From Vimy to Juno offers educators a collection of lesson plans and resources to help improve and enrich students' military history experiences, both in and outside of the classroom.

The resources available here can be scaled for most age groups. They can be used in classroom-only lessons, or in conjunction with a visit to the From Vimy to Juno Travelling Exhibition. these tools can also be used to help prepare students for what they may experience on an overseas battlefield tour.

For more information about these resources, or to submit your own resources for sharing, please contact Alex Fitzgerald-Black at alex@junobeach.org.

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Concept
Theme
Level

Canada on the Battlefield in the First World War

Historical Significance

Students will explore and continue to apply a set of criteria for establishing historical significance. This is an ideal opportunity to assess their use of this historical thinking concept, after introducing it in previous lesson(s).

Themes: Battles, First World War | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Comparing the First and Second World Wars

Change and Continuity

Students will work to extrapolate the differences between Canada’s experience in The First World War as compared to The Second World War. In reviewing and researching a variety of topics, they will draw conclusions about both wars, and try to identify the forces of change at work between the wars.

Themes: First World War, Second World War | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

From Vimy to Juno - Intermediate

Primary Source Evidence|Change and Continuity|The Ethical Dimension|Historical Significance|Cause and Consequence|Historical Perspectives

This scalable intermediate learning tool is a complement to any classroom visit to the From Vimy to Juno travelling exhibition. Visit the Exhibitions section for tour details.

Themes: Minority Perspectives, Battles, First World War, Inter-War Period, Commemoration, Second World War, Canadian Identity, Personal Stories, Home Front | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

From Vimy to Juno - Junior

Primary Source Evidence|Change and Continuity|The Ethical Dimension|Historical Significance|Cause and Consequence|Historical Perspectives

This scalable junior learning tool is a complement to any classroom visit to the From Vimy to Juno travelling exhibition. Visit the Exhibitions section for tour details.

Themes: Minority Perspectives, Battles, First World War, Inter-War Period, Commemoration, Second World War, Canadian Identity, Personal Stories, Home Front | Level: Junior

Details

From Vimy to Juno - Primary

Primary Source Evidence

This scalable primary learning tool is a complement to any classroom visit to the From Vimy to Juno travelling exhibition. Visit the Exhibitions section for tour details.

Themes: Minority Perspectives, Battles, First World War, Inter-War Period, Commemoration, Second World War, Canadian Identity, Personal Stories, Home Front | Level: Primary

Details

Secret War

Historical Significance

Students will explore the impact of a ‘Secret War’ on the outcomes of the Second World War in this lesson. It may also be prudent to discuss the connection between espionage and a “Total War” (previous lesson), and the role of espionage in the development of Canada’s identity (why do so few people know about this part of Canada’s history and contribution to the Second World War? Does this prove or disprove its significance?) If something is “necessary” then it can also be seen as having had a significant impact (then and now).

Theme: Second World War | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Support for the Second World War

Historical Perspectives

Understanding the historical perspective of an identifiable group of Canadians (in the past) is not easily accomplished without immersive and far-reaching research and consideration. This lesson will introduce students to the experiences and perspectives of several different identifiable groups as students explore the reasons why they did or didn’t support Canadians effort in the Second World War. Please note, that no group is more or less important in Canada’s contribution to the Second World War; they are only different, often because their identities or historical experiences in the Canadian context (and beyond) were dramatically different.

Themes: Minority Perspectives, Second World War, Personal Stories, Home Front | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Total War

Cause and Consequence

Using a definition of “Total War” students will examine information and primary sources to help them understand why Canadians fought, how they contributed, and the outcomes of their contribution to WWII conflict.

Themes: Second World War, Home Front | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Vimy 100 in the Classroom

Primary Source Evidence|Change and Continuity|The Ethical Dimension|Historical Significance|Cause and Consequence|Historical Perspectives

This free, fully accessible, bilingual resource has been designed for high school students across Canada and includes lesson plans, resources, and activities for use in a variety of classes.

Themes: Minority Perspectives, Battles, First World War, Commemoration, Canadian Identity | Levels: Intermediate, Primary, Junior, Secondary

Details

Was the First World War a "Great War" for Canada?

Cause and Consequence

Students will explore historical evidence that corresponds with the defining characteristics (criteria) of a “Great War.” They will determine their criteria and see how history fulfilled each criteria by exploring the positive and negative consequences of important events from the war. In this way, the students will explore the outcomes of the war for Canada.

Themes: First World War, Canadian Identity | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Was the First World War a war that could be won?

Cause and Consequence

Students will explore the results of Canada’s participation in the Trenches of The First World War (along the Western Front in Northern France and Southern Belgium). These trenches required: adaptation to living conditions, the creation of new weapons and battle strategies, and the ultimate sacrifice for the war.

Themes: Battles, First World War | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Why did they fight for Canada?

Historical Perspectives

Students will work to uncover the perspective of a diverse number of identifiable groups from Canadian history. They will learn and consider the experience of many different Canadians during the First World War.

Themes: First World War, Personal Stories | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

Why was the Battle of Vimy Ridge significant to the development of Canada's identity?

Historical Significance

Students will explore the historical significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge by responding to prompting “thinking” style questions. Evaluating a topic’s significance requires that students have built a foundational knowledge of the topic. Note: Significance can be different for every student. Encourage students to explore their own perspectives on history as they work to decide for themselves if Vimy was in fact important. Let students decide.

Themes: Battles, First World War, Canadian Identity | Levels: Intermediate, Secondary

Details

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