Free the Children

 

I use this book and video in class when talking about current events, and highly recommend the book to students.


The story of Craig Kielburger is inspiring. He was just 12 years old when he started looking into the issues of Child Labour and decided to do something about it. He asked his Socials Studies class to help and got 11 people to join him, starting an organization called Free the Children. He now has another organization called "Me to We" that organizes We Day and encouraged youth to support social issues affecting other youth around the world. This is a must-read book to realize that youth can make a difference in our world.


Here is the amazon link:    Free the Children

One of the 28th

One of the 28th: A Tale of Waterloo

by GA Henty

I just finished reading this book by GA Hentry that I found in the "rare" section of a local used book store. I have previously explained why I enjoy reading stories by Henty.

This particular tale is of a young British lad that is captured by French privateers and carried off to the Indies, escapes and finds his way home, falls into a large inheritance, gets an army commission, and fights in the battle of Waterloo.

Not directly related to Socials 10 content, but is great context for the French/English relationship. It also gives background on the defeat of Napoleon (and the reason that Canada is British instead of French). Of course the language is outdated, and Henty does get a little lost in the minutiae of the battle in the last few chapters, but this was a very enjoyable read.

Here is the amazon link:

A Tale of Waterloo, One of the 28th

The Fur Trade in Canada

The Fur Trade In Canada: An Illustrated History

This book details the history of the fur trade in Canada, and is very informative but reads like a textbook with few exciting bits. What I like about this book is that is does not stop in 1867 but carries on with the history of the fur trade to the present day and talks about more recent history as well. Of course, it does have pictures too which always helps.


In Socials 10, I usually do a review of the fur trade before chapter 4 on Manitoba History. It seems to flow into the story of the Metis. But bits and pieces come up throughout the course, since the fur trade was so pervasive in Canadian history. 


Here is the amazon link:

The Fur Trade in Canada: An illustrated history

The Wild Frontier

The Wild Frontier: More Tales from the Remarkable Past (Pierre Berton)

This book is a series of short stories about interesting people in Canada's past. (John Jewitt, Wilfred Grenfell, Sam Steele, Isaac Jorges, Cariboo Cameron, Mina Hubbard, and Almighty Voice). 
I found the stories very engaging, but the language may be a bit above the average grade ten student to read on their own, and a bit too long for a read-aloud in class. 
The best story I found was that of Sam Steele, as a bonus assignment for Chapter 7 (Canada in 1915), because it touched on many different aspects of the course. It follows Sam Steele's adventures with the RCMP to the NorthWest Rebellion, then up to the Klondike, then on the CPR. 
Of course, I also appreciate the many "burton-isms" of what it means to be Canadian.

The Wild Frontier : More Tales from the Remarkable Past

With Wolfe in Canada

With Wolfe in Canada by G.A. Henty

I enjoy reading historical fiction, and in particular books by GA Henty. They are written awhile ago so the language and opinions are outdated, but that just makes it more interesting. This story follows a young man from Europe to America in the war against France for Canada. He ends up playing a pivotal role in the Battle on the Plains of Abraham. This obviously takes place before 1815 (the starting point for Socials 10) but provides good context. 

Of particular interest in this story is the use of the word "Canadian". Written from a British perspective, "Canadian" refers to the French/Metis fur traders and their First Nations allies. It talks from a pejorative British perspective about how the "Canadians" have taken on First Nations customs, and for example do not always follow European rules of war. So how to respond in kind? Ask the Iroquios to do it... Interesting.

Here is the amazon link:

WITH WOLFE IN CANADA: The Winning of a Continent

A Short History of Canada

A Short History of Canada: Sixth Edition

When you pick up this book, I am not sure that "short" will be the word that comes to mind. Desmond Morton tries to write a complete narrative of events from 1812 to the present. Interesting that he starts his "history of Canada" in the same year as the Socials 10 curriculum. I stopped reading at the half-way point when he gets to the depression, since I am more interested in the history up to 1915. It was a good refresher on Canadian history, and brought to light a few things for me that were missing from the textbook. Morton doesn't hesitate to throw in some analysis, and is fair and balanced in his approach.
However, a have a few criticisms of this book:
1) a bit too detailed on the politics that bogs down the reader, I found myself skimming these sections
2) a bit brief on the interesting stories (I know that there is a lot of ground to cover, but a few interesting asides would help)
3) often assumes previous knowledge when talking about something
I would recommend this book for someone who has a good knowledge of Canadian history and needs a refresher or wants to see if they are missing some interesting details. Maybe it has been 10 years since teaching Socials 10 and you get assigned a block. This would be a good read from a well-respected historian. 

Forgotten Patriots

This book follows the lives of several people who were involved in the rebellions of 1837-1838. It gives a good summary of what happened in the rebellions and then focuses on the response of the government.
I had intended to only read the first few chapters, as I was more interested in the history of the rebellions than in Australia, however the stories captured my interest and I read on as the book followed the lives of convicts as they were sent to Australia and even as some managed to return.

I am not sure if there is any content that I will actually use in the classroom, although you could tell some interesting stories about what happened to some of the rebels. But this book is interesting enough that an interested high school student could read themselves as an interest-project. I usually give the option of doing a book review for extra credit, and this one would qualify.

Here is the amazon link for more information: Forgotten Patriots

Snapshots of 19th Century Canada

I really appreciate this series of resources called "critical challenges" and have used ideas from them in different courses. They come with very workable lesson plans, nicely laid out handouts, information sheets, marking sheets, etc.. Usually more than you need.

This book really has two big ideas.
1) Writing a journal entry/diary about a given event
2) A "report card" for English, French, Immigrants, and Natives
(starting in 1815 and progressing through nine selected events to 1915)

The journal entry/diary lesson gives great ideas on how to improve student-work and could really be used for any topic. Ideally you do it twice in the course so that students can try it, be assessed, and improve. I usually do a journal entry assignment around immigration and students choose (potato famine, underground railroad, loyalist) and then later in the course around gold rush and students choose (Fraser, Cariboo, Klondike).

The "report card" concept is something I work into my first unit "what was Canada like in 1815" and last unit "what was Canada like in 1915". However, I have never tried maintaining the concept throughout the course and making a big timeline. To be honest, while I like the nine events chosen in the book, there are only three of them that I usually teach about. I wish maybe that different events were chosen to make it more useful.

Anyhow, I highly recommend checking this one out for some good teaching ideas. Looks like they only sell a digital copy now on the critical challenges website.

I Have Lived Here Since the World Began

I Have Lived Here Since the World Began: An Illustrated History of Canada's Native People (Arthur J. Ray)

I was forced to buy this book for one of my university courses (Native-White Relations in Canada) and it was definitely under-appreciated at the time. It is a thick book that I didn't crack open until I started teaching Socials 10 and was looking for more interesting sources about First Nations people in Canada.

This book is essentially a textbook of Canadian history written from a First Nations perspective. It includes fascinating quotes and oral history accounts. In particular, I found the time period from 1500-1850 enlightening because I have little information from other sources. (Not to mention, the Socials 10 textbook talks about First Nations people in the Prairies and in BC, but nothing about the East - I guess that is assumed to be history prior to 1815?)

The book also covers more recent history such as the rebellions and residential schools. I have taken some of the quotes that the book provides at the beginning of each chapter, and use them as examples of primary resources: for discussion starters or written questions.

Disclaimer: the copy pictured above and listed on amazon now says that it is "revised and expanded" since the one I have. 

An Illustrated History of Canada's Native People: I Have Lived Here Since the World Began

Days of the Rebels

Margaret Atwood is a famous Canadian author and wrote this non-fiction book called "Days of the Rebels" in 1977. The most interesting part for me was the focus on the social context of the time. You really get a sense of what it would have been like to live in the early 1800's in Canada and what the 'regular' people in Canada were going through. Of course, it also details what happened in the aftermath of the rebellions and the backlash against those who dared to speak against the government.
There are interesting sections throughout the book, although much of it I was familiar with. The most useful part in Socials 10 is the second chapter that includes primary source quotes from the journals of pioneer women. The Socials 10 learning outcomes talk about the role of women in Canadian history, but there is very little in the textbook apart from a short biography of Emily Stowe to satisfy this. However, you can use some of these primary source quotes or even the whole chapter by Margaret Atwood as the basis for a brainstorming exercise "what was life like for pioneer women" or "write a journal from the perspective of" assignment.
I did a quick search and the cheapest place to purchase this seems like amazon.
Days of the rebels: 1815-1840 (Canada's illustrated heritage)

Fathers of Confederation

This book says "grades 4-8" and the front cover looks like it is for children, but it is one of the most useful teaching resources that I ever bought for Socials 10. The book is 76 pages of resources on Canadian confederation. It consists of good overview notes on confederation with a simple worksheet, and then a picture and description of every "father of confederation".  I don't think it is at all useful or important for students in Socials 10 to memorize names or details about the Fathers of Confederation, but there are lots of other interesting activities you can do with this. I use this resource in class by cutting up the descriptions and then organizing a 'mock conference'. They each read a summary of their character, we do a "human bingo" with it and then each person writes a very short speech to communicate their character's opinion on confederation.
I did a quick search online, and found an updated version of the resource for a decent price here. It even has a link to the table of contents and first few pages of the book. Check it out.

Empire of the Bay

This book is an epic tome with two volumes based on Peter Newman's previous books: "Company of Adventurers" and "Caesars of the Wilderness". Based on oft-quoted primary sources (journals, diaries, company records), it details the history of both the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company. It includes weird facts about the fur trade, crazy stories of adventure, detailed description of key individuals, and more. I didn't get bogged down in some of the minutiae of the Hudson's Bay Company business arrangements and stock holder meetings, but was captivated by some of the specific sections that happen to relate to Socials 10. 

-The detailed description of the beaver itself

-The meetings of "the Beaver Club" including a list of attendees

-The walking journeys of Samuel Hearne

-The Battle of Seven Oaks, including an eye-witness recollection of what was said

-The explorations of Mackenzie, Fraser, and Thompson

-The exploits of George Simpson, including his treatment of women

-The background story on John McLoughlin

etc.

This is the first book recommendation on my blog, probably because it the most often referenced in class. My copy of this book has a bunch of sticky notes and highlights for sections that I will read out in class or from where I have pulled quotes for worksheets or test questions. 

Empire of the Bay: The Company of Adventurers that Seized a Continent