Aboriginal Education Lesson Plans (Elementary)

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Game Lesson Plans (Gr. 3-6)
This site includes two detailed lesson plans for grades 3-6 about First Nations in Canada, and takes a game-based learning approach. It should be very useful for elementary teachers. Being run through the federal government, it directly adheres to established educational policies and goals.
URL: www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1302545336268/1302545527136

BC Ministry of Education, Aboriginal Education Resources
This website contains Ministry-approved materials for teaching First Nations in the classroom, including Integrated Resource Packages (IRPs), maps, ongoing research projects, and links to other useful resources. There are not very many resources, but they should all be very useful.
URL: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/documents.htm

Central Okanagan School District Classroom Resources K-7
URL: www.sd23.bc.ca/ProgramsServices/AboriginalEducation/CurriculumResources/CRK-7/Pages/default.aspx

Crunchers: A Fun Fast-Facts Game about Aboriginal Peoples in Canada
Source: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Summary:
The cruncher is a fun colouring activity that will help children (ages 8-12) learn more about First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada.

Curriculum Connections: Metis (2004) Gr. 3, 6, 7, 8
URL: www.etfo.ca/Resources/ForTeachers/Documents/Canadian%20Aboriginal%20Festival%202004%20Curriculum%20Connections%20-%20The%20M%C3%A9tis.pdf

First Nation Child and Family Caring Society lesson plans
Good contextual discussion of First Nations education and some of the issues surrounding it, and includes links to other good resources as well: all in all, a great resource. There are four different documents for different age ranges.

How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun –Primary Lesson (Gr. 2-3) URL: www.etfo.ca/Resources/ForTeachers/Documents/Canadian%20Aboriginal%20Festival%202006%20Curriculum%20Connections%20-%20Primary%20Lesson.pdf

In Our Own Words K-3
URL: www.fnesc.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PUB-LFP-K-3-In-our-Own-Words-for-Web.pdf

Junior Division Drawing Unit (Gr. 6)
URL: ontarioarteducationassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Drawing_Junior_OSEA-2.pdf

Kamloops/Thompson District School Board, Implementing Aboriginal Content
This extensive list of resources includes everything from links to full units and lesson plans to simple ideas meant to get you started developing your own lessons. There are several hundred items included, although it has not been kept updated since 2012. It also includes links to Ministry Prescribed Learning Outcomes.
URL: www3.sd73.bc.ca/education/content/fn-cross-curricular-secondary-resources

Kid's Stop
URL: www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1315444613519/1315444663239

Laurier University Faculty of Education - Aboriginal Lesson Plans and Activities
This site provides a plethora of links to online resources, strategies and actives related to Aboriginal education and the classroom.
URL: legacy.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1867&p=21061

The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada
URL: www.etfo.ca/Resources/ForTeachers/Documents/The%20Learning%20Circle
%20%20Classroom%20Activities%20on%20First%20Nations%20in%20Canada.pdf

Native Leaders of Canada Lesson Plan (Gr. 4-6)
URL: fner.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/native-leaders-of-canada-gr-4-6-lesson-plan/

Wilfrid Laurier University, Aboriginal Lesson Plans/Activities
This is a very good resource for teachers who are looking for aboriginal lesson plans for all grades. Games, activities and lessons for social studies, language and history are all covered.
URL: legacy.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1867&p=21061

The Dark Side of Canada
Indian Residential Schools
Lesson Overview
Canadian Indian Residential School System
Rationale: The purpose of these lessons requires student(s) to critically engage the subject matter regarding the Indian Act and the impact and legacy of the Residential School System in Canada.
Introduction to Residential School Unit Prescribed Learning Outcome(s):
Demonstrate knowledge of the challenges faced by Aboriginal people in Canada during the 20th century and their responses regarding:
• Residential schools
• Reserves
• Self-government
• Treaty negotiations
Instructional Objective(s): Students who have fully met the prescribed learning outcomes can:
• Describe the impact of the Indian Act on Aboriginal people (e.g., marginalization and dependency)
• Describe the impact of residential schools on Aboriginal people (e.g., destruction of lives and communities)
• Identify various Aboriginal responses to challenges (e.g., negotiations, protests, and court cases with respect to land and resource issues; demand for self-government)
• Formulate answers to questions such as the following:
• What are the challenges and benefits for Aboriginal people living on and off reserves?
• Why are Aboriginal people concerned about cultural appropriation?
Big Idea
Disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and societies.
The physical environment influences the nature of political, social and economic change.
Core Competencies
Demonstrate awareness of the provisions of the Indian Act and its impact on the citizenship of Aboriginal Canadians.
Demonstrate understanding of the history and present status of Aboriginal land claims and self-government in Canada.
Recognize connections between events and their causes, consequences, and implications
Legacy
The Indian Act was imposed on aboriginal people.
It has been a hindrance to Native culture and economic development.Self-government would help provide stability and allow for self-reliance Students will become aware of how the Indian Act contributed to the destruction of self-determination by Native people.
The Indian Act did not provide equality for all people living in Canada.
The current fight for self-government is a just cause
Key words
Assimilation              Colonialism               Impose                       Ward
Indian Act                 Indian Agent             Paternalism           Self Government
Enfranchise

Resources
Jaques, R. (2016). The Legacy [Video file]. Retrieved from Vimeo https://vimeo.com/185429727
This documentary with embedded music which features a photographic history of Norway House Boarding School, Manitoba, St Michaels Residential School, BC, Alberni Residential School, BC, Morley Residential School, Alberta, St Anne Industrial School, Ontario.
Wolochatiuk, T. (2012). We Were Children [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.nfb.ca/film/we_were_children/
This is a documentary about the life in the eyes of two children who were placed in residential homes. The film shows you exactly some of the things that they experienced while living in the homes and what their life was like after.
Cramner, B (2016). Our Voices Our Stories [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://vimeo.com/141833166
ABOUT THE FILM

Imagine for a moment, your six-year-old child taken from you. Taken to a place far away from the love and security of home, family, and community.

In 1929, St. Michael's Residential School opened its doors in Alert Bay, BC. It was the largest school by the Anglican Church. First Nationals children from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia were taken from their homes.

In this powerful film, people share in their own voices; their stories of personal trauma as St Michael's is demolished.

Today we continue to strive for healing and forgiveness. The resilience of our people survived a very dark and devastating period. This will never happen again in our history as a people.

Richard E. Jaques

Richard E. Jaques

Indigenous Resource Blog

Richard E. Jaques

Aboriginal Education Resource Links

Aboriginal Education Lesson Plans (Elementary)

Residential Schools

Richard E. Jaques