Confederation Speeches

Sir Étienne-Paschal Taché
http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/

In-class activity - Why Canada? - Confederation Research (3rd and 4th page of Lesson 2G handout).

25 minutes - read up on the Father of Confederation that you picked or had assigned.  Use any website for background info, but make sure you have the right guy!  Imagine how this person might have felt about the BNA colonies becoming a country.  From what you are reading, would they support or oppose Canada?

25 minutes - write a short speech (150-200 words) outlining your character's view towards Confederation. You can fill in details based on what you learned about the "Father" and the colony he represents (e.g. Canada East, PEI, Nova Scotia). This is a speech in the first person present tense ("I believe...") for or against Confederation, with arguments and evidence supporting their views.

This activity verifies a few abilities; self-assess as you go (ask yourself if you are "getting" these things):

• conduct an efficient and relevant websearch
• sort out useful information from fluff
• synthesize information from multiple sources
• use digital tools like a word processor and a blog
• manage time in a lab environment appropriate to the task
• express research and thinking in the form of a speech
• write clearly using factual evidence
• write convincingly using effective arguments

Post your speeches as a comment here. Leave you first name and initial so I can assess your work (e.g. Ashley B.)

Letters from the Front 2012

http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/photos/1914-18/10th.htm

You've heard or read some "letters from the front" in class.  Now, explore the following sites to get a feel for some of the details of the front lines in Europe as experienced by Canadian soldiers:

Letters from the front

http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/transcripts/transcriptMain.asp

First World War Project

http://www.firstworldwar.com/photos/trenches.htm

Calgary Highlanders

http://www.calgaryhighlanders.com/photos/1914-18/10th.htm

Interactive Trench Game

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/games/overtop/index_e.shtml

Create an interview between a reporter and a soldier or a fictional letter home from a Canadian man or woman on the front lines. Assume the person has served in at least two of the Battles of Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, or Passchendaele.

Post your interview or letter on this site: http://www.soc11eh.blogspot.com/2012/02/from-front.html under comments. This is Mr. Lewis’ SS11 class at PGSS, a chance to interact with other students. Be sure to include your name, last initial, and block so I can give you credit -- e.g. Marcy W. blk. A. If you're hesitant about doing this, you can also leave it here as a comment, or submit it as a Word file to my hand-in folder on the school server. Your interview or letter should aim to inform the Canadian public at home about and include details about a minimum of 5 of the following:

• trench warfare

• life in the front lines

• the roles of technology in the war

• the quality of military leadership

• morale of Canadian soldiers

• the effectiveness of Canadian troops

• hospitals and medical treatment

• the roles of women in the war

Japan Tsunami a year later

source: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/

The Big Picture has posted another amazing photo essay -- before and after pictures from the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11th, 2011 (a year ago today!).  Click on the pics to compare then and now. Link: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/03/japan_tsunami_pictures_before.html

SpringBreak

Great compilation, reminded me of why Youtube exists. What did you plan to do at Spring Break, or what did you do?