Canadian history lesson plans can be very dry and boring if we only use the textbook to teach key events in history. I love teaching Canadian history and making it come alive for my students.
Canadian History Lesson Plans
I make my Canadian history lesson plans engaging by using a mix of teacher-directed and student-directed lessons.
Students love working together on primary source analysis activities like analyzing photos or videos.
They also enjoy working on integrated drama activities that make historical figures come alive.
I try to switch up my note-taking methods for my lessons – anything from folding graphic organizer notes to dot jot graphic organizers on lined paper. For more information on note-taking, check out the blog post, Teaching Note-Taking Skills to Middle and High School Students.
I use inquiry-focused lessons to ensure students have a voice and choice in their learning.
The more lesson variety you have in your Canadian history lesson plans, the more interested students will become. For more ideas on how to make your history class engaging, you can read this post, 13 Ways To Make History Class Engaging For Students.
I have provided a detailed outline below of how I break down my Canadian history lesson plans for each era of Canadian history, as well as links to complete units for Grades 7 and 8.
Grade 7 History – New France, British North America, and Conflict 1713-1850
In this Grade 7 History Unit, teachers are provided with 45 in-depth, engaging, and cross-curricular Grade 7 history lessons to help their students explore and understand New France, British North America, and the Conflict and Challenges eras 1713 – 1850 of Canadian history. This is aligned with the Ontario Social Studies Curriculum 2023 Grade 7 Strands A and B.
These Canadian History Lesson Plans Include:
- Print and Digital Formats
- MP3 Audio Files
- Detailed Lesson Plans
- Answer Keys
- 45 Lessons
- Student Choice
- Assessment Rubrics
- Quizzes
- Unit Test
- Inquiry Stations
Teacher Feedback
“This made planning history lessons super easy! Just print and go. Students were engaged in the topics and the layout of the lessons made the content easy for students to digest and understand. I also incorporate videos to play along with lessons so students can have additional visuals. Awesome resource!” – Brittany V.
Strand A Lessons Outline – 1713 – 1800 (New France and British Take Over)
- Important Events Sorting Activity
- Historica Minutes Topic: Explorers & First Nations
- Canadian Settlement Objects Activity
- Haudenosaunee, Inuit and Métis
- Map of New France 1700 Creation and Analysis
- The Creation of New France
- Medical Care in the 1700s
- New France Vocabulary QR Code Matchup
- Historical Figures Monologues
- New France Inquiry Stations
- Mid-Unit Test Review and Test
- The Treaty of Utrecht
- 10B. Treaties and Pontiac’s Resistance
- The Acadians
- The Seven Years’ War
- The Treaty of Paris, The Proclamation & The Quebec Act
- The American Revolution
- The Loyalists
- The Impact of the Loyalists’ Migration on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
- Constitution Act 1791
- British North America Summative Task
- Unit Review and Test
Strand B Lesson Outline – 1812 – 1850 (British North America – Setting Up a Colony)
- Introduction: Top 10 List of Events from 1713-1800
- Establishing Upper Canada
- Métis & Settler Relations
- Historica Minutes: War of 1812
- War of 1812 Overview Reading
- War of 1812 Inquiry Stations
- War of 1812 Newspaper Article
- Results of the War of 1812
- Mackinac & Drummond Islands & The Treaty of Ghent
- A Question of Identity: The War of 1812
- War of 1812 Review & Quiz
- Life in Lower Canada
- The Rebellions in Lower Canada
- Life in Upper Canada
- The Rebellions in Upper Canada
- Rebellions Quiz
- Legal Issues
- Politics in British North America
- British–Indigenous Treaties
- Conflict and Challenges Summative Task
- Unit Review and Test
You can find the Grade 7 Canadian History Lesson Plans Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
This is also available as a modified bundle. The modified history bundle is for classroom teachers who must teach the Grade 7 History Ontario Curriculum Strand A and B but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension.
Each of the 43 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 7 History Curriculum but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson. An MP3 audio file of each student reading has been provided. This resource was designed to meet the needs of ELL students and/or students on a modified IEP.
You can find the Grade 7 Canadian History Lesson Plans Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 8 History – Confederation, Western Settlement and Changing Society 1850-1914
In this Grade 8 history lesson bundle, teachers are provided with 42 in-depth lessons to help their students explore and understand this era of Canadian history. Students will love learning about Canada’s Confederation and how it occurred. This unit also includes information about the settlement and development of Western Canada as well as the challenges and changes Canadian society faced at the turn of the 20th century.
These Canadian History Lesson Plans Include:
- 41 Engaging Lessons
- MP3 Audio Files
- Detailed Lesson Plans
- Answer Keys
- Student Choice
- Differentiated Tasks
- Graphic Organizers
- Assessment Rubrics
- Unit Test
- Inquiry Stations
- Print and Digital Formats
Teacher Feedback
“When I taught grade 8, I used this resource to guide my history units. I loved it! And my students loved it too. It was engaging, well structured and organized. Great investment!” -Rachel P
Strand A Lesson Outline – 1850 – 1890 (Confederation and Western Expansion)
- Why Do We Study History?
- How Did We Get Here?
- How Has The Map of Canada Changed?
- Life in British North America Prior to 1867
- Fathers of Confederation Monologues
- Politics in the Province of Canada
- John A. Macdonald Personal and Professional Life
- Confederation Advertisement Assignment
- The Pros and Cons of Confederation
- The Charlottetown, Quebec and London Conferences
- Missing Voices at the Confederation Conferences
- British North America Act
- Confederation Unit Test
- Primary Source Analysis Videos and Photos
- Legal Documents
- Settlement of Western Canada Inquiry Stations
- Manitoba Act 1870
- The Indian Act 1876
- Louis Riel Obituary Assignment
- Canadian Pacific Railroad Lyric Analysis
- Canadian Pacific Railroad Assignment
- Primary Source Analysis, Video, and Creative Writing – The Gold Rush
- The Chinese Immigration Act 1885
- The Arctic and Indigenous Case Law
- Numbered Treaties
- Residential Schools
- Video Review
- Western Canada Unit Test
Strand B Lesson Outline – 1890 – 1914 (Canada: A Changing Society)
- Settling Canada Top 10 Events Class Discussion
- Examining Photos Primary Source Analysis
- Historica Minute Videos
- Interactive Timeline of Canadian Historical Events
- Examing Maps – The Changing Map of Canada
- Important Canadians QR Codes Gallery Walk
- Historical Figures Readings
- Changing Society Inquiry Stations
- 12 Topics: Technology, Transportation, Internal Politics, External Politics (Part 1 & 2), Immigration, Recreation Activities & Sports, Indigenous Peoples, Social Movements, Education Reforms & Child Labour, Emergence of Cities & Factories, Changing Role of Women
- Transportation Changes Primary Source Analysis Assessment
- Legal Issues and Changes
- Class Newspaper
- Changing Society Unit Test
You can find the Grade 8 Canadian History Lesson Plans Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
This is also available as a modified bundle. The modified Grade 8 history lesson bundle is for classroom teachers who are required to teach the Grade 8 History Ontario Curriculum, but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension.
Each of the 34 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 8 History Curriculum but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson. An MP3 audio file of each student reading has been provided. This resource was designed to meet the needs of ELL students and/or students on a modified IEP.
You can find the Grade 8 Canadian History Lesson Plans Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Do you teach split grades?
If you’re teaching a Grade 6/7 or 7/8 History split class, don’t worry! 2 Peas and a Dog has a regular and modified bundles for each. For more information on these Canadian History lesson plans, click on the links below:
- Grade 6/7 Social Studies Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Modified Grade 6/7 Social Studies Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Grade 7/8 History Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
- Modified Grade 7/8 History Bundle – CAD$ or USD$
Don’t forget the report card comments!
Use these 100% editable report card comments for the 2023 Ontario History Curriculum and include comments for Strands A & B. The comments are sorted by Levels 1 – 4, strengths, and next steps. These pair perfectly with the Canadian History lesson plans.
- 100% Editable
- Google Docs™ Format
- Comment Bank
- Next Steps
- Strands A & B
- Ontario Curriculum Aligned
You can find the Grade 7 History Report Card Comments on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD and the Grade 8 History Report Card Comments on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD.
Looking for sub plans?
This Canadian History Lesson Plans – Sub Plans Bundle is full of engaging and historically relevant activities to leave with your substitute or supply teacher when you have to be out of the classroom. This bundle includes six resources to help your students learn about a variety of Canadian historical places and events.
This Canadian History Lesson Plans Resource Includes:
- Significant Moments in Canadian History
- The Avro Arrow
- Parliament Hill Cat Colony
- Parliament Hill
- All About Canada – Canadian Alphabet Activity
- Prime Ministers of Canada Research Assignment
You can find the Canadian History Lesson Plans – Sub Plans Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
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