DEVELOPMENT OF WESTERN CANADA WEBQUEST

INTRODUCTION

By entering our time travel machine you will explore the growth and development of the Canadian West. You will examine a wide range of changes and conflicts from the viewpoints of the Canadian government, the Aboriginal Peoples, the Metis, and the early immigrants.

TASK

You are to become an authentic character from the early days of the Canadian West. Your writing, research and performance will be from the viewpoint of the character you choose. You can be an Aboriginal, Metis, an early immigrant, a railroad worker, a government official, a North West Mounted Police or another pertinent character. You are to write about your life as that person. In addition you are to include an authentic document that was written in that period.

INDIVIDUAL TASK

• daily journal or diary
• illustration of costume, home, food, duties etc.
• a record of appropriate terminology

GROUP TASK

• meet with same or similar characters
• research the conflicts that occurred in the Canadian West in the nineteenth century from your character's point of view
• create a presentation to demonstrate what you have learned. Possible formats could include a skit, a debate, "A day in the life of...", a display with explanations, a song, a poem. Use your imagination.

INFORMATION SOURCES (RESOURCES)

Web Resources for the Unit

RCMP Historical Highlights - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/history.htm

Biography of Louis Riel - http://home.ican.net/~shsb/Riel/indexenglish.htm

The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - http://www.libraxus.com/rcap/index.html

Canada Hall - The Metis Bison Hunters - http://www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca/cmc/cmceng/ca13eng.html

Canadian History (choose The West link) - http://www.mbnet.mb.ca/~froncoll/history/index.htm

Ask a Canadian Historian - http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~osnhc/ask.htm

Other Resources

1. Microsoft Encarta ’97. The Complete Interactive Multimedia Encyclopedia. C. & P.1997 Microsoft Corporation
2. 1998 Canadian Encyclopedia. CD ROM (M&S)
3. Canada Revisited. Penny Clark, Robert McKay. Arnold Publishing Ltd. Edmonton Alberta, Canada. 1992
4. The Last Spike, Pierre Burton
5. The National Dream, Pierre Burton
6. Coming to Gum San: the Story of Chinese Canadians. Sheila Burney, D.C. Heath, Toronto. 1995
7. Building the Canadian Pacific Railroad. (NFB)
8. True North Arrivals CD ROM (MSDOS) McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd.,1-800-565-5758.
9. The Cremation of Sam McGee. Robert W. Service. ISBN 0-9199964-92-3

PROCESS

INDIVIDUAL

• Start a project journal to record thoughts, questions and answers, and ideas as you go through the project. Begin by writing what you already know.
• Draw your designs.
• Begin your list of vocabulary words.
• Research, using the Information Sources above, and describe the everyday life of your character. Record the information in your project journal.

GROUP

• Meet with group members.
• Using the Information Sources above, research the conflicts that occurred in the Canadian West in the nineteenth century from your character's perspective.
• Choose one conflict to depict in your presentation.
• Decide on the format of your presentation.
• Develop time lines as time management is extremely important and assign specific roles within your group.
• Discuss organization of information. You may use flow charts, summary tables, concept maps to help with your presentation.

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GUIDANCE

• Go to the resources and explore.
• Discuss time management.
• Discuss organization of information.

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ASSESSMENT

• Self and peer assessment rubric
• Oral presentation rubric
• Student diagram/sketch rubric
• Group work self assessment rubric
• Research skills assessment rubric
• Writing rubric

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CONCLUSION

You will

• demonstrate an understanding of the growth and development of the West from the points of view of the Canadian government, Aboriginal peoples, Metis and new immigrants
• analyse and describe the conflicts and changes that occured in the Canadian West in the nineteenth century
• demonstrate an understanding of how diverse groups and individuals have contributed to the growth and development of the Canadian West

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OTHER TEACHER RESOURCES

1. Bibliography of RCMP History - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/biblio.htm
2. The British Columbia History Internet/Web Site - http://victoria.tc.ca/Resources/bchistory.html
3. A Taste of Canada - History - http://www.selkirk-tangiers.com/~spirit/canada/toc-history.html