"The 365 Black Canadian Curriculum is an online project by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), and is designed for primary, junior and intermediate educators to teach about the lived experiences of black Canadians from the past and present, 365 days a year. Students have an opportunity to learn about black Canadian scientists, medical professionals and inventors, black Canadian community leaders and political leaders. The curriculum includes a calendar; primary, junior and intermediate lesson plans in English and French; a workshop for staff; and a poster for educators."

2021 marked the 25th anniversary since The Honourable Jean Augustine introduced the motion to make February Black History Month in Canada. Alongside Augustine, many Black Canadians have played an important role in shaping our country’s history, all while facing much discrimination and racism. Although such achievements should be recognized year-round, February is a time to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and reflect on the many contributions they have made to our country. Brightspark has compiled a list of teacher resources to help you do just this! Find videos, podcasts, activities and more designed to celebrate Canada’s Black heritage and introduce diverse learning in the classroom.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympic men’s 4x100m relay captured the eyes of the world. It was a showdown between the USA host team and the Canadian underdogs. Few people noticed that the team’s starting runner, Carlton Chambers, was not racing at his best. He had sustained a slight injury and hoped that it would be better for the final. After a discussion with the team, the truth was evident and he knew he had to step down for the good of the team. Fortunately, Robert Esmie was waiting in the wings and ready to fulfill his role as team reserve. The race was an epic moment in Canadian sport history. The gold medal likely would not have been won, except for Carlton’s teamwork.

This resource shows students that teamwork requires that you put the good of the team first. Sometimes that means making personal sacrifices like letting someone else take your spot or play a role you would have liked to play yourself.

Download the complete lesson, featuring the following outcomes:
- Identify characteristics of successful teams and team members;
- Understand how to practice effective teamwork;
- Learn how to take teamwork experiences in the classroom and apply them to everyday challenges.

Now more than ever is the time to consider the realities of Canadian-Black communities. Explore our collection of films by distinguished Black filmmakers, creators, and allies. We’ve selected a group of NFB films that portray the multi-layered lives of Canada’s diverse Black communities. The incredible stories of strength, courage and perseverance in the face of adversity that these films present are not often found in mainstream history books. Black communities and cultures have been part of Canadian history from its earliest days, but sadly, their contributions and the lessons they can teach are rarely studied at the elementary or secondary level in schools.

This edition of Kayak opens in new window, shares some amazing stories and examples of the ways Black Canadians built and shaped this country. You get great stories , as well as articles featuring people who have helped preserve and promote Black history, Black women’s organizations with long histories, and Canadians with Afro-Indigenous heritage.

The kit includes:
*posters
*backgrounds
*social media resources
*videos
*articles

A collection of articles, artwork, biographies, videos, a timeline of black history in Canada, and more.

The purpose of this Guide is to enhance your students' knowledge and appreciation of the Black Canadian experience, drawing from Lawrence Hill's award-winning historical fiction, The Book of Negroes, the remarkable journey of Aminata Diallo and the historic British document known as the "Book of Negroes." Structured around themes of journey, slavery, human rights, passage to Canada and contemporary culture, this Guide asks students to examine issues of identity, equality, community, and nation-building in both a historical and contemporary context.

Items available to download:
*Resource intro
*Lesson 1 - Africaville
*Lesson 2 Brother
*Lesson 3 - Eye to Eye
*Lesson 4 - Made it
"The main purpose of this resource is to help educators and students explore Canadian hip-hop music and its role as a tool for promoting and advocating for social justice. The songs selected to support the lessons developed for this resource all have identifiable social justice themes. As such, social justice education must be at the center of a learning that takes place in the classroom through the use of this resource."

This post explores:

*Approaches & mindsets
*Identity, Voice & Joy
*History in Chronological Order
*Legacy, Memory & Memorials
*Justice, Equity & Inclusion

"Chaque mois de février, les gens de partout au Canada participent aux activités et aux festivités du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs qui honorent l’héritage des personnes noires au Canada et de leurs communautés.

En 2024, le thème pour le Mois de l’histoire des Noirs est «  L’excellence des personnes noires : un patrimoine à célébrer; un avenir à construire ». Ce thème célèbre les riches contributions et réalisations passées et présentes des personnes noires au Canada, tout en aspirant à saisir de nouvelles opportunités pour l’avenir.

Ce thème s’aligne à la 10e année de la Décennie internationale des personnes d’ascendance africaine et distingue les personnes d'ascendance africaine comme groupe dont les droits humains doivent être promus et protégés."

The historical thinking concepts developed and promoted by the Historical Thinking Project have been incorporated into curricula, classroom resources, and professional development tools. They include:

Provincial Historical Thinking Projects - Application process and criteria.

Blog Archive - Read about the experiences and reflections of four young teachers on the challenges and rewards of working with the historical thinking concepts.

Books - Order books that explore more deeply the teaching with the six historical thinking concepts.

Historical Thinking Posters – A set of six 12 x 17" posters illustrating the Historical Thinking Concepts is available in English and in French.

Demonstrations and Discussions - PD resources to assist in incorporating historical thinking into the classroom.

Lessons - We are currently in the process of transferring lessons from the old site. These are not yet available.

Other Classroom Materials - Teacher’s resource guides, historical thinking lessons developed by other organizations (usually in collaboration with us), and links to websites that contain historical thinking lessons.

Research - A sampling of research related to historical thinking and the curriculum.

Workshops - Contact these experienced workshop providers directly for assistance in professional development.

Use of Materials/Copyright

We encourage the use of resources, lessons, and information from our site, but we ask that you credit the Historical Thinking Project for the ideas and materials, by listing our name and our website URL (www.historicalthinking.ca). Fair use of resources does NOT include posting of HTP power points, videos, or other resources on other sites. Use a link to www.historicalthinking.ca instead.

We want historical thinking incorporated into curriculum, classrooms, and educational resources as widely as possible. When you reference the Historical Thinking Project (www.historicalthinking.ca) you are helping us to achieve this goal.

Passages Canada is a national storytelling initiative of Historica Canada that nurtures empathy and respect across difference. Our volunteer speakers share their personal stories of identity, culture and immigration at local schools and community groups and online in our Story Archive. The program is completely free, thanks to generous funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada and TD Bank. Invite a free guest speaker for Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, or any time throughout the year. To book or become a speaker, visit www.passagescanada.ca

This comprehensive resource offers many lesson plans/teacher guides for:
- AFRICAN CANADIAN HISTORY
- ENSLAVEMENT IN CANADA
- CANADA AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
- AFRICAN CANADIAN WOMEN
- AFRICAN CANADIAN LABOUR HISTORY
- TEACHING BLACK HISTORY
You will find downloadable lessons plan/Teacher Guide ideas for Emancipation Day, Richard Pierpoint Heritage Minute and “…and still I rise:” A History of Black Workers in Ontario, 1900 to Present.

"The Story of Harriet Tubman: Freedom Train" by Dorthy Sterling as a classroom novel study with some resources & activities.
Guided Reading Level T
Lexile® Measure 910L
DRA Level 50

Harriet Tubman knew mostly only hard work and hunger in her life. Born into slavery, she spent the majority of her life helping countless others escape it.

Freedom Train recounts the story of Harriet Tubman, who led hundreds of slaves through a system called the Underground Railroad, a complex organization of private homes reaching from the South all the way to Canada. Contemporary readers may not be aware of how dangerous Harriet Tubman's work was, and just how much she risked for others. This is a story of an inspiring American hero written in an inspired style.