A New Home - Pioneer Settlement in Upper Canada
This project, adapted from an old textbook (was it Canada Revisited?), has students taking in the roles of American and European immigrants travelling and settling a fictitious township in Upper Canada during the 1820s. The simulation doesn't have a lot of fancy props or rules, mostly just the students' imagination. Part One is the simulation itself, mainly student milling about the classroom discussing their situation with others and figuring out what plans and collaborations are necessary to thrive in their New Home. Part Two is the write-up, a collection of letters or journal entries that chronicle their "experience" and how things ended up for them. Surprisingly, this activity is almost always a hit with students. It was a staple in many Grade 10 Social Studies classrooms and is now matched to the content in BC Social Studies 9. The simulation provide a good opportunity to reflect on the characteristics of the pioneers, understand (and dramatize) push/pull factors in immigration, and analyze the settler/colonial mindset as it relates to the colonization of Aboriginal territory.
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Soviet Survivor - role play for BC History 11/12
This project is the sole creation of Joe Pereira, a remarkable teacher from D.P. Todd Secondary in Prince George. I post this here with Joe's permission in order to share his project design with others. For further information, please contact Joe at 250-562-9525 or jpereira @ sd57.bc.ca. This is a simulation that accompanies a unit on the Soviet Union, and provides a tangible connection between the students and the people who took part in or fell victim to the horrific regimes of this time period.
Student Handouts:
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