Grade 3 Social Studies - Communities in Canada, 1780–1850
Overview
During this unit, students will learn about some of the diverse communities that existed in Canada between approximately 1780 and 1850. Students will explore what life was like for different groups of people during that time period and will compare the lives of these people to those of present-day Canadians. They will use primary sources such as journals, letters, maps, and paintings to investigate how people in early Canada responded to challenges in their lives.
During this unit, students will learn about some of the diverse communities that existed in Canada between approximately 1780 and 1850. Students will explore what life was like for different groups of people during that time period and will compare the lives of these people to those of present-day Canadians. They will use primary sources such as journals, letters, maps, and paintings to investigate how people in early Canada responded to challenges in their lives.
Big Ideas
- The different communities in early-nineteenth-century Canada influence the way we live today
- Social and environmental challenges were a major part of life in all communities in early-nineteenth-century Canada.
- Canada was already a multicultural society in 1800.
Framing Questions
- In what ways are our lives similar to and different from the lives of people in the past?
- What methods can we use to find out about the challenges faced by people in the past? What methods can we use to find out how they may have felt about those challenges and how they coped with them?
- How did people in the past relate to the environment? To each other?
- Who lived in colonial Canada? How did these groups differ from each other?
Map of Canada (Present Day)
Williams Treaty (1923) map of Southern Ontario
Land acknowledgment
“I would like to acknowledge that this school is situated upon traditional territories. The territories include the Wendat (wen-dat), Anishinabek (ah-nish-nah-bek) Nation, the Haudenosaunee (ho-den-oh-show nee) Confederacy, the Mississaugas of Scugog (skoo-gog), Hiawatha (hi-ah-wah-tha), Alderville First Nation and the Métis (may-tee) Nation.
The treaty that was signed for this particular parcel of land is collectively referred to as the Williams Treaties of 1923 and applies to lands east of Woodbine Avenue. I also recognize the enduring presence of Aboriginal peoples on this land.”