Activity 01
Inquiry Circle: The Reconciliation Challenge
In small groups, students research a specific Call to Action from the TRC that has not yet been fulfilled. They propose a concrete plan for how the government and citizens could work together to achieve it in the next decade.
Predict the greatest challenge Canada will face in the next 50 years.
Facilitation TipDuring the Collaborative Investigation, assign roles that push students to engage with primary sources and Indigenous perspectives, such as 'Evidence Collector' or 'Perspective Interpreter'.
What to look forFacilitate a small group discussion using the prompt: 'Which of the three key questions (greatest challenge, reconciliation, global role) do you believe is the most urgent for Canada's future, and why? Provide one piece of evidence from your research to support your claim.'
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Activity 02
Simulation Game: Canada's 2050 Global Role
Students act as foreign policy advisors in the year 2050. They must debate what Canada's priorities should be in a world changed by climate change and new global powers, and how it can best use its 'middle power' influence for good.
Design a comprehensive strategy to achieve true reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Facilitation TipFor the Simulation, provide a structured debrief that asks students to reflect on power dynamics and unintended consequences of their policy choices.
What to look forAfter students present their proposed strategies, have peers use a rubric to assess the feasibility and comprehensiveness of the solutions. The rubric should include criteria such as: evidence-based reasoning, consideration of multiple perspectives, and potential for long-term impact. Peers should provide one specific suggestion for improvement.
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Activity 03
Think-Pair-Share: Your Vision for Canada
Students reflect on the most important lesson they have learned in history class this year. They share with a partner how this lesson will influence their own actions and their vision for Canada's next century.
Justify the ideal role Canada should play on the global stage in the future.
Facilitation TipIn the Think-Pair-Share, explicitly model how to build on classmates' ideas by using sentence stems like 'I agree with ___ because...' or 'Another way to think about this is...'.
What to look forProvide students with a short case study outlining a hypothetical future scenario for Canada (e.g., a major climate event, a significant geopolitical shift). Ask them to identify which of the three key questions is most directly addressed by the scenario and briefly explain their reasoning in 2-3 sentences.
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Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Experienced teachers approach this topic by framing it as a bridge between history and civic action, emphasizing that the past is a tool for informed decision-making rather than a static record. They avoid presenting the challenges as insurmountable by highlighting historical examples of progress, such as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or Indigenous-led land reclamations. Research suggests that when students see themselves as potential 'change-makers,' their engagement and investment in the material deepen significantly.
Successful learning looks like students using historical evidence to justify their predictions and proposals, demonstrating both depth of understanding and creativity in their solutions. They should show respectful engagement with diverse perspectives, especially during discussions about reconciliation, and articulate clear connections between past, present, and future. Their work should reflect thoughtful consideration of feasibility, ethics, and long-term impact.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During the Collaborative Investigation activity, watch for students who dismiss the relevance of past injustices, such as residential schools, to modern reconciliation efforts.
Use the activity's primary source packet to guide a close-reading exercise where students trace direct links between historical policies and current challenges in Indigenous communities.
During the Simulation activity, watch for students who assume Canada's global role will remain unchanged regardless of domestic or international events.
Have students revisit the simulation's scenario cards in small groups to identify at least one assumption they held about Canada's stability or influence, then revise their strategy accordingly.
Methods used in this brief