Canada!

Canadian Identity:
Free activity
 Teacher’s Guide “Canadian Identity”
Thank you downloading this freebie which is part of the “Canada! Canadian Identity 14 Informational Texts and
Activities”. The resource was created for teachers who have a component on Canadian identity in their social
studies or language curriculum. This resource is probably best used for grades 5-7 students and with upper
level ESL students (intermediate, high school, and adult).

This resource includes fourteen original passages (written by me) on different aspects of Canada’s culture as
it relates to our identity. They run the gamut from light-hearted (poutine!) to serious (the history of Chinese
Canadians). The passages are organized by provinces/territories and the topics are:
Canada: Our Flag Newfoundland and Labrador (place names) Prince Edward Island (potatoes)
Nova Scotia (Scottish heritage) New Brunswick (Acadian/French heritage) Quebec (poutine)
Ontario (Niagara Falls) Manitoba (polar bears) Saskatchewan (grain elevators)
Alberta (Calgary Stampede) British Columbia (Chinese heritage) Yukon (Klondike gold rush)
Northwest Territories (Hudson’s Bay Company) Nunavut (inuksuk)

Each passage is about 350 words in length and is accompanied by 4 questions which assess understanding of
reading and elicit opinions as well. The last question is about language use.
There is pre-reading activity of 8 discussion questions on identity. I have numbered them on one page, and not
on the second, in case a teacher wants to use just some of the topics. The topics can be used as group work
in whatever way works for the class. I have also included a simple recording organizer (students of course can
use their notebooks for this). The topics and recording sheet may be utilized in an interactive notebook, too.
Following the passages is a post-reading Vocabulary activity: one word has been chosen from each passage
and students much choose from four words which one has been correctly used in each sentence. It goes one
step beyond a fill-in-the-blank: three of the words are used correctly (the students are supplied with this
hint).
A full anwer key for the passages and the vocabulary activity is included, as is a page of source references
for the websites and books that I used; attribution for images is included as well.
If you spot an error or inaccuracy, please contact me through Q & A, rather than leaving negative feedback.
I worked very hard to make sure the facts in these passages are correct but mistakes can happen! Please
also let me know if you spot a typo. I understand that I have only scratched the surface of what “Canadian
Identity” is, and could not possibly include everything that would come under that topic’s umbrella. Hopefully
the passages will get your students thinking and talking!
This resource is part of a bundle that will be listed at or close to the same time as this product. The bundle will
consist of four items and links to them will be included in the listing.
I am also offering the discussion topics as a freebie.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. See you on TPT!

Diana Bailey, B.A. (History Honours), Dip.Ed., OCT

©Diana Bailey 2015 i

 Canadian Identity Discussion or Writing Topics
_________________________________________
(1) What does the word “patriotism” mean?
Write down all the words you can think that relate to “patriotism”.
_________________________________________
(2) What situations make you feel proud to be Canadian?
Explain why.
_________________________________________
(3) Do you think knowing about your country (e.g. history, geography, culture)
helps you feel more a part of it? Why or why not?
_________________________________________
(4) Do you think sports or entertainment celebrities are important
to our country’s national identity? Why or why not?
_________________________________________
(5) What are some of the challenges immigrants might face
moving to Canada?
_________________________________________
(6) Is where someone’s ancestors or parents
came from important to a person’s Canadian identity?
_________________________________________
(7) How important a part do you think the two founding European nations (British and
French) played in creating the Canadian Identity? Give some examples.
_________________________________________
(8) What do you think the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people have
contributed to the Canadian Identity? Give some examples.
©Diana Bailey 2015
 Canadian Identity Discussion or Writing Topics
_________________________________________
What does the word “patriotism” mean?
Write down all the words you can think that relate to “patriotism”.
_________________________________________
What situations make you feel proud to be Canadian?
Explain why.
_________________________________________
Do you think knowing about your country (e.g. history, geography, culture) helps
you feel more a part of it? Why or why not?
_________________________________________
Do you think sports or entertainment celebrities are important
to our country’s national identity? Why or why not?
_________________________________________
What are some of the identity challenges immigrants might face
moving to Canada?
_________________________________________
Is where someone’s ancestors or parents (or you)
came from important to a person’s Canadian identity?
_________________________________________
How important a part do you think the two founding European nations (British and
French) played in creating the Canadian Identity? Give some examples.
_________________________________________
What do you think the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people have
contributed to the Canadian Identity? Give some examples.
©Diana Bailey 2015