Canadian history is vast, spanning from Indigenous civilizations to French and British colonization, Confederation, and modern developments. Immigrant families in Canada can help their children feel more at home in the country by teaching them about this history. Understanding Canada’s past not only eases integration into your new community, it also encourages empathy and respect for different perspectives.
At Remitly, we aim to help newcomers adapt smoothly. By exploring Canada’s story with your children in engaging ways, you can build curiosity and pride in your new home. These tips will make your child’s journey into Canadian history fun, engaging, and culturally enriching.
How to teach your children about Canadian history
Understanding Canada’s past is key to helping your child feel connected to their new home. Whether through stories, museum visits, or family discussions, making history engaging and relevant will deepen their appreciation of where they live.
Importance of teaching Canadian history
For children from immigrant families, learning Canadian history provides a sense of belonging. It helps them understand how different cultures shaped the country. They can also see how their own story fits into Canada’s larger narrative.
Through history, children learn about the Indigenous peoples who have lived on this land for thousands of years, the early European settlers, and the key moments that transformed Canada. Understanding these events builds respect for cultural diversity. It also encourages civic engagement and promotes values like democracy, reconciliation, and inclusivity.
For example, discussing Canada’s path to Confederation in 1867 shows how different regions came together to form a nation despite their differences. Learning about the Underground Railroad teaches children how Canada became a place of refuge for those fleeing slavery. These stories help children connect not only with history but also with the values that define modern Canada.
Common misconceptions about Canadian history
Many children think history is simply memorizing dates and facts, or that Canada’s past lacks the dramatic conflicts of other nations. In reality, Canada’s history is full of powerful stories. These include the War of 1812, the women’s suffrage movement and the fight for civil rights.
Another common misconception is that history is only found in textbooks. However, history comes alive through interactive experiences. Visiting sites like the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, the Fort York National Historic Site in Toronto, or the Pier 21 Immigration Museum in Halifax can make the past feel real.
There are plenty of accessible and engaging ways to explore Canada’s past from home, too. You can find online resources such as CBC Kids History, the National Film Board’s Indigenous cinema collection, and virtual museum exhibits that make learning history fun.
By addressing these misconceptions, you can make history come alive for your child. This will help them appreciate that Canada’s past relates to their journey today.
Engaging resources for teaching
Effective history lessons rely on a variety of resources that cater to different learning styles. Whether your child prefers reading, watching videos, or engaging in hands-on activities, there are plenty of tools to make Canadian history come alive.
Using Canadian history textbooks
Textbooks remain a valuable resource for covering core topics such as Indigenous history, Confederation, and key historical figures. However, not all textbooks are created equal. When choosing one, look for:
- Updated editions that reflect current perspectives on Indigenous history and cultural diversity.
- Publications that collaborate with historians, educators, and Indigenous advisors to ensure balanced viewpoints.
- Books that include primary sources such as letters, diaries, or official documents to bring historical events to life.
For older students, encourage critical thinking by comparing textbook summaries with personal accounts. Ask them questions such as, “How did different groups experience the same event?” or, “What perspectives are missing?”
Also, consider incorporating local history. For instance, if you live in Ontario, focus on events like the War of 1812. If you’re in Alberta, explore the province’s resource-driven development and railway expansion.
Multimedia resources: videos and music
Multimedia is a useful way to make history more engaging. Watching historical moments unfold on screen or hearing the music of past generations allows children to connect with Canada’s past in a way that static text can’t.
- Educational documentaries and short films: The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and YouTube channels like Historica Canada offer high-quality videos on a variety of topics.
- Historical music and folk songs: Songs from different eras, like Métis fiddle tunes or traditional ballads about settler life, offer a unique cultural lens into history. Try listening to period music while discussing major events for a more immersive experience.
- Animated history series: For younger children, animation simplifies complex events into memorable stories. After watching, ask them open-ended questions to help them reflect.
Interactive tools: My Canadian Time Capsule
Interactive learning makes history tangible and memorable. Platforms like My Canadian Time Capsule allow children to engage with the past through activities that spark curiosity and creativity.
- Creative projects: Encourage children to write a “postcard from the past,” imagining themselves as a fur trader in the 1700s or a settler in 1867.
- Hands-on history at home: Set up a small “museum corner” where they can display printed images, drawings, or homemade artifacts representing different eras.
- Gamified history challenges: Look for quizzes, puzzles, or role-playing exercises that turn history lessons into interactive adventures.
By incorporating a mix of reading, listening, watching, and hands-on activities, you can transform Canadian history from a distant subject into a journey of discovery.
Making Canadian history fun for children
One of the biggest challenges in teaching history is overcoming the “boring” stereotype. Many children find it hard to connect what they learn in school or from textbooks to their current lives.
Why Canadian history is considered boring
Children may perceive Canada’s development as peaceful and lacking large-scale conflicts. Textbooks sometimes present events in a dull chronology, skipping dramatic narratives or personal stories that breathe life into history. Also, when history lessons focus on broad national expansions rather than local tales or everyday experiences, it can alienate younger minds.
Myths about “nothing interesting happening in Canada” hide lesser-known events. For instance, the North-West Rebellion and key civil rights movements.
Also, overemphasis on dates and names discourages children from digging deeper. Reframing these stories about people and cultural exchanges can clear up this misconception. It shows that each region of Canada has its own story.
Tips to make history lessons engaging
Transforming history from a school subject into an interactive experience makes learning more enjoyable. Some creative ways to make Canadian history exciting for your child include:
- Role plays: Encourage children to step into the shoes of historical figures by reenacting scenes from history. They can act as explorers, Métis traders, suffragettes, or civil rights activists to understand different perspectives.
- Scavenger hunts: Hide fact cards around the house or classroom with clues about important events or people. For example, a card might say, “Find the location where Canada became a country in 1867!” leading them to a map of Confederation.
- Everyday life experiences: Assign small research tasks like learning what early settlers ate, how the fur trade shaped local economies, or how “Confederation dinners” were celebrated. For example, cooking a traditional Canadian meal can turn history into a hands-on experience.
- Personal stories: Ask children to interview older family members or neighbors about their experiences of historical events. Whether it’s a grandparent’s immigration story or how life changed with new technologies. Personal stories bring history to life.
- Field trips: Visiting museums or heritage sites helps history come alive. And these visits don’t have to be expensive and time-consuming. There are time- and money-saving ways to explore history in your area. For example, many museums, like the Canadian Museum of History, offer virtual tours.
By making history immersive and relevant, you can replace boredom with curiosity. Show your child that Canada’s past is full of fascinating, untold stories waiting to be discovered.
Teaching strategies for Canadian history
Helping children navigate Canada’s vast history requires structure and creativity. By blending field trips, experiential learning, and projects, you can make historical events feel more tangible and relevant.
The goal isn’t just to teach dates and facts. It’s to help children connect with the people, places, and decisions that shaped Canada as they settle into their new surroundings.
Field trips and experiential learning
Visiting historical sites and museums can make history come alive for children. Seeing artifacts up close and entering recreated historical settings helps them imagine life in different times.
Lots of museums have interactive exhibits, which are great for different age groups. Children can explore Indigenous beadwork, fur trade items, wartime memorabilia, and holographic storytelling displays. Some museums offer hands-on workshops where kids can try activities like quill writing, early map-making, or traditional weaving.
Apart from museums, check out living history villages. Upper Canada Village in Ontario and Fort Edmonton Park in Alberta are great options. These sites feature interpreters dressed in period clothing who demonstrate everyday tasks like blacksmithing, bread-making, and farming.
Seeing how people lived without modern conveniences builds empathy and appreciation for past struggles and achievements. For an even more interactive approach, some parks and heritage sites offer re-enactments of historical events. Attending one of these can help children experience history as a story unfolding in real time.
Building history connections through projects
Linking Canadian history with other subjects boosts learning. It helps kids understand its importance outside the classroom. Connecting history to subjects like geography, literature, or the arts allows children to explore events from different angles.
- Map-making activities can bring history and geography together. Children can trace explorers’ routes, Indigenous trade networks, or major migration patterns, helping them understand how geography shaped historical events.
- Art projects, for example, on Métis beadwork or Haida carvings, provide insight into Indigenous cultures while encouraging creativity.
- Journaling and storytelling exercises also make history personal. A child can write a diary entry “from the past,” imagining life as a fur trader, a newly arrived immigrant at Pier 21, or a child in a residential school. These activities encourage perspective-taking and help children relate to historical experiences.
- Historical debates and primary sources can deepen critical thinking. For instance, try discussing the pros and cons of Confederation from different provinces’ perspectives or analyzing letters and newspaper articles from pivotal moments in history.
If projects require supplies, consider budget-friendly approaches, such as using recycled materials for dioramas or exploring free online resources. Managing project costs is also an opportunity to introduce children to financial literacy.
By combining structured activities with hands-on learning, you can teach your child about Canadian history in a way that is both meaningful and memorable.
Additional resources and recommendations
Beyond everyday classes, broader support enriches your child’s learning. Books, online articles, and group learning ideas are just a few ways to integrate family or community insights.
Books and online articles
- The Kids Book of Canada provides illustrated summaries of key historical moments.
- Discover Canada (by the federal government) covers major symbols and events, ideal for older children.
- Online archives like Historica Canada Education Portal and CBC’s archives offer curated articles, primary documents, and videos.
- Historical fiction, like Fatty Legs (a personal account of residential schools), builds empathy. Comparing fiction with factual sources helps children see multiple perspectives.
History co-ops and group learning opportunities
- Co-op groups allow families to study Canadian history together through activities like timeline-building, reenactments, and historical charades.
- Community groups and homeschooling networks often organize collaborative history lessons, mixing age groups for peer learning.
- Cultural associations host workshops on topics like Indigenous traditions, immigration stories, and regional histories.
Integrating books, digital tools, and group activities makes Canadian history more engaging and interactive for your child. Beyond that, visiting historical towns, enjoying natural resources, and exploring the country you’re settling into is a great way to help your family feel more connected to their new home.
FAQs
What is the brief history of Canada?
Canada’s story begins with diverse Indigenous Peoples, followed by French and British colonization. Confederation in 1867 united several provinces, expanding over time to include ten provinces and three territories. Key events include two World Wars, the rise of multicultural policies, and ongoing reconciliation efforts with Indigenous communities. Each region brings its narrative, from the Maritimes’ fishing heritage to Western Canada’s resource-driven economies.
How can my kids learn Canadian history?
Combining multiple resources, such as textbooks, documentaries, museums, and interactive web tools, is best. Focus on personal stories to humanize events. Visiting local archives or historical societies provides hands-on insight. Encourage children to document what they learn in a journal, turning history lessons into a personal journey.
What do you learn in Grade 10 Canadian history?
Grade 10 typically covers significant developments post-World War I, such as the Great Depression, World War II, and Canada’s growing international role. Students also examine Indigenous rights movements, Quebec’s Quiet Revolution, and modern social changes. They learn to analyze causes and consequences, fostering critical thinking.