History & Geography · Grade 7

Active learning ideas

The Quebec Conference (1864) and 72 Resolutions

Active learning helps students grasp the complexity of the Quebec Conference by moving beyond dates and names to the real work of negotiation and compromise. Students engage directly with primary sources and debates, making the abstract concept of federalism tangible and the political stakes visible.

Ontario Curriculum ExpectationsON: Canada, 1850–1867: Distance, Diversity, and Demographics - Grade 7
30–50 minPairs → Whole Class4 activities

Activity 01

Document Mystery50 min · Small Groups

Role-Play: Negotiating Resolutions

Assign students roles as delegates from specific provinces with position cards on key issues like representation and railways. Hold a 20-minute debate on three resolutions, then vote and record compromises. Debrief with reflections on challenges faced.

Analyze the main points and compromises embedded within the 72 Resolutions.

Facilitation TipDuring Critique Gallery Walk, post student critiques of the 72 Resolutions around the room and have peers add sticky-note responses to deepen peer feedback.

What to look forPresent students with a list of powers (e.g., defense, education, trade, municipalities). Ask them to categorize each power as either federal or provincial according to the 72 Resolutions, explaining their reasoning for two examples.

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Activity 02

Jigsaw45 min · Small Groups

Jigsaw: Sections of the 72 Resolutions

Divide resolutions into four sections; small groups become experts using primary excerpts. Regroup to teach peers, then create a class chart of federal versus provincial powers. End with a quiz on main points.

Differentiate between the proposed federal and provincial powers.

What to look forPose the question: 'Which colonial group do you think felt best represented by the 72 Resolutions, and which felt least represented? Use specific resolutions to support your answer.' Facilitate a class discussion where students share their perspectives.

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Activity 03

Document Mystery30 min · Pairs

Power Sort: Federal or Provincial?

Provide cards listing 20 government powers from the resolutions. In pairs, students sort into federal or provincial categories, justify choices, and discuss edge cases like agriculture. Share with class for consensus.

Critique the extent to which the resolutions addressed the concerns of all colonies.

What to look forAsk students to write down one key compromise made at the Quebec Conference and one unresolved issue that might have caused future problems for Confederation. They should briefly explain the importance of each.

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Activity 04

Gallery Walk40 min · Small Groups

Critique Gallery Walk

Groups create posters critiquing one resolution's strengths and weaknesses for colonies. Students rotate, adding sticky notes with evidence-based comments. Conclude with whole-class vote on most effective compromise.

Analyze the main points and compromises embedded within the 72 Resolutions.

What to look forPresent students with a list of powers (e.g., defense, education, trade, municipalities). Ask them to categorize each power as either federal or provincial according to the 72 Resolutions, explaining their reasoning for two examples.

UnderstandApplyAnalyzeCreateRelationship SkillsSocial Awareness
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A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with a brief overview to frame the conference’s goals, then move quickly to student-centered work. Use role-play to surface power dynamics, jigsaw to build content knowledge in chunks, and sorting to make abstract divisions of power concrete. Keep whole-group discussions short and focused on connecting activities to the big idea of Confederation as a process, not an event.

Successful learning looks like students explaining how different colonies influenced the final resolutions, identifying key compromises, and justifying where power should sit in a federal system. They should debate trade-offs between representation and equality, showing they understand why Confederation took years to finalize.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

  • During Role-Play: Negotiating Resolutions, watch for students assuming the 72 Resolutions became law immediately.

    Use the role-play timeline to mark when ratification happened, pointing to Charlottetown as the first step and London as the final stage.

  • During Role-Play: Negotiating Resolutions, watch for students assuming all colonies had equal influence.

    Have students track votes by colony size and note how Canada’s larger delegation swayed outcomes, then debrief how this shaped the final document.

  • During Power Sort: Federal or Provincial?, watch for students labeling all powers as federal.

    Ask students to defend their categorizations by citing specific lines from the 72 Resolutions, especially for education and municipalities.

Methods used in this brief

More in Confederation: Building a Nation

Political Deadlock in the Province of Canada

Understand how the equal number of seats for Canada East and West led to a government that could not make decisions.

2 methodologies

The Great Coalition and its Leaders

Examine the formation of the Great Coalition and the roles of key figures like John A. Macdonald, George-Étienne Cartier, and George Brown.

2 methodologies

Economic Pressures for Union

Explore the end of Reciprocity with the US and the need for new markets and an intercolonial railway.

2 methodologies

Military Threats and Manifest Destiny

Examine the threat of American expansionism (Manifest Destiny) and the Fenian Raids as catalysts for union.

2 methodologies

The Charlottetown Conference (1864)

Trace the initial negotiations at Charlottetown, originally intended for Maritime Union, and its expansion to include the Province of Canada.

2 methodologies