September 21, 2006 Volume 3, Issue 5

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Letter from the Editor Taking Canadian history to new heights Dear Subscribers: On the eve of the announcement of the six winners of the Governor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History, I thought it would be interesting to become acquainted with the 25 finalists. I have repro- duced their photos below so that you might see Now in its 11th year, ’s National History Soci- what I saw in them — dedication, wisdom, ety has announced the 25 finalists for the 2006 Gov- experience, and passion. ernor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Above all, I see the reflection Canadian History. of all the educators who every day apply their mental and Highlights from some of the final- physical energy to their work ists’ lesson plans include uncover- in order to open the eyes and ing artifacts from a 450-year-old minds of their students em- Iroquoian village, acting as secret ploying best practices learned agents for John A. MacDonald’s through years of trial and government, publishing a tell-all town book, trading error. To me these teachers beaver pelts and engaging in building replicas of represent only ‘the tip of the iceberg’. So much Japanese internment camps. talent is available in classrooms across this country. The true winners are the students. In an awards ceremony to be held in Ottawa on Thursday, September 28, 2006, six winners selected I was struck by how often the descriptions of from the finalists will be awarded $2,500 and a gold their work used the words “inspiring, creative, medal. Their respective schools will also benefit with fun, cross-curricular, and interdisciplinary”. a $1,000 cash award. Virtually every one of them alluded to the importance of making the connection between The Awards recipients will the past and the present. I hope you enjoy also be treated to a visit to reading about them. Parliament Hill, the official presentation at the Governor CoEd Communications is dedicated to support- General’s Residence, a pri- ing the important work of teachers by providing vate tour of the historic Rideau Hall, and a private resources on a range of topics for the class- luncheon with Her Excellency, the Right Honourable room. We invite you to visit our website at Michaëlle Jean. The winners and their guests will 4edu.ca to view the many free teachers’ also be treated to a gala dinner, and a rare insiders’ resources on offer. tour of the Gatineau Preservation Centre. For com-

Your thoughts are welcome. plete details click here. QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher ex- plains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The Mary Kovack great teacher inspires. — William Arthur Ward

2006 Finalists

Patricia Baker Margo Broadbent Robert Burgar Leaside H.S. Romeo P.S. Aurora H.S. Toronto, ON Stratford, ON Aurora, ON

Two senior history course “Proud Canadian Kids” Junior This 20-year director of Boyd assignments: writing & compiling an an- K-6 program involves both students and Archaeological Field School runs an in- thology of original folklore short stories for parents. Monthly study topics—Flag Day, tensive summer program where students children, and, a five-year “ceiling mural RCMP, and Canadian inventors—utilize learn about Ontario’s archaelogical proc- project” depicting Canada’s historical scavenger hunts, puzzles, essay contests. ess and rich aboriginal history. growth.

Louise Busseau Antony Caruso Daniel Conner E P Saint François Xa Hol Spirit Elementar Rockridge Secondar thology of original folklore short stories for parents. Monthly study topics—Flag Day, tensive summer program where students children, and, a five-year “ceiling mural RCMP, and Canadian inventors—utilize learn about Ontario’s archaelogical proc- project” depicting Canada’s historical scavenger hunts, puzzles, essay contests. ess and rich aboriginal history. growth.

Louise Busseau Antony Caruso Daniel Conner E. P. Saint François Xa- Holy Spirit Elementary Rockridge Secondary vier, Rivière du loup, QC Aurora, ON West Vancouver, BC

The historical growth of 19th The Red River Spy Mission Using the HBC blanket and century Canada, Quebec and the West. assignment uses an approach that fuses beaver pelt, grade 8-10 students become Using a creative approach, primary stu- critical thinking and drama, challenging “participants rather than spectators” in the dents research, write and present their grade 7-8 students to go “undercover” and cultural exchange that occurred during work, produce an album and website and critically engage in a controversial issue in the fur trade between Cree and HBC preserve the final project on a DVD. Canadian history. traders and weigh their parallel values.

Marvin Dodds Jennifer Johnson-George Karon Guttormson Esquimalt High School Prince of Wales Elem. Evan Hardy Collegiate Victoria, BC Calgary, AB Saskatoon, SK

Using a Socratic style, this 11 field studies to museums This art teacher incorporates 30-year veteran’s submission of a com- and Stampede Park and oral histories of Canadian history into her lessons with an prehensive guide to the ‘Research Essay’ Treaty 7 Nations provide grade 1-2 class assignment where students create a establishes an invaluable foundation for with a hands-on approach to learning multi-image composition depicting a sig- students preparing for college/university. about the history of and the impact nificant historical event that resulted in of the train and wooden grain elevator. great change for Canada. Peter Katsionis John MacPhail Jane Marshall Sir Winston Churchill St. Dominic Catholic Branksome Hall Sec., Vancouver, BC Elem., Oakville, ON Toronto, ON

Grade 11-12 Law and Social This grade 8 class is encour- In her Grade 7, 9, and 12 Science classes judge the actions of aged to participate in a mock trial of Wil- courses, students progressively build Louis Riel based on Canada’s new anti- liam Lyon Mackenzie and study the Rebel- debate and dispute resolution skills in terrorism bill C-36. Students recreate the lions of 1837 from a modern perspective. Roundtable Debates. Another special trial of Riel asking whether today we see Students develop skills in critical thought, unit chronicles the lives of prominent Riel as a terrorist or a freedom-fighter. debate and questioning of assumptions. settlers, such as, Susannah Moodie.

Julie-Catherine Greg Miyanaga Bev den Ouden Mercadier Pinetree Elementary Colchester School Terre-des-Jeunes, Coquitlam, BC Sherwood Park, AB LaSalle, QC Co-created with Patricia Ta- Inspired by a former student This unit on the history of New France naka and Masako Fukawa, this unit now serving in Afghanistan, an assign- awakens curiosity in students about local teaches grade 4-5 students about the his- ment was developed to help grade 5 landmarks and street names. Uses an tory of Japanese Canadians during WWII, students learn about the life of the Afghan interdisciplinary approach through creat- employing “hands-on, minds-on, hearts-on” people and the importance of Canada’s ing models, timelines, learning folksongs. lessons on the internment and redress. current and past military missions.

Keith Samuelson Blake Seward Jamie Smith Prince of Wales Colle- Smith Falls DCI Sacred Heart H.S. giate, St. John’s, NL Smith Falls, ON Walkerton, ON

Participation in an Educator’s Begun as an exploration of In an effort to preserve the Tour led to the development of a Global military files of cenotaph names, the “Lest town’s oral tradition, grade 12 students Education Program which includes the We Forget” unit has grown to be adopted studied the history of the Walkerton Meat investigation by students of the lives of by schools across Canada. Students write Market, recorded oral testimonies, pro- local Holocaust survivors for the school’s essays from researching the life of a ser- duced a documentary archived in a time website and voluntary community service. vice person during the war until their death. capsule, and developed a heritage fair.

Joe Stafford James Stewart Cynthia Ann Weldon St. Theresa Catholic Bishop Strachan School D.W. Poppy Secondary Sec., Belleville, ON Toronto, ON Langley, BC

Following the “enduring un- This grade 10 program, “The Responding to a request by a derstanding” model, this grade 10 course 10 Days that Changed Canada” looks at local B&B owner who wanted to know its is centered around 2 assignments: a re- the relationship between past and present, history, grade 9-10 students interviewed enactment of Canada’s Diamond Jubilee encouraging students to think critically seniors in the area and recorded their in 1927 and examining the “Past, Pre- about the significance, ‘cause and effect’, stories in a book of historical fiction, “The sent, Future” of a major current event. and interconnectedness of events. Story of Murrayville”.

Kathryn Whitfield Iris Loewen, Pam Aleekuk, Wendy Erick Vaughan Road Academy Ermineskin Junior Senior High School Toronto, ON Hobbema, AB

To mark Remembrance Week, the school recreated the atmos- This project responds to the challenge of incorporating First Nations content across phere of WWII using visual archival dis- grade 7 curriculum. A partnership with the Glenbow Museum allows artifacts to be on plays; reading actual announcements long-term loan to the school. Lessons are taught by two grade seven teachers and a from the 40’s; era music; and an interac- teacher librarian and use Cree elders, artifacts and historical texts as resources. tive lesson on “Life in the Trenches”.

Merrill Hunter, Antonio di Geronimo, Kim Chagnon, Twylla Caudill, Curtis Belton, Lori Bod- Mary Scott ner, Sandra Bueti, Patricia Hinther St. Gabriel Clifton School, Winnipeg, MB School, Regina, SK This cross-departmental collaboration used a multi-disciplinary, arts informed approach to “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!” social learning about historical Canadians and their studies unit exploring the past and present contributions to Canada. Students participated history of the fictional town of “Gabrielville” in the selection and researching of important through field trips, meetings with local Clifton School, Winnipeg, MB School, Regina, SK This cross-departmental collaboration used a multi-disciplinary, arts informed approach to “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!” social learning about historical Canadians and their studies unit exploring the past and present contributions to Canada. Students participated history of the fictional town of “Gabrielville” in the selection and researching of important through field trips, meetings with local Canadians and created a puppet-likeness of them. At their annual heri- officials, writing articles for a class newspa- tage fair, the students prepared a festive awards puppet show. per, and sewing a representational quilt for display on a historical wall of fame.

Education News

One-room schools offer Alberta history lesson; Landmarks once numbered in thousands — David Howell, The Journal, July 16, 2006

“As architectural symbols of Alberta's history, one-room country schools don't enjoy nearly the same status as grain elevators and oil derricks. But Tim Johnston [an Alberta Teachers' Association official who is col- lecting photos of old schools and publishing them in the ATA Magazine] believes they are just as important.”

Why are bullies admired? — Trish Crawford, LIFE Writer, The Toronto Star, Sep. 18, 2006

“Education is the key to curbing bullying, he says, as students learn about the great men and women who promote respect for others. Master teacher Maureen Kenny (an experienced teacher who helps teachers handle classroom problems) piloted an anti-bullying curriculum last year in a tough New York City school that was rife with violence. The successful program, based on stories about young people being bullied and the ways they can solve their problems, helps victims and abusers alike, she says. "Every bully has been bullied. It's learned behaviour. The good things is that all these kids are getting an education. In school, they are learning about Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi and Albert Einstein and have access to lit- erature and poems they wouldn't have out in the work world. They are exposed to great people and big ideas. So no, it is not hopeless."

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