Author - Brad Nicholson
Category - Lesson Plans, History, World History, Canada
Lesson Plan Duration - 1 hour(s)
Grade Level - 9-12

Lesson Plan Description

The Metis people were the result of marriages between French fur traders and First Nations women in Canada in the early 1800s. They were often treated as second class citizens due to their mixed heritage. This lesson plan covers the history of the Metis and the injustices they suffered at the hands of European settlers and the Canadian government.

Primary Learning Objective(s):

The primary objective of this lesson plan is to learn the background of the Metis, study the poor treatment they received at the hands of the Canadian government, and determine better ways in which their situation could have been handled.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

Students will be able to compare and contrast the treatment of the Metis with indigenous people from other nations around the world. 

Procedures/Activities:

 

1) T: Greets students as they enter the classroom.

2) T: Begins discussion about mixed marriages.

3) Ss: Discuss the topic and identify who may be from a mixed marriage.

4) Ss: Are asked to think about some of the problems associated with mixed marriages and if any student has encountered these problems.

5) Ss: Will divide into groups of four (4) and discuss the topic.

6) Ss: Will document ideas about the issues they uncover.

7) T: Hands out the document from the Internet titled "Who are the Metis?"

8) Ss: In their groups, students will read the article and make notes on the information in the article.

9) T: Will entertain any questions of discussion topics.

10) T: Distributes a student activity sheet regarding the Metis and the Red River Valley.

11) Ss: Will complete the activity sheet as a group.

12) T: Distributes the article, Métis Nation in Canada from the Fur Institute of Canada.

13) Ss: Read the article which describes the history of the fur trade from mid 18th century to today and reflect on what they read in the article. Students will then create an out slip listing 3 ways in which the Government of Canada could have better handled the Métis situation.

See Attached Lesson Plan

Materials/Equipment:

The article, The Metis in Canada, from the Fur Institute of Canada,

The New Breed magazine (can be found online)

Student Activity Sheet (attached to the Lesson Plan)

Assessment Guidelines:

a) Assessment - a) students will submit, from their groups of four, one page of notes from #8 outlining the history of the Metis and the problems they encountered.

b) each group will submit one Activity Sheet about the Metis and the Red River Valley.

c) after reflecting on the Métis Nation in Canada article from the Fur Institute of Canada, students will create and hand in an out slip listing 3 ways in which the Government of Canada could have better handled the Métis situation.

(Analysis of the situation coming up with new ideas shows higher level Bloom).

See Attached Lesson Plan