Identity and Flags

Today, we learned that many countries, cities, and communities use flags to represent their unique identities. Canada has a flag that includes red and white, with a maple leaf in the center. The LGBT+ community uses a rainbow flag to represent their identities. We read about the creation of the rainbow flag and the life of Harvey Milk. Then, we created our own flags that will be used when we make our own ‘micronations’!

What symbols, colours, plants, animals, etc. would you use to represent your identity?

Acknowledging Indigenous Veterans: Code Talkers

Have you ever heard of a ‘code talker’? Code talkers were a ‘secret weapon’, a group of Indigenous soldiers that translated American and Canadian messages into different Indigenous languages (ex: Cree), then sent the message to another code talker who would translate it back into English. This way, when the message was sent, if any soldiers on the opposing side were listening in they could not decode the message!

Though these brave Indigenous soldiers were very crucial to keeping important messages safe, they rarely receive any mention in history textbooks or acknowledgement during Remembrance Day ceremonies! Hopefully, but learning more about the important role Indigenous soldiers played in Canadian history we will be able to honour and respect their sacrifices.

If the World was a Village of 100 People:

After watching this video, we discussed our reactions to some of the facts. Why do so many people across the globe have so little access to healthcare and medicine? Why are girls and women more likely to be illiterate than men/boys? Why do so many people not have a safe, clean source of drinking water?

And, most interestingly perhaps, would the results of this survey be different now in 2020 due to COVID-19?

As we continue examining sociology on a local and global scale, it is important for us to acknowledge how many people still do not have access to resources (such as clean water, education, and food security) as well as human rights (such as voting and freedom of religion) that many Canadians do.

While we can learn a lot from videos, statistics, and maps, it is always important to practice critical thinking and ask “why” and “what source is this from”!

John A. Macdonald: A Controversial Canadian

John A. Macdonald Statue Article

This week, we are continuing to use our critical thinking skills as we examine primary sources, photographs, quotes, news articles, and opinion pieces to decide whether we think John A. Macdonald (Canada’s first Prime Minister) was a positive or negative historical figure.

With any person or event in history, it is important to learn as much as we can from different perspectives. This way, we can make up our own opinion based on the evidence!

Please feel free to read and review the article attached above to learn more about the controversy surrounding John A. Macdonald’s statue being destroyed in Montreal.

Parent/Guardian Resource: Talking about Racism

Hello to our parents, guardians, and families of Div. 5 students!

In Socials this month, we will be discussing topics that involve stereotypes, prejudice, and racism; we will also be learning about people who stood up against oppression and made positive changes in their communities! For example, we learned about Viola Desmond and her fight to end racial segregation in Canada. I know that we will have some challenging, meaningful, and interesting discussions around the topic of past and present injustices over the weeks to come!

It is important to recognize that many students have likely heard/learned about different examples of injustice through current events, social media, their own life experiences, etc. I am so proud of how honest, empathetic, and critically-minded our class has been in our lessons so far! Here is a resource that may be helpful if you want to continue these conversations at home.

Thank you!

Viola Desmond & the Canadian Civil Rights Movement

Today, we learned about Viola Desmond and her fight against racial segregation in Canada. We watched the Heritage Minute dedicated to her and read a biography about her life, Viola Desmond Will Not Be Budged.

We will be continuing to explore historical (and contemporary) examples of people who stood up against injustice, racism, and prejudice. Who are some ‘changemakers’ that you think we should learn about?