Canadian History in the Twentieth Century

Teaching/Learning Strategies

2. With their partners and teacher assistance, students pose inquiry questions and note the location of their sources (see web site for sample – Appendix 2.6.6). The teacher may want to have students do the research in two separate stages so that they might exercise both their library skills and skills in Internet research. Students keep a log to track their progress; this log is used to help them complete a self-evaluation at the end of the activity (see web site for sample – Appendix 2.6.5).

3. Once the research is complete, students determine the content of their presentation, decide what costumes and props they need, prepare a script of five to seven minutes, and make a “set” for their portion of the show (old science fair boards are useful for this purpose).

4. The next stage of the project involves filming the individual segments. The two hosts of the show are to help organize the order and setup of each segment and, after conferring with each group, they prepare their introduction to the show, closing comments, as well as transitional commentaries to move from segment to segment of the show.

5. After the newsreels have been filmed (see Appendix 2.6.2 for evaluation rubric), students view the final product and, based on the information they have gathered, write a report about significant historical developments of the Depression and World War II (see Appendix 2.6.3 for report evaluation rubric). The report assignment might be presented as follows:

Based on the knowledge of the Depression and World War II you gained in this unit, write a report that addresses the following questions:

i) What were the main causes of the Depression?

ii) In what ways was Canada affected by the Depression?

iii) Suggest several reasons why the Second World War occurred.

iv) How important were Canada’s contributions to the Allied victory?

v) How was Canada changed by our involvement in World War II?

vi) How do the events of the 1930s and World War II remind us of our Christian and human responsibilities, individually and as a nation?

Requirements

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  Your report should be between three and four pages in length.
  
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  It should be typed - doubled spaced ( if you do not have a computer at home, see the teacher to arrange for access to one).
  
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  Use the six questions above as headings inside the report.
  
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  Your report should have a title page which includes the following:
  
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  Title (History Report: the Depression and World War II) centred in the middle of the page;
  
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  Your name;
  
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  Your teacher’s name;
  
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  The course code;
  
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  Due date;
  

6. As a final assignment, students complete a self-evaluation for both the process and product (see web site - Appendix 2.6.7); they can consider what they did best and what skills they need to work on to improve their efforts/results. In addition, students have the opportunity to tell the teacher how well they were able to learn by using this type of activity