Learners explore the topic of renewable energy with a focus on agriculture and biogas. Understand how biodigesters operate on farms with the background information that is provided. Includes a simple experiment than can be done as a class or individually by each learner.

In this lesson students are introduced to the concept of “avatars” and share their experiences creating and playing avatars in video games and virtual worlds. They then create avatars using a program that is intentionally limited in terms of available body types and gender markers, first creating an avatar of their own gender and then of the opposite gender, and then discuss the program and relate it to representations of gender and body image in games and virtual worlds and in other media. Students then create avatars using a much more flexible version of the program and compare that experience to the more limited version. Finally, students use the more versatile program to create avatars that represent how they see themselves and how they would like others to see them online and reflect on the choices that went into creating them.

Sign up for a 45 minute virtual field trip, and follow it up with a classroom unit about human rights and being an upstander. The classroom unit includes an inquiry project.

Virtual Field Trip:
Students will learn how to be human rights upstanders by discovering the stories of people who used their personal strengths to take a stand to protect their rights and the rights of others, creating change.

Students will:
1. Learn to identify traits all upstanders possess and understand that each of us also possess these traits in our own unique way.
2. Experience exhibits and the inspiring Museum architecture as if they were at the Museum in person.
Interact with a Museum guide and ask questions to better understand how they can take action for positive change.
3. Engage in discussion, critical thinking and reflection on their role in the protection of their own rights and the rights of others.

Classroom Unit:
The Be an Upstander resource is a project-based learning unit designed to complement the “Be an
Upstander” school program. This resource targets students in middle years and encourages inquiry and
action on human rights issues. Students will examine the traits of human rights upstanders and follow
their example. By the end of the project, students will have had the opportunity to explore an issue they
are personally passionate about, share their knowledge and lead others toward action.

The Be an Upstander website is a digital student experience designed to support student learning as part
of a larger human rights themed, project-based learning unit. Students developing upstander projects
will engage in personal inquiry and action on human rights issues that matter to them. Students will learn
about the traits of human rights upstanders, be introduced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and examine their personal strengths. Following the example of the upstanders they learn about,
students will be challenged to take tangible steps to becoming human rights upstanders themselves.

If you need this resource in a different format for accessibility purposes, please contact
info@humanrights.ca.

Be an Upstander website: https://humanrights.ca/upstander/#/
Complementary teacher's guide https://humanrights.ca/upstander/#/teacher-guide

Through the activities within this toolkit, students will gain an understanding of the importance of nature and how all living things are connected. These resources are geared towards students in grades 6-8.

This resource examines the biodiversity and the complexity of the various life forms that make up Canadian forests. The emphasis is on helping students appreciate the relationships and interdependence of all species in this ecosystem. Students learn how they can affect forests and understand ways to preserve and maintain their diversity. Themes include biotechnology, natural and introduced pests, species at risk, habitat loss and fragmentation, protected areas, climate change and traditional indigenous knowledge. Lessons can be summarized as follows:

Lesson One- It's What Inside That Counts ( 1x90min)

Students learn the basics of biodiversity by studying the arrangements of fauna and flora in a field investigation of the schoolyard. Teams will visit three assigned "habitat" sites and record living and non-living components. After discussing results, students are asked to create a poem or story about living in one of the habitat sites.

Lesson Two- Too Hot, Too Cold,...Just Right ( 2x45min)

This lesson focuses on how climate change impacts population numbers. After a discussion on how climate changes are driven by human activity, students are guided through a role play simulating the effects of rising temperatures on Arctic, Mid-latitude and Tropical biomes. After a wrap-up with discussion questions, students are asked to write a short story on an assigned topic.

Lesson Three- What Our Elders Say (1x60min, 1x90min)

After looking at how a Canadian Aboriginal legend relates to biodiversity, the students read and perform a play based on the "Legend of The Sky Sisters". Students then write their own legend incorporating an environmental message.

Lesson Four- Barrier To Biodiversity (2x60min)

After reviewing as a class how human activity can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation, students have to write and present stories in the form of a power point presentation, poster, public service announcement or skit describing how individual plants or animals are subject to, and respond to, stress in their habitat.

Lesson Five- Off Limits (4x45min)

Students investigate officially protected areas and create a class newspaper that contains articles which focus on the role of protected areas in helping maintain diversity. In this exercise they explore the social, economic, and environmental impacts of protected areas.

Lesson Six- To Be Or Not To Be (2x60min)

Students work in groups to produce a "species at risk" game board which focuses on the habitat impacts of: change/modification, over-exploitation of resources, poorly regulated commercial harvest, disruption of migration routes/breeding behaviors, contamination, and the introduction of exotic species.

Lesson Seven- Unwelcome Guests (2 x 60min)

Students develop a "Futures Wheel"(a graphic description of the inter-relationships and impacts of a single decision or event) focusing on exotic and invasive species in Canada.

Lesson Eight- Timberland ( 1x90min)

A role playing activity is used to show how biotechnology can be used as a tool to help maintain forest biodiversity. Using a timber-theft crime story students will complete a report (including a CSI sheet and victim profile) to assist them in understanding techniques used in biotechnology.

This resource can easily be adapted to include no technology.

In this interactive online activity, you will explore the Canadian Arctic, the history of the Northwest Passage and the importance of maintaining a strong Canadian presence in the northern region.

Questions:

1. Identify four unique characteristics of the Canadian Arctic region.
2. Identify contributions made by some of the Arctic explorers who searched for the Northwest Passage.
3. To what extent did the Inuit culture in the Canadian Arctic help with the discovery of one of Franklin's lost ships?
4. What impact would climate change and the opening of the Northwest Passage have on the Inuit people socially, environmentally, and economically?
5. How might the opening of the Northwest Passage affect Canada’s claim to Arctic sovereignty and its relationship with other countries?
6. What are some of the ways Canada is getting involved in protecting the Arctic?

"Four units of lesson plans created for you with fact sheets that can be printed in PDF format, activities to engage in with your students, original videos of people sharing their stories for your classrooms, grading rubrics, critical learning strategies, and even a book club created through Indigo.

Help your students:
• Examine the concept of stereotype.
• Understand how assumptions can lead to stereotypes and unfair judgments about individuals and groups.
• Recognize the ways that stereotypes and biases affect everyone.
• Teach your students to stand up to name-calling and bigotry.
• Learn how to stop the cycle of hatred and bullying
• Learn to be real-world heroes."

Brochure describing the program: https://www.chooseyourvoice.ca/wp-cyv/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Choose-Your-Voice-Brochure2022.pdf

Curriculum links for Grades 6-9: https://www.chooseyourvoice.ca/wp-cyv/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/SK-Curriculum-Links-Gr.6-9.pdf

This resource contains an abundance of ELA infused, cross-curricular lessons organized by themes for Grades 4, 5 and 6. Non-fiction, poetry and fiction reading lessons are all included. 

An inquiry-based project to map the land in your community. The key concepts in this unit are grounded in Indigenous beliefs of interconnectedness, connectedness, and respect for all things.

The driving inquiry questions for this unit are:
1. How can respect for the land be shown?
2. What do we look for when setting up a camp?
3. What stories or teachings are connected to key locations in and around our community?
4. How has the land around our community changed over time?
5. Who do we share our community’s lands with?

Students in grades 4-6 engage in a series of activities (both inside and outside the classroom) designed to inspire a sense of environmental stewardship. Each of the activities is intended to have children explore their profound connection to nature and experience the power of individual and collective action.

Students explore the daily choices, they, their families, their school and their communities make; the impact of those choices on nature; and the role they and others may take in protecting nature.

The activities are fun, hands-on, and thought provoking. Students have opportunities to share what they are learning with their fellow students, family, and community and to create their own “class foundation” to collectively act on their concerns and passions.

The resource consists of 16 cross-curricular lessons on a range of issues from which teachers may select according to the dictates of their time and curriculum.

Currents4Kids.com / Infos-Jeunes.com is an engaging, online interactive current events resource for students in grades 3 and up.

*Download free articles/activities from recent issues of Building Bridges (grades 5 and up), The Canadian Reader (grades 3 and up) & What in the World (grades 5-10)!

This 21st century teaching and learning tool explores local, national, and international news stories. It works across all platforms, from iPods to iPads to desktop computers, allowing teachers and students to make meaningful use of the Internet whenever – and wherever – they choose.

C4K is published once per week (except over Christmas and Spring Break) from mid-August until mid-June.

Key features of this exciting new resource include:
-Weekly articles
-On-the-Lines and Between-the-Lines quizzes
-Comment page
-Links to relevant articles, resources, maps, photos and videos
-Suggested activities including pdfs of the articles and quizzes

A subscription will help you to:
-Encourage non-fiction reading by providing age-appropriate, leveled, engaging and relevant text.
-Build students' vocabulary and background knowledge.
-Make better use of technology and time.
-Provide students with an opportunity to express their opinions in a safe, structured environment and allow them to read what other students their age say on the same topics.
-Save time by automatically grading quizzes and allowing teachers to manage writing assessment online.
-Most of all, excite your students about their world, and what's happening in it!

How it works: Access for a full school year (10 months) costs $230 per school; after receiving access to the site, the subscriber may invite all the other teachers within the same school to join their account. Teachers can then create classes listing their students.

Sign up for a free account, allowing you access to all of Canada's National ballet School's courses and dance programs for kids.

Once you have signed up for an account, you can access the many cross-curricular dance units created by the National Ballet School. Note: If you are looking to access these units in French, please navigate to the "All course offerings" on the home page and you will find the French version of this course listed.

Great options to consider:
Grade 4: Rocks
Grade 5: Christine Friday Artist Study (Indigenous world-view)
Grade 6: Angela Gladue Artist Study (pow-wow and hip hop) (available in Cree as well)

This new website from Agriculture in the Classroom is a kid-friendly, engaging website that will bring the story of agriculture to life through highly interactive information, colourful illustrations, real-life photos, informative text, quizzes, teacher lessons and more! Students will discover the Past, Present, Evolution and Future of agriculture in Saskatchewan.

Explore the elements of art, culture, and identity through this guided lesson based on Leah Dorion's "The Giving Tree: A Retelling of a Traditional Métis Story." We are connected through place and culture! The values, beliefs, traditions, religion, natural environment, recreational activities, music, dance, and art that surround us help to form our identity. We share, listen, learn, and grow from and with each other. Students will think about their own identity and the many pieces that make them unique as they create a painting in the style of Leah Dorion's work.

FourDirectionsTeachings.com is a visually stunning audio narrated resource for learning about Indigenous knowledge and philosophy from five diverse First Nations in Canada. Navigate to the site map for access to the teacher lesson plans to go along with the interactive audio and visual content.
Junior: Grades 1-6
Intermediate: Grades 7-9
Senior: Grades 10-12

Four Directions Teachings rend hommage à la tradition orale autochtone, en mettant en valeur le procédé d’écoute attentive, lorsque un ancien ou un professeur traditionnel partage un enseignement, selon son point de vue, sur la richesse et la valeur des traditions culturelles provenant de sa nation.

Available in:
Flash Version - English and French
HTML Version - English and French
Subtitles Version - English and French

This package is the online accompaniment for our feature travelling education kit: History Box. In this package you’ll find digitized copies of each object found in the box, historical context, additional resources and activity suggestions. You do not need to borrow the kit to use this online resource.

This package contains objects and resources that are represented in the Canadian Museum of History’s signature exhibition, the Canadian History Hall. Collected from across the country, and highlighting varied perspectives, these objects illuminate the richness and diversity of the Canadian experience. They can be used as entry points to discussions on different periods in Canada’s history, or as lessons in historical inquiry that can build students’ critical thinking and historical inquiry skills.

To book a History Box, or for more information, please visit historymuseum.ca/learn/history-box.

The topics covered in this History Box include Early Canada, Colonial Canada, and Modern Canada.

There are two types of activities: Package Activities and Object Activities.

Package Activities are project-based activities designed to accommodate one or more classes. These activities involve the use of historical thinking concepts while exploring the whole package, resulting in a more comprehensive experience.

Object Activities are short inquiry-based activities that typically take 5–25 minutes. These activities encourage students to think critically about the objects being presented, and to use historical thinking concepts.

Both types of activities were created with the guidance of educators from across Canada, and incorporate current educational theory and approaches.

Is everything accessible?
We know that everyone accesses information differently, and have tried to ensure that package content addresses the varied needs of students and educators. Some of the many ways in which these packages support accessibility:

- Three levels of historical context to accommodate different ways of learning.
- A variety of media, including audio and video content, for diverse learning abilities.
- Multiple activity suggestions for diverse learning abilities.
- Content can be read with Assistive Technology applications.
- Downloadable and printable content that can be accessed offline.
- Transcripts for video, audio and hard-to read archival documents.
- Video subtitles in both official languages.
- Content is available in both official languages.
- Website complies with Website Content Accessibility 2.0 AA Guidelines.

Find speakers to come to your classroom in person or virtually, based on their specialty.

This lesson teaches Cree words through songs. These songs often serve a specific purpose and have great meaning. With the guidance of an Elder, Knowledge Keeper, or singer/songwriter, students will listen to songs and understand the meaning behind the lyrics. Students will consider how cultural identity is reflected in the work.

This multi-disciplinary resource features ten engaging lessons that focus on biodiversity and invasive species. An ecosystem approach provides an authentic context to help students understand what invasive species are and how these plants and animals can significantly impact the vital interdependence of organisms within habitats. Although developed to support the Grade 6 Life Sciences curriculum (Ontario), the strong English Language Arts, Math and Social Studies links make this resource applicable across a broad range of subject areas and grade levels.

In a combination of in-class and outdoor activities students will:

- Define and explore types of invasive species.
- Identify how organisms interact within ecosystems.
- Respond to media information about invasive species.
- Explore a local habitat to find and catalogue native and non-native species.
- Initiate action to inform the community about the prevention of the spread of invasive species.