leadership at NCSS

Recommended Print Publications

“Resource tours” are available on the www.k12studycanada.org homepage with book recommendations identified as appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.

Recommended Print Publications

Recommended Print Publications

Recommended Print Publications

Recommended Print Publications (K-3)

Recommended Print Publications (K-6)

Recommended Print Publications (4-8)

Recommended Print Publications (4-8)

Recommended Print Publications (5-10)

Recommended Print Publications (K-8)

Recommended Print Publications (4-10) and a Favorite Video….

Atlases & Classroom Maps of Canada

Fun Picture Books

Picture books that teach about people and history…

…about Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples

… about the Arctic

Students are never too young to read literature by Canadian authors…

Historical fiction engages students and teaches about interesting time periods…

Youth fiction creates a sense of place…

…for students of all reading levels…

Recommended Print PublicationsAlso visit Canadian Review of Materials (CM) at https://www.umanitoba.ca/cm for book reviews and recommendations in their online magazine. Many reviews are by classroom teachers/university faculty.

Pacific Edge Publishing www.classroomresources.com Chapters Bookstore www.chapters.ca Kidsbooks Vancouver www.kidsbooks.ca Powell’s Books (Victoria) www.powells.com JK Publications www.cardseh.ca

Publishing & Purchasing Sources

Canada on the Internet: Top 10 Websites

1 Government of Canada www.canada.ca Click “More Services” (above right) to learn about Canadian history, identity, culture, geography, world issues, etc.

2 Statistics Canada www.statcan.gc.ca Explore many lesson plans and data for K-12 and post-secondary students and educators.

3 The Canadian Review of Materials - CM Magazine http://umanitoba.ca/cm This online publication is overseen at the University of Manitoba, produced by volunteers, and targeted to educators/librarians with reviews of books and other materials that are authored, illustrated and/or published by for children and adolescents.

4 Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History http://canadianmysteries.ca/en/index.php Students will be drawn into Canadian history and archival research through the enticement of solving real "cold crimes"! Sound pedagogy behind material and teacher resources.

5 The Canadian Children's Book Centre www.bookcentre.ca The CCBC is dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating, and publishing of Canadian books for young readers with resources to help educators.

Top 10 Websites (Cont’d.)

6 Canada Eh? www3.sympatico.ca/taniah/Canada A personal page that offers downloadable Canada graphics useful for the classroom as well as a variety of information for students about Canada.

7 Historica Canada https://www.historicacanada.ca This site is devoted to enhancing awareness of Canadian history and citizenship. Access Heritage Minutes, a collection of more than 70 video vignettes that recreate historical events of great importance, accomplishment and bravery. It’s also home to The Canadian Encyclopedia, a free online resource that offers the largest collection of continuously updated articles focused on Canada and Canadiana. Don't miss the "Education" section. Middle/HS-level lesson plans cover different periods and events.

8 Parks Canada www.pc.gc.ca View QuickTime videos promoting tourism and information about national parks throughout Canada.

9 Canadiana www.canadiana.ca/en/home Access Canada's documentary heritage. The collections include: On This Day…; Early Canadiana Online; The Héritage Project (some of Canada's most popular archival collections); and the Canadiana Discovery Portal, a gateway to diverse digital collections from many libraries, museums and archives.

10 The Canadian Social Studies Super Site www.ualberta.ca/~jkirman Carefully screened connections to quality websites about Canada are offered that also give a glimpse into how Canadians teach about themselves.

… Enjoy exploring book stores and museum shops while in Canada, and then developing new curricula based on your STUDY CANADA experience so that your students will, in turn, appreciate learning about Canada, its relations with the US and its role in the world!

The end of this presentation is really your beginning…

A PowerPoint walk-through of…The K-12 STUDY CANADA Resource Valise

9 Units of Study • Artifacts • Teacher Resources• Internet Lists• Multimedia Resources

• 8 CD-ROMs• 8 Music CDs• 7 Videos/DVDs

Multimedia Resources

Canadian Geographic Explorer Canada: Confederation to Present Cross Country Canada Totem Poles Adventure Canada Land of the Inuit Nunavut Territory Canadian Treasures

8 CD-ROMS

Multimedia Resources

8 Music CDs

Sing a Song of Canada + Songbook (Kim Soleski-Ward) Stompin’ Tom Sings Canada’s History (Stompin’ Tom Connors) Canada is for Kids – Vol. 1 & 2 (Michael Mitchell) Un Pays Qui Se Chante (Various Québec Artists) For the Times (Schooner Fare) This Child (Susan Aglukark) Gord’s Gold (Gordon Lightfoot) Sing a Song of Canada: A Musical Journey Across Canada (Kim Soleski-Ward CD & Songbook)

Multimedia Resources

7 Videotapes/DVDs

The Canadian History Series (1939-2000) Postcards from Canada Paddle to the Sea The Group of Seven The Sweater CBC Life & Times: L.M. Montgomery Breaking the Ice: The Story of Mary Ann Shadd

Unit 1: O Canada!

Artifacts: Set of Provincial & Canada Flags Deck of “Cards Eh!” Fold-Out & Laminated 3-D Maps 12 Laminated Placemats Canada-at-Glance Binder Insert

Teaching Resources: Canada Northern Neighbor The Spirit of Canada Canada’s Maple Leaf: The Story

of Our Flag The Kids Book of Canada Sing a Song of Canada O Canada! NIE Supplement

Internet List: 20 websites

Unit 2: BC – Totems & Emily Carr

Artifacts: Totem Pole

Teaching Resources: Emily Carr: An Introduction to her Life and Art The Art Room Bentwood Box; Button Blanket;

Cedar Plank Mask; Spindle Whorl BC: Land and People

Internet List: 12 websites

Unit 3: Images of Ontario – From City to Shield

Artifacts: CN Tower Model & Brochure Art Pin (A.J. Casson’s “White Pine”)

Teaching Resources: Looking at Landscape Resource Package Images of Nature: Canadian Poets

and the Group of Seven Meet the Group of Seven

Internet List: 12 websites

Artifacts: Montreal Canadians “Away”

Hockey Jersey

Teaching Resources: Québec: Land and People The Sweater (book) The Rise and Fall: 1700-1775 New France

Internet List: 12 websites

Unit 4: Québec – les Habitants & “the Habs!”

Unit 5: The Maritimes & the Land of Anne

Artifacts: P.E.I. License Plate w/ Anne

Teaching Resources: Lucy Maud Montgomery: A Writer’s

Life Duncan’s Way

Internet List: 14 websites

Unit 6: Canada’s North & the Inuit

Artifacts: Inuksuk Kit

Teaching Resources: Artists in the Arctic Resource

Package The Kids Book of the Far North The Inuksuk Book Arctic Stories

Internet List: 12 websites

Unit 7: Canadian Dreams – The Railroad, RCMP & Yukon Gold

Artifacts: CN Model Railway Car or RCMP

Postcards/Poster

Teaching Resources: The Cremation of Sam McGee The Kids Book of Canada’s

Railway Boldly Canadian: RCMP The Mounties For Kids Activity

Book Life in the Old West Series: The Railroad and The Gold Rush

Internet List: 12 websites

Artifacts: Child’s Game

Teaching Resources: Contemporary Art By First

Nations Artists Resource Package

Canada History: Prehistoric Canada (Ancient Canada–Aboriginal People)

Paddle to the Sea From Time Immemorial Maple Moon

Internet List: 12 websites

Unit 8: Canada’s First Nations

Unit 9: Black Canadians & the Underground Railroad

Artifacts: 2 Posters

Teaching Resources: In Our Time: An Introductory

Learning Guide The Spirit of Africville The Story of Mary Ann Shadd The Kids Book of Black

Canadian History

Internet List: 11 websites

A PowerPoint walk-through of…The K-12 STUDY CANADA Student Novel Collection

Unit 1: O Canada!

• Tunnels of Time (M. Harelkin Bishop) Saskatchewan• Rebellion (J. Scanlon) Manitoba• Who Has Seen the Wind? (W.O. Mitchell) Saskatchewan• Jake and the Kid (W.O. Mitchell) Saskatchewan• Ticket to Curlew (C.B. Lottridge) Alberta

Unit 2: BC: Totems and Emily Carr

• Will’s Garden (L. Maracle) also suitable for use with Unit 8 • The West Coast Murders (R. MacGregor)• Raven’s Flight (D. Silvey) • Lambs of Hell’s Gate (M.L. Bright)• Cariboo Runaway (D. Davis)

Unit 3: Images of Ontario — From City to

Shield• The Lost Sketch (Adventure.Net Series – A. and D. Spalding)• A Bushel of Light (T. Harrison)• The Ghost of the Stanley Cup (R. MacGregor)• Horror on River Road (R. MacGregor)

  Unit 4: Québec: les Habitants & “the Habs!”

• Terra Incognita (A. Metikosh)• The Hollow Tree (J. Lunn)• The Quebec City Crisis (R. MacGregor)• The King’s Daughter (S. Martel)

Unit 5: The Maritimes & the Land of Anne

• The Girl on Evangeline Beach (A. Carter)• Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)• Anne of Avonlea (L.M. Montgomery)• Anne of the Island (L.M. Montgomery)• Lucy Maud and Me (M.F. Coady)

Unit 6: Canada’s North and the Inuit• Napachee (R. Feagan)• The Screech Owls’ Northern Adventure (R. MacGregor)• Lost in the Barrens (F. Mowat)• Call of the Wild (J. London) Not a Canadian author

 

 Unit 7: Canadian Dreams: The Railroad, RCMP & Yukon Gold • Jason’s Gold (W. Hobbs) Not a Canadian author• Ambush in the Foothills (B. Freeman)• Gold Fever Trail (Monica Hughes)• Steel Across the Shield (P. Berton)

 Unit 8: Canada’s First Nations• Maybe Tomorrow (J. Weir)• My Name is Sepeetza (S. Sterling)• Will’s Garden (L. Maracle)

Unit 9: Black Canadians and the Underground Railroad• Underground to Canada (B. Smucker)• If I Just Had Two Wings (V.F. Schwartz)• The Last Safe House (B. Greenwood)