Programs by Learning Experience
Our programs offer you and your students a wide range of learning experiences in a variety of environments. Each of these programming formats — described below — emphasizes core competencies such as teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and accommodates visual, kinesthetic and auditory learning styles.
On-Site School Programs
These hands-on sessions are held in one of the Museum’s ateliers, where students investigate a “big idea” using primary and secondary sources (archival images, replica artifacts and living history collections).
Survivor Truths: Residential Schools, Art, and Reconciliation – New offer
DESCRIPTION
The legacy of residential schools affects every Canadian. For over 100 years, an estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were placed in residential schools in a joint initiative between the federal government and Christian churches. The school system aimed to sever ties to community, language, culture and land to assimilate Indigenous nations into a Christian Canada. Many students at these schools were subjected to abuse. The intergenerational effects of this history are ongoing, as Survivors and Indigenous communities work to heal and renew ties to land, language and culture.
Students in this program will participate in a series of guided activities focusing on the powerful role of land in this history and in reconciliation efforts. This program was developed in partnership with Indigenous artist, master carver, filmmaker, and intergenerational Survivor Carey Newman (Hayalthkin’geme) and a group of Survivors from the Alberni Indian Residential School on Vancouver Island. It uses art created by these Survivors when they were students at the school in the 1950s and early 1960s as inspiration for reflections on Indigenous relationships to land, residential school history, colonialism, and one’s own place in Canada’s road to reconciliation.
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| GRADES | |
| ON Grades 7 to 12 (Only groups in these grades are eligible.) | |
| QC Secondary 1 to 5 (Only groups in these grades are eligible.) | |
| DATES | TIMES |
| October 28, 2024, to June 26, 2025 | Monday to Friday, 9:30 A.M. and 12:15 P.M. |
| DURATION | GROUP SIZE |
| 90 Minutes | 35 (students and teachers) |
| COST | |
| This program is free with Museum admission. | |
Photo: Survivors of Alberni Indian Residential School, left to right, Chuck August, Gina Laing, and Dennis Thomas of Port Alberni hold up their paintings at the Canadian History Museum.
Photo by Dave Chan.
Music Works!
DESCRIPTION
Take your students on a musical odyssey to far-off places! Children play the roles of musicians and storytellers from Indonesia and Nigeria, learning some useful techniques and musical beats while preparing for their performances. Music Works! promotes intercultural understanding as children explore the role of music in communities around the world.
Teacher Overview
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| GRADES | |
| ON Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4 | |
| QC Preschool to Cycle 2 | |
| DATES | START TIME |
| September 9, 2024 to June 26, 2025 | Tuesday to Friday, 10 A.M. and 11:15 A.M. Exceptions for later slots – on request |
| DURATION | GROUP SIZE |
| 45 Minutes | 35 (ratio 1 adult: 5 students) |
Guided Tours
Students are taken on an engaging 45-minute guided tour throughout the Museum.
A Museum Overview
DESCRIPTION
This guided tour explores the many amazing sights and stories at the Canadian Museum of History. A great introduction to the Museum, students will come away with a taste from three of our major exhibitions. They will gain an appreciation for the lives and contributions of those who came before us.
| GRADES | |
| ON Grades 7 to 12 | |
| QC Secondary 1 to 5 | |
| DATES | TIMES |
| Every day | 10 A.M., 11:15 A.M., 1 P.M. and 2:15 P.M. |
| DURATION | GROUP SIZE |
| 45 Minutes | 25 (students and teachers) |
| LOCATION | |
| Throughout the Museum | |
Indigenous Peoples
DESCRIPTION
Ancestral technologies and oral histories have been a part of Indigenous culture for centuries. During this hands-on guided tour, students will gain an understanding and appreciation for how traditional practices have impacted history in Canada from time immemorial to the present.
| GRADES | |
| ON Grades 7 to 12 | |
| QC Secondary 1 to 5 | |
| DATES | TIMES |
| Every day | 10 A.M., 11:15 A.M., 1 P.M. and 2:15 P.M. |
| DURATION | GROUP SIZE |
| 45 Minutes | 25 (students and teachers) |
| LOCATION | |
| Grand Hall, First Peoples Hall | |
History of Canada
DESCRIPTION
Walk through Canada’s history from time immemorial to the present. This hands-on guided tour takes students through three galleries of the Canadian History Hall, highlighting key objects, people and important stories they may have missed in history class.
| GRADES | |
| ON Grades 7 to 12 | |
| QC Secondary 1 to 5 | |
| DATES | TIMES |
| October 15, 2024, to April 25, 2025 | 10 A.M., 11:15 A.M., 1 P.M. and 2:15 P.M. |
| DURATION | GROUP SIZE |
| 45 Minutes | 25 (students and teachers) |
| LOCATION | |
| Canadian History Hall | |
Activity Sheets
Students explore the Museum using printed tools.
Museum Quest-ory – Canadian History Hall
Fill out our newest Museum Quest-ory handout as you visit Gallery 1 in the Canadian History Hall.
Stamp Find
Explore the Canadian Stamp Collection and discover some of Canada’s best-known musical artists. Look for missing words or names on postage stamps to complete a crossword puzzle.
Architectural Tour
Take a walk around the Museum grounds and discover the fascinating symbolism of its architecture. Learn more about the inspiration that architect Douglas Cardinal drew from the Canadian landscape.
Outdoor Museum Quest
Go on an outdoor family adventure with the Museum Quest handout as your guide. Explore the Museum grounds and the surrounding environment to learn about Indigenous art.
Book Your Group Visit
The Canadian Museum of History is a destination of choice for students and adults travelling in groups. We offer a wide range of services, experiences and educational resources tailored for groups of 15 or more.