The study of history comes alive and is more engaging and meaningful for students when they learn how to think like an historian.
With the support of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund, we have developed resources about Ukrainians in Canada, and in particular about the experiences arising from the government’s decision to intern Canadian citizens of Ukrainian and other European backgrounds on the suspicion that their ethnic identity posed a security threat to the country.
Developing Understanding through the Arts
Recognizing an Historic Injustice: Canada's First National Internment Operations, 1914-1920
Designed for students in grades 5 to 9, this resource features nine lessons that use visual and dramatic arts to nurture student understanding of Canada’s First National Internment Operations, 1914–1920.
This resource is available for free courtesy of a grant from the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.
Recognizing an Historic Injustice:
Canada's First National Internment Operations, 1914-1920
This free resource contains nine lessons intended for students in grades 9 to 12 exploring the events, causes and consequences of the internment of thousands of individuals in Canada during the First World War era.
Ukrainian immigration History Docs
As part of our History Docs collection, we have assembled seven sets of primary and secondary documents organized around Reasons for Ukrainian immigration and Conditions for early Ukrainian immigrants.
World War I internment History Docs
As part of our History Docs collection, we have assembled five sets of primary and secondary documents dealing with various aspects of this dark chapter in Canadian history.
Historical significance
This video with accompanying lesson plans help students learn to question why some important events are ignored as they compare the significance of the WWI internment of Ukrainian Canadians with the WWII internment of Japanese Canadians. (7:14 minutes)
Ethical judgment
This video with accompanying lesson plans help students learn to question the motives of the Canadian government’s decision to intern Ukrainian Canadians during the First World War. (6:33 minutes)
Affirmation of Witnesses
This richly illustrated document explores the causes and consequences of WWI internment, often through the eyes and words of the camp survivors and their families.
Canada’s First National Internment Operations, 1914-1920
This pamphlet, available in several languages, offers an illustrated overview of this historic event.
Prisoners of Prejudice
This 27-page student resource with teacher's guide (CD with PowerPoint slides) provides background information about Ukrainian immigration to Canada and chronicles the internment of Ukrainians during World War I.
Creating Memorials of Past Injustices
These lesson plans teach about creating a memorial to commemorate the internment of Ukrainians and other Europeans during the First World War.
Chinese Canadian Stories is a project that provides rich and diverse resources chronicling this community's history and experiences in Canada.
Exploring Identity, Inclusion and Citizenship:
The 1907 Vancouver Riots
This print resource chronicles the lead up to, details and aftermath of riots in Vancouver at the turn of the twentieth century. It explores the questions of identity and inclusion from the perspectives of five key groups: Aboriginal, Chinese, European, Japanese and South Asian people.
Chinese Canadian History Docs
As part of our History Docs collection, we have assembled eleven sets of primary and secondary documents dealing with various aspects of the experiences of Chinese Canadians from the 1880s onward.
Evidence and interpretation
This video with accompanying lesson plans help students learn to interpret and question the information available from primary sources to learn about Chinese Canadians. (6:55 minutes)
Continuity and change
This video with accompanying lesson plans help students learn to interpret and question the information available from primary sources to learn about Chinese Canadians. (6:55 minutes)
Historical perspective
This video with accompanying lesson plans help students learn to imagine how life for Chinese Canadian youth growing up during the interwar period may not have been the same as the lives of youth today. (5:53 minutes)
Pages from the Past
This interactive game focuses on historical perspective through the values and life choices of four fictional Chinese characters from the 1850s to the 1940s. Students earn rewards by offering sound advice that is respectful of the historical realities and personal aspirations of each character.
TC² supported Simon Fraser University in their development of the website Komagata Maru: Continuing the Journey with primary documents, background information, interactive tools and lesson plans to explore Canadian history through the eyes of the South Asian community.
Lesson plans
The following lessons plans draw upon an array of historical materials to explore issues affecting South Asians in Canada: