Social Studies · Grade 5

Active learning ideas

Explorers and Founders of New France

Active learning works for this topic because it transforms abstract concepts like colonial rivalry and strategic alliances into tangible, collaborative experiences. Students engage with the material through role-play, visual analysis, and debate, which helps them move beyond memorization to deeper understanding of power dynamics and Indigenous agency.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Heritage and Identity: First Nations and Europeans in New France and Early Canada - Grade 5

• 40–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 50 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Comparing Colonies

Divide the class into 'Team France' and 'Team Britain.' Each group researches their colony's government, religion, and main way of making money. They then meet in the middle to create a giant Venn diagram comparing the two.

Evaluate the impact of Samuel de Champlain's actions on the development of New France.

Facilitation Tip

For the Collaborative Investigation, assign each group a colony to research first, then have them compare findings in a jigsaw format.

What to look for

Provide students with a Venn diagram. Ask them to compare and contrast the roles of Samuel de Champlain (explorer) and Jean Talon (administrator) in the development of New France, listing specific contributions for each.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 45 min · Small Groups

Simulation Game: The Alliance Game

Students represent different First Nations. They are approached by 'French' and 'British' traders who want their help in a coming war. Students must decide which side (if any) offers the best terms for their own nation's survival and trade.

Analyze the strategies used by French leaders to expand and strengthen the colony.

Facilitation Tip

In The Alliance Game, set clear time limits for negotiation rounds so students feel the pressure of alliance-building.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'How important were alliances with First Nations to the success of New France?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to cite specific examples of cooperation or conflict discussed in their lessons.

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

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 40 min · Whole Class

Gallery Walk: Colonial Propaganda

Display maps and posters from the 1700s that show how Britain and France 'claimed' the same land. Students use sticky notes to identify where the claims overlap and why this would lead to conflict.

Differentiate between the roles of explorers and administrators in colonial expansion.

Facilitation Tip

During the Gallery Walk, place a small pile of sticky notes at each station for students to post questions or counterpoints directly on the propaganda posters.

What to look for

On an index card, have students write one sentence explaining the main goal of an explorer in New France and one sentence explaining the main goal of an administrator like Jean Talon.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should avoid framing this as a simple good vs. evil narrative, instead emphasizing the complexity of choices made by explorers, administrators, and Indigenous leaders. Research shows that students grasp colonial rivalries better when they see them through the lens of resource competition and cultural exchange, rather than just military conflict. Use primary sources like alliance treaties and trade records to humanize the historical figures and ground the activities in real decisions.

Successful learning looks like students actively questioning colonial narratives, demonstrating nuanced understanding of alliances, and articulating differences between New France and the Thirteen Colonies. Expect clear evidence of critical thinking through discussions, simulations, and written or visual comparisons rather than passive note-taking.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Collaborative Investigation: Comparing Colonies, watch for students assuming constant warfare between Britain and France.

  Use the timeline activity to highlight periods of peace and trade, asking students to mark European conflicts and trace how they influenced colonial actions.

• During The Alliance Game: Simulation, watch for students reducing First Nations' roles to passive 'helpers.'

  Have students role-play as specific Indigenous leaders and justify their alliance choices in written debriefs, emphasizing their political goals and independence.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Simulation Game
• Gallery Walk