Are you looking for Grade 7/8 History lessons for the Ontario Curriculum?
Teaching history is one of my favourite content areas. I have created engaging lessons for teachers required to teach this curriculum, including lessons that work well for a Grade 7/8 split class.
When creating lessons, I think about how students learn best and what activities will engage them in their learning. These lesson plans are not worksheets but a combination of interactive activities, videos, readings, and inquiry assignments.
By using engaging history lessons, students can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the subject. Lessons are a powerful tool to help students develop a love of learning and critical thinking skills.
- Lessons that capture students’ attention and make them active participants in the learning process lead to increased retention of information and more connections to historical concepts. When students have to search for the vocabulary sheet and then scan a QR code, it helps make that lesson and word memorable for students.
- Engaged students ask questions, seek out additional information, and think critically about what they are learning. This can lead to a more dynamic classroom environment and a more effective learning experience for all students.
- It is also important that students see the relevance of your history lessons to their own lives and the world around them. By connecting historical events and concepts to contemporary issues, teachers can help students develop a greater understanding of these issues and events.
Teaching a split grade history lesson is not easy. Learn more about Best Strategies For Teaching Split Grade Classes.
Grade 7/8 History Lessons
Grade 7 and 8 History Bundle 1713-1914 – Teachers are provided with 85 in-depth, engaging, and cross-curricular lessons to help their students explore and understand the New France, British North America, Conflict and Challenges, Confederation, Western Settlement, Development, and Canada: A Changing Society eras of Canadian history. This unit covers the years 1713 to 1914.
Resource Includes:
- 85 Engaging Lessons
- MP3 Audio Files
- Daily Lesson Plans
- Student Choice
- Differentiated Tasks
- Inquiry Learning
- Graphic Organizers
- Summative Assessment
- Assessment Rubrics
- Unit Tests
- Answer Keys
- Combined Grades Teaching Plan
- Print & Digital Formats
Lesson Overview
Grade 7 Lessons
Strand A Lesson Outline
- 1. Important Events Sorting Activity
- 2. Historica Minutes Topic: Explorers & First Nations
- 3. Canadian Settlement Objects Activity
- 3B. Haudenosaunee, Inuit and Métis
- 4. Map of New France 1700 Creation and Analysis
- 5. The Creation of New France
- 5B. Medical Care in the 1700s
- 6. New France Vocabulary QR Code Matchup
- 7. Historical Figures Monologues
- 8. New France Inquiry Stations
- 9. Mid Unit Test Review and Test
- 10. The Treaty of Utrecht
- 10B. Treaties and Pontiac’s Resistance
- 11. The Acadians
- 12. The Seven Years’ War
- 13. The Treaty of Paris, The Proclamation & The Quebec Act
- 14. The American Revolution
- 15. The Loyalists
- 15B. The Impact of the Loyalists Migration on the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
- 16. Canada: A People’s History Episode
- 17. Constitution Act 1791
- 18. British North America Summative Task
- 19. Unit Review and Test
Strand B Lessons
- Introduction: Top 10 List of Events from 1713-1800
- 1. Establishing Upper Canada
- 1B. Métis & Settler Relations
- 2. Historica Minutes: War of 1812
- 3. War of 1812 Overview Reading
- 4. War of 1812 Inquiry Stations
- 5. War of 1812 Newspaper Article
- 6. Results of the War of 1812
- 6B. Mackinac & Drummond Islands & The Treaty of Ghent
- 7. A Question of Identity: The War of 1812
- 8. War of 1812 Review & Quiz
- 9. Life in Lower Canada
- 10. The Rebellions in Lower Canada
- 11. Life in Upper Canada
- 12. The Rebellions in Upper Canada
- 13. Rebellions Quiz
- 14. Canada A People’s History Videos (Optional)
- 14B. Legal Issues
- 15. Politics in British North America
- 15B. British – Indigenous Treaties
- 16. Conflict and Challenges Summative Task
- 17. Unit Review and Test
Grade 8 Lessons
Strand A Lessons
- 1. Why Do We Study History?
- 2. How Did We Get Here?
- 3. How Has The Map of Canada Changed?
- 4. Life in British North America Prior to 1867
- 5. Fathers of Confederation Monologues
- 6. Politics in the Province of Canada
- 7. John A. Macdonald Personal and Professional Life
- 8. Confederation Advertisement Assignment
- 9. The Pros and Cons of Confederation
- 10. The Charlottetown, Quebec and London Conferences
- 10B. Missing Voices at the Confederation Conferences
- 10C. British North America Act
- 11. Confederation Unit Test
- 12. Primary Source Analysis Videos and Photos
- 13. Legal Documents
- 14. Settlement of Western Canada Inquiry Stations
- 15. Manitoba Act 1870
- 16. The Indian Act 1876
- 17. Louis Riel Obituary Assignment
- 18. Canadian Pacific Railroad Lyric Analysis
- 19. Canadian Pacific Railroad Assignment
- 20. Primary Source Analysis, Video, and Creative Writing – The Gold Rush
- 21. The Chinese Immigration Act 1885
- 22. The Arctic and Indigenous Case Law
- 23. Numbered Treaties
- 24. Residential Schools
- 25. Video Review
- 26. Western Canada Unit Test
Strand B Lessons
- 1. Settling Canada Top 10 Events Class Discussion
- 2. Primary Source Analysis – Examining Photos
- 3. Historica Minute Videos (Sports, Inventor, Key Females)
- 4. Interactive Timeline of Canadian Historical Events
- 5. The Changing Map of Canada – Examining Maps
- 6. Important Canadians QR Codes (Key People From This Era)
- 7. Historical Figures Readings – Frederick Ogilvie Loft, Thomas Longboat, Duncan Campbell Scott
- 8. 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)
- 9. Primary Source Analysis Assessment – Transportation Changes
- 10. Legal Issues and Changes (Voting Rights, The Metis, Indigenous Issues, School Policy Changes)
- 11. Class Newspaper
- 12. Changing Society Unit Test
What Teachers Are Saying About These Grade 7/8 History Lessons:
“This resource is great. It’s my first time teaching history and it’s a split grade so this is SUPER helpful. Thank you!” -Kira H.
“This was an absolute necessity for me with my 7/8 split class. It was so nice to have all of the resources in one spot. Everything was tied in with the curriculum so well and it made teaching history that much easier with the split class. Thanks!” -Tim W.
You can get the Grade 7/8 Canadian History Bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD.
History Report Card Comments
Use these 100% editable report card comments for the 2023 Ontario Social Studies Curriculum and include comments for Strands A & B. The comments are sorted by Levels 1 – 4, strengths, and next steps. These are available for both Grade 7 and Grade 8 History. You can find all Ontario Report Card Comments on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD.
- 100% Editable
- Google Docs™ Format
- Comment Bank
- Next Steps
- Strands A & B
- Ontario Curriculum Aligned
What Teachers Are Saying:
“I love this resource. It helped me out so much with my first ever history reports. Thank you!” -Music with Mrs. Sandoval
Grade 7 History Report Card Comments and Grade 8 History Report Card Comments are available on Teachers Pay Teachers USD or Shopify CAD.
Canadian History Sub Plans
Use these Canadian history sub plans to help your students remain engaged and excited about their social studies classes when you are away.
I hope these Grade 7/8 History lessons can help you cover the Ontario Curriculum in your classroom.
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