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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome Message

I. Background

  1. Canada Fact Sheet with a Spotlight on the Province of Québec
    Blank Fact Sheet
    Completed Fact Sheet
  2. Big Maps
  3. The Canadian Flag with a Spotlight on the Flag of the Province of Québec
    Flag Terminology Handout
  4. Canada's National Anthem
  5. History of Canada with a Spotlight on the Province of Québec

II. Music

  1. Mauvais Sort
  2. Instrument Making for Students and Adults
  3. World and American Music Links
  4. World Culture Links

III. Canadian Culture

  1. Québec's Native Peoples Board Game
  2. History of Canadian Circus
  3. French Canadian Folk Songs from Québec and Other Provinces
    Folk Tales Values Survey
  4. Culinary Culture: Maple Syrup

IV. Here and Now

  1. Exploring Francais Québécois and Current Events through Journalism
  2. The Great Canada Zoo
  3. What's New in Canada?

V. Community Connections

  1. Before and After Questions
  2. Intercultural Connections
  3. The Heritage Project and Oral History
  4. The Student Curator Project
  5. Class Newspaper or Web site
  6. Culture on Parade
  7. Student Participation in Arts Midwest World Fest

This curriculum was written by Jeanne Paliatka and Olaf Nelson for Arts Midwest.

Canada

I: BACKGROUND

Part 3: The Canadian Flag with a Spotlight on the Flag of Québec

Introduction:
Flags are important national symbols that provide an avenue for the exploration of a culture's values and history.

Overview:
Students will view the Canadian flag and analyze its symbolism, and in doing so, discern some of the symbols and values central to Canadian people. The same lesson can be used in studying the flag of the province of Québec. As an extension to this lesson, students will generate a list of objects and colors they find meaningful and create a flag for themselves, their family, school or community.

Objectives:
Students will view the Canadian flag and identify the objects on it.
Students will analyze the symbolism of the colors and objects on the Canadian flag and discuss the values they reflect.
Student will gain an understanding and appreciation of the values of the Canadian people.
Students will generate a list of objects and colors they find meaningful and create a flag for themselves, their family, school or community.
Students will familiarize themselves with terminology associated with flags

Grade Level:
Elementary through high school

Time Required:
One to two class periods. Students could create a fairly detailed flag in one full class period.

Materials:
Flag Terminology handout or overhead
An image of the flag of Canada (links are provided below) or a province could be enlarged and printed on a color printer, made into a color transparency, or shown on a light projector from the Internet.
Paper
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Magazines from which students can cut out pictures
Glue sticks or tape
Rulers
Teachers may direct students to the Student Resources Pages where they can follow relevant links without having access to lesson plans.

Procedure:

  1. To introduce students to terminology associated with flags, either distribute or show as a transparency, the handout,"Flag Terminology." Use the flag of the United States or your state to illustrate the terms provided.
  2. Once students have a basic vocabulary for discussing flags, show them an image of the Canadian flag. A color transparency would allow for the largest presentation, so that all the details are visible.
  3. Ask students to discuss what they see on the Canadian flag. If they are unsure about what type of leaf is depicted, encourage them to guess. Once the image has been identified, ask them to suggest the symbolism or meaning of these objects.
  4. Unless students have a prior knowledge of the Canadian flag, they will probably need help understanding the significance of the maple leaf. See the resources section below for several explanations. Once you have explained the flag, ask students to discuss what the flag suggests about Canada as a country or its people. Looking at the flag in conjunction with the national anthem of Canada (see lesson four) would also be helpful.
  5. To extend the lesson, ask students to brainstorm a list of objects that are important to them, their family, school or community. Ask them to pick colors that have significance also.
  6. Using the materials described above, give students time to create a drawing, diagram or collage of their flag. If students are creating a flag of their school or community, they could work in groups. Individual flags or family flags will most likely need to be completed by one student. This assignment could be completed in class or as homework.

Extensions:
Depending on the age of students and time constraints, students could

  • give an oral explanation of the symbols, colors and design of their flags
  • write an explanation of their flags
  • turn in their individual flags with names on the back, after which the teacher could ask the class to match the flags to their creators by looking at symbols, colors and layout
  • create a flag for the classroom, representing what is important to the class as a group

Resources:
(Links will open in new windows.)

A black and white printable Canadian flag.

The Canadian government's very thorough history of the Canadian flag.

Color images of all the provincial flags.

A fascinating look at the evolution of the Canadian flag and its incarnations. Suitable for high school students.

A very thorough list of flag terminology. Suitable for high school students.

Spotlight on Québec

A thorough description of the history and symbolism of the flag of Québec.

A color image of the flag of Québec and a description of its symbolism.