LESSON PLAN

Lesson Plan
Grade/Subject: Five/Social Studies
Unit: Canada: The Land, Histories and Stories
Topic: Canada: Shaping an Identity
Lesson Duration: 30 min.
Date: October 4, 2016
KSAs: 2,3,6
OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES
General Learning Outcomes:
5.3 Students will demonstrate an understanding of the events and factors that have
changed the ways of life in Canada over time and appreciate the impact of these changes
on citizenship and identity.
Specific Learning Outcomes:
5.3.2 Assess, critically, the changes that occurred in Canada immediately following
Confederation by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues
How did John A. Macdonald and George-tienne Cartier contribute as partners of
Confederation?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. Determine what Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier each
contributed to Confederation
2. Share what Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier each
contributed to Confederation
3. Show with a venn diagram what Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne
Cartier each contributed to Confederation
ASSESSMENTS
Observations:
Key Questions:
During group work, I will observe
What is the role of Sir John A.
group responses about comparing Sir
Macdonald and Sir GeorgeJohn A. Macdonald and Sir Georgetienne Cartier in Confederation?
tienne Cartier in Confederation and
(L.O. #1,2)
facilitate conversation when needed.
How did Sir John A. Macdonald
(L.O. #1,2,3)
and Sir George-tienne Cartier
During Jigsaw I will monitor student
work together towards
conversation and responses. I will
Confederation? (L.O. #1,2)
also observe how students teach their
In what way did Sir John A.
topic to their group. (L.O. 1,2)
Macdonald and Sir Georgetienne Cartier differ in their
contributions towards
confederation? (Explain using a
Venn Diagram) (L.O. #3)
Written/Performance Assessments:
Students will work in groups and informally gather evidence about Sir John A.
Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier (L.O. #1,2)
In groups of four students will then create a Venn diagram, comparing and

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

contrasting what Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier

contributed to confederation. (L.O. #1,2,3)
LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED
Resource #1 - https://www.historicacanada.ca/sites/default/files/PDF/SJAM%20EN
%20_Dec4.pdf
Resource #2 https://www.historicacanada.ca/sites/default/files/PDF/Cartier_EN_Dec4.pdf
Resource #3 - Textbook Pearson Voices of Canada: People, Places, and Possibilities
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
*iPad for videos
*Brochures (info)
*Poster paper
*Markers
* Popsicle sticks
*Construction Paper
*Glue
*Scissors
PROCEDURE
Introduction (Time): 5 minutes
Hook/Attention Grabber: (Have a picture of a birthday cake on the smartboard)
Who knows why July 1st is significant? Can you tell me why? Canada has a birthday
every year!
Assessment of Prior Knowledge: Why is Confederation significant? Do you know who
lead it?
Expectations for Learning and Behaviour: During todays lesson if you have any
questions, please come and ask me. Anytime you me say Ice Im going to need you to
freeze, and stop whatever you are doing and listen to me. Since we will be doing some
group discussions and group work today, I am going to need you to be mindful of the
noise level in the classroom. If you think that your group is becoming too loud just ask
your peers, if they can lower their voices.
Advance Organizer/Agenda: Write up the brochure, have other resources ready (books,
iPads), things to make the paddle board (glue, construction paper, popsicle stick,
scissors).
Transition to Body: Today we will find how the founding fathers of Canada Sir John A.
Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier contributed to the Canadian Confederation
Body (Time): 20 minutes
Key Questions:
What is the role of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier in
Confederation? (L.O. #1,2)
Learning Activity #1: Video/ brochure /Half Class
The class will be divided in half group A and group B
First group (A) will examine and take notes on how Sir John A. Macdonald
contributed to confederation
Second group (B) will examine how Sir George-tienne Cartier contributed to
confederation

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

As a group students will then collaborate with their group and compare notes.
Remind the class about the Tribe Rules that was set up at the start of the year.
Mutual respect Treat others the way you want to be treated
Attentive listening Listening with our eyes, our ears, and our hearts
No put downs Talk to your friends in a nice way
Right to pass You can sometimes choose to pass when called upon

Assessment/Differentiation:
Students have a choice to gather their information from viewing the video or
reading the brochure or textbook. (L.O. #1,2)
Key Questions:
What are the roles of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier in
Confederation?
Be able to explain the roles and key concepts.
Learning Activity #2: 2-2 Teach the other - Jigsaw
The class will then be divided into groups of four (two from group A two from
group B)
In groups of four, the pair from group A will teach the pair from group B about Sir
John A. Macdonald. Then the pair from group B will teach the pair from group A
about Sir George-tienne Cartier.
Assessment/Differentiation:
N/A
Key Questions:
What is the role of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier in
Confederation?
How did Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-tienne Cartier work together
towards Confederation? (L.O. #1,2,3)
Learning Activity #3: Venn Diagram
Students will then create a Venn Diagram

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Sir John A.
Macdonalds
Contributions

What both
leaders
accomplished
together

Sir George-tienne
Cartiers
Contributions

As a group students will assemble the information that they gathered in to a Venn
diagram

Assessment/Differentiation:
Students can either list or draw out their information on the Venn diagram
Sponge Activity:
Students can look up other founding fathers, and explore how they contributed to
Confederation

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

o Sir Charles Tupper

o George Brown
o Thomas DArcy McGee
Students can also look up the notion of the Mothers of Confederation
Can play games and trivia at this website http://www.canadashistory.ca/Kids/FunGames

Closure (Time): 5 minutes

Consolidation/Assessment of Learning: Review the key questions, and ask how each
founding father contributed to Confederation. (Popcorn style)
Can do a popcorn quiz --- teacher says a statement about the roles. Students need to
decide which leader is being described.
Feedback From Students: Find out whom the questions are referring to then answer the
question. (Either have a piece of paper [or make a paddle board- glue, popsicle sticks,
construction paper] with Sir John A. Macdonald written on one side and Sir Georgetienne Cartier on the other)
Feedback To Students: Great job researching with me today, thank you for being such
great explorers and historians!
Transition To Next Lesson: Tomorrow we will find out how Sir John A. Macdonald and
Sir George-tienne Cartier contributed to the establishment of two official languages in
Canada.

Sir John A. Macdonald

September 18, 1867, Sir John A., wins the First Dominion election.
He is Canadas 1st Prime Minister.He was charming, extremely
witty and
very passionate about our new country, Canada! Thats our
John A!
Our founding father.
Sir John A. Macdonald was born in Scotland. When
he was a
boy his family emigrated to Kingston, Upper Canada.
He
articled with a local lawyer, who died before Macdonald
qualified, and Macdonald opened his own practice. He
was
involved in several high-profile cases and quickly became
prominent in Kingston, which enabled him to seek and
obtain
a legislative seat in 1844.
Macdonald was the leading figure in the
discussions and conferences, which resulted in
the British North America Act and the birth of
Canada as a nation on 1 July 1867.
Macdonald held the office for two terms, serving from July 1, 1867, to
November 5, 1873, and again from October 17, 1878, to June 6, 1891.
Key accomplishments of his political career include being a Father of
Confederation and seeing the provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia and
Prince Edward Island join Confederation. He was an important figure in the
creation of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1871 to 1885 and in the creation of
the Northwest Mounted Police in 1873. He was also behind the development of
Canadas first national park in Banff, Alberta, in 1885. He served as Canadas

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

10

Minister of Justice and Attorney General from 1867 to 1873 and was Leader of
the Opposition from 1873 to 1878. He died on June 6, 1891, in Ottawa, Ontario.
As a Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald was:
building a trans-continental railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway
building a nation with the entry into Confederation of Prince Edward
Island, the Northwest Territories (including Alberta and Saskatchewan),
Manitoba, and British Columbia
opening the West for settlement
creation of the North-West Mounted Police
the Northwest Rebellion and the hanging of Louis Riel
the National Policy of tariffs against imports to protect Canadian industry

Source: http://www.canadianhistoryforkids.com/canadian-history-for-kids-john-a-macdonald

Sir George-tienne Cartier

May 12, 1870 George-Etienne Cartier sees his Manitoba Act given
Royal Assent.
As a lawyer, politician, prime minister of the Province of
Canada, a possible descendant of Jacques Cartier, and a father
of
Confederation, George Cartier is one of the most influential and
important early politicians in the history of Canada.
George-tienne Cartier was born on September 6,
1814
in Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Lower Canada (Quebec).
Cartier was educated and was called to the bar in 1835
where he began to practise law.
It was then that he became friendly with the patriot
Jean Louis Papineau and joined Papineaus unsuccessful
revolt. It failed and Cartier fled into exile. However, by 1848, he
was back and was elected to the Canadian (now Quebec and
Ontario) Parliament. From 1858 to 1862 he was joint Prime
Minister of the Province of Canada with Sir John A. Macdonald and they
remained close associates for the rest of Cartiers life.
Cartier was a loyal friend of Macdonald, with whom he created the Great
Coalition with George Brown in 1864. The purpose of the Great Coalition was to
end the political shakiness in the province, which had six governments in six
years.
The Great Coalition was one of the first steps in the movement towards
Confederation. He attended all three of the conferences organized for this
purpose: Charlottetown, Quebec, and London. Cartier was mostly responsible for
gaining French-Canadian support for union.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

11

Upon the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, Macdonald became

Prime Minister and Cartier was his Minister of Militia and Defence.
Cartiers accomplishments included ensuring the choice of Ottawa as the
national capital and reconciling the majority of French Canada to Confederation
on the grounds that it made possible the re-establishment of the old Province of
Qubec.
He negotiated in London for the transfer of the HBC territory of RUPERTS
LAND to the Dominion. While acting Prime Minister during Macdonalds illnesses
and after personal meetings with provincial delegations, he played the primary
role in drafting the Manitoba and British Columbia Acts.
In 1871, Cartier experienced the first symptom of Brights Disease, a
kidney disease. After the 1872 election, Cartier traveled to London hoping to find
a cure. His health did not improve and he died in London on May 20, 1873 at the
age of 58. He was unable to pay a visit to his Manitoba riding where he was
acclaimed a Member of Parliament. His body was brought back to Canada, and
interred in the Cimetire Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in Montreal, following a public
funeral procession.
Source: http://www.canadianhistoryforkids.com/canadian-history-for-kids-george-etienne-cartier/