The New Flag & National Symbols

Active learning helps students grasp the emotional weight and complexity of the 1964 flag debate by putting them in the shoes of those who lived it. Simulations and debates make abstract concepts like identity and symbolism concrete, while collaborative tasks build empathy for multiple perspectives.

• Grade 10
• Canadian Studies
• 3 activities
• 25 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the primary arguments presented by both proponents and opponents during the 1964 Canadian flag debate.
2. Explain how the selection of national symbols, such as flags and emblems, reflects a nation's evolving identity and values.
3. Compare and contrast the symbolism of the Red Ensign with the proposed 'Pearson Pennant' and the final Maple Leaf flag.
4. Evaluate the significance of the 1964 flag debate as a turning point in Canadian self-determination and national identity.
5. Design a new national symbol for Canada that represents contemporary Canadian values and aspirations.

Simulation Game

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Flag Committee

Divide the class into small groups, each acting as a member of the 1964 Flag Committee. They must review different proposed designs and debate which one best represents Canada's past, present, and future, eventually presenting their 'winning' design to the class.

Prepare & details

Analyze the reasons for the intense divisiveness of the 1964 flag debate.

Facilitation Tip: For the Simulation: The Flag Committee, assign roles (e.g., Pearson supporter, Red Ensign traditionalist) and provide historical context documents to ground discussions in real viewpoints.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Formal Debate

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

Formal Debate: Red Ensign vs. Maple Leaf

Students debate the arguments for and against changing the flag in 1964. One side represents the 'traditionalists' who valued the tie to Britain, while the other represents the 'modernists' who wanted a unique Canadian symbol.

Prepare & details

Explain what national symbols communicate about a country's values.

Facilitation Tip: Provide a clear rubric for the Structured Debate: Red Ensign vs. Maple Leaf, emphasizing respectful discourse and evidence-based arguments.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Symbols of Canada Today

Students look at a variety of Canadian symbols (e.g., the beaver, the canoe, the poppy, Indigenous symbols). They discuss with a partner which symbols they think are most relevant today and whether Canada needs new symbols to reflect its current diversity.

Prepare & details

Evaluate how the meaning of the Maple Leaf flag has evolved since its adoption.

Facilitation Tip: For Think-Pair-Share: Symbols of Canada Today, model how to analyze symbols by breaking down one together before students work in pairs.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by framing the debate as a conflict over identity rather than just aesthetics. They avoid presenting the Maple Leaf as inevitable, instead using primary sources to show the diversity of opinions. Research suggests that role-playing historical figures deepens empathy and critical thinking about national symbols.

What to Expect

Students will understand that national symbols are not neutral but reflect values, history, and compromise. Successful learning looks like informed arguments, respectful debate, and the ability to analyze symbols through historical and cultural lenses.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Simulation: The Flag Committee, watch for students assuming the Maple Leaf was the only logical choice without considering other designs or perspectives.

What to Teach Instead

Use the simulation to guide students to examine the thousands of failed designs in the actual committee records, highlighting how the final choice emerged from compromise rather than inevitability.

Common Misconception

During the Structured Debate: Red Ensign vs. Maple Leaf, watch for students treating the debate as purely aesthetic rather than a reflection of identity and heritage.

What to Teach Instead

Have students reference primary sources from the debate, such as Pearson's speeches or traditionalist arguments, to ground their positions in historical context.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the Simulation: The Flag Committee, pose the following to small groups: 'Imagine you are a Member of Parliament in 1964. What arguments would you use to support or oppose a new Canadian flag, and why?' Have groups share their strongest arguments with the class to assess their ability to apply historical perspectives.

Quick Check

During the Think-Pair-Share: Symbols of Canada Today, provide a list of symbols (e.g., the beaver, the RCMP, the maple leaf, the fleur-de-lis). Ask students to write one sentence for each explaining what value or aspect of Canadian identity it represents, and why it was or wasn't a good choice for a national symbol.

Exit Ticket

After the Structured Debate: Red Ensign vs. Maple Leaf, on an index card ask students to write: 'One reason the 1964 flag debate was so divisive was...' and 'One way national symbols communicate a country's values is by...' to assess their understanding of the debate's significance.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask early finishers to design a new symbol for Canada today, justifying their choices in a one-page rationale using themes from the 1964 debate.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence starters for the Structured Debate, such as 'One reason the Red Ensign represents Canadian identity is...' or 'The Maple Leaf symbolizes...'
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to compare Canada's flag debate with another country's symbol change (e.g., South Africa's post-apartheid flag) and present findings to the class.

Key Vocabulary

Red Ensign	The former Canadian national flag, featuring the Union Jack in the canton and the Canadian coat of arms on a red field. It symbolized Canada's historical ties to Great Britain.
Pearson Pennant	One of the proposed designs for a new Canadian flag during the 1964 debate, featuring three red maple leaves on a white field between two blue vertical bars. It was put forward by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.
National Identity	A sense of belonging to one nation, often shaped by shared history, culture, language, and symbols. It can evolve over time as a country develops.
Biculturalism	The recognition and promotion of two distinct cultural groups within a nation, often referring to the English and French linguistic communities in Canada.
Multiculturalism	The presence and acceptance of multiple distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society. Canada officially adopted multiculturalism as a policy in the 1971.