Lord Durham's Report and its Legacy
Students examine Lord Durham's recommendations following the rebellions and their influence on the Act of Union and future governance.
Key Questions
- Explain the key recommendations of Lord Durham's Report.
- Analyze the intended and unintended consequences of the Act of Union.
- Critique the report's perspective on French Canadian culture and identity.
Ontario Curriculum Expectations
About This Topic
Canada is a trading nation, and its economy relies heavily on the exchange of goods and services with the global community. This topic introduces students to the concepts of imports and exports, focusing on Canada's major resources like oil, minerals, and agricultural products, as well as its manufactured goods. Students will explore how trade agreements and geographic proximity, particularly with the United States, shape our economic relationships.
By examining where their everyday items come from, students begin to see the interconnectedness of the modern world. This topic is a gateway to understanding global interdependence and the economic factors that influence Canadian policy. This topic particularly benefits from hands-on, student-centered approaches where students can track supply chains and simulate trade negotiations.
Active Learning Ideas
Simulation Game: The Global Trade Game
Groups are assigned 'countries' with different resources (paper, markers, scissors). They must trade with others to produce specific 'products' (shapes), learning about resource scarcity and the power of negotiation.
Gallery Walk: Where in the World?
Students bring in labels from clothing or food items and pin them on a large world map. They analyze the patterns to see which regions Canada trades with most frequently for specific types of goods.
Think-Pair-Share: The Impact of a Trade Stop
Students imagine a scenario where Canada can no longer import electronics or export lumber. They discuss with a partner how this would change their daily lives and the Canadian economy.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionCanada only exports raw natural resources.
What to Teach Instead
While resources are a huge part of our trade, Canada also exports high-tech machinery, cars, and services like software and engineering. A station rotation featuring different Canadian exports can broaden student understanding.
Common MisconceptionTrade only benefits the country selling the goods.
What to Teach Instead
Trade is a two-way street that allows countries to access things they cannot produce themselves. Using a 'needs vs. wants' sorting activity helps students see the mutual benefits of international trade.
Suggested Methodologies
Ready to teach this topic?
Generate a complete, classroom-ready active learning mission in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Canada's main exports?
Who is Canada's biggest trading partner?
What is an import?
How can active learning help students understand the global economy?
Planning templates for Social Studies
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
unit plannerThematic Unit
Organize a multi-week unit around a central theme or essential question that cuts across topics, texts, and disciplines, helping students see connections and build deeper understanding.
rubricSingle-Point Rubric
Build a single-point rubric that defines only the "meets standard" level, leaving space for teachers to document what exceeded and what fell short. Simple to create, easy for students to understand.
More in People and Environments: Canada's Interactions with the Global Community
The Act of Union (1840)
Students explore the creation of the Province of Canada and its implications for political representation and cultural relations.
3 methodologies
Early Canadian Identity: A Mosaic of Cultures
Students reflect on the diverse cultural influences present in early Canada and how they contributed to a nascent Canadian identity.
3 methodologies
Canada's Role in Global Trade
Students explore how Canada trades with other countries, what goods and resources it exports and imports, and how trade connects Canadians to people around the world.
3 methodologies
International Organizations and Diplomacy
Students learn about Canada's role in international organisations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth, and La Francophonie.
3 methodologies
Canada's Peacekeeping Legacy
An examination of Canada's reputation as a peacekeeping nation and its involvement in global conflicts and humanitarian missions.
3 methodologies