Teacher Resources and Activities

Remember Me: A National Day of Remembrance
'Remember Me: A National Day of Remembrance' initiative was birthed immediately after the discovery of the massive unmarked grave of 215 Indigenous children at the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia.

OrangeShirtDay.org
Learn the history and significance of Orange Shirt Day at OrangeShirtDay.org. Teacher resources, videos, and Phyllis' story can be found here.

Orange Shirt Day Activities (K-5)
Using math skills and language, explore various history and cultural teachings related to Orange Shirt Day - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

FNESC : Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation
(Free lesson and teacher resource guides)
The Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides for grades 5, 10 and 11/12 were developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association. They are our response to the call by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for education bodies to develop age-appropriate educational materials about Indian residential schools.

Project of Heart
Project of Heart” is an inquiry based, hands-on, collaborative, inter-generational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada.

Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Center
The Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC) at UBC addresses the colonial legacy of residential schools and other policies imposed by the Canadian government on Indigenous Peoples, and ensures that this history is acknowledged, examined and understood within the UBC community. The Centre works with partners across disciplines, at UBC and beyond, to facilitate dialogues and access to records and information that support engaging the legacies of the residential school system and the on-going impacts of colonialism in Canada.

Truth and Reconciliation Week
Gr. 5 to 12 teachers can sign up for Canada’s 2021 Truth and Reconciliation Week, running Sept. 26-30, 2022. Over the course of five days, teachers will share videos created by Indigenous storytellers, which show traditional ceremonies and artistic performances, alongside conversations with Elders and knowledge keepers, survivors, and children of survivors of residential schools. There will also be a moving tribute to the missing children that never returned home from the residential schools. On September 30, Orange Shirt Day, a special program will be held to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The Whole Truth About Residential Schools: Then and Now
Beginning Sept. 15, 2021, Nelson will host a new, free webinar series entitled "The Whole Truth About Residential Schools: Then and Now." The series will provide a comprehensive overview of the Residential School System and the intergenerational impacts and actions resulting from the Indian Residential School Settlement agreement. Participants will learn of practical strategies and recommended resources to help support student learning about residential schools and tips on navigating these crucial K-12 classroom discussions. With the recent findings of unmarked graves of children who attended residential schools, this series is recommended for educators and students to learn more about the truth of these schools. Register through Nelson's website today.

Ripple Effect of Resiliency: An Indigenous Perspective (teachery.co) by Monique Gray-Smith
Use discount code Joy2021 for 15% off. IMPORTANT: do not use single registration for a group. This online course will add to your bundle of gifts and knowledge that you carry in your work with Indigenous children, youth and families. Woven into the 6 modules, Monique will share her personal journey, offer readings from her various books and provide stories of hope and resilience. Topics include: the Impact of stress and trauma on wellness, truth of federal, provincial and territorial legislation and policies that have and continue to impact Indigenous people and the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, exploration of reconciliation, and Cultural Resilience Model with the 4 Blankets of Resilience.

Tk’emlúps Drum For the Children
Get involved in recognizing the very first Canadian National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. After a global outpouring of interest and support for the missing children from the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc is offering a way for people to connect, support and ground into the importance of September 30, 2021.

Discovery Education Equity Talks
Join for Discovery Education Equity Talks Canada. Moderated by Dr. Kevin Godden, Superintendent of Abbotsford School District in British Columbia, this webinar provides guidance and support to educators everywhere who strive to bring equity and excellence to their schools and districts.
Learn how education leaders of today address reconciliation, issues of equity, and the need to rely on remote and hybrid learning.  Registration link here.

Tools for the Classroom

Future Design School Included are tools to support generative discussions around this very important day of remembrance. The tools can be differentiated to be used in grades 5-9 as teachers see fit. Included is a guide for teachers that corresponds to slide deck as well as reflective activity book for students. Our hope is to support teachers to have rich conversations while exploring additional resources and stories from authentic voices and inspiring youth to engage in truth and reconciliation in a meaningful way and on an ongoing basis.

Slide Deck Teachers Guide Reflective Tools for Students

Scholastic Education - Classroom tools, videos, resources

Scholastic Education has launched a brand new webpage promoting free articles and discussion prompts for parents and teachers taken from our best-selling classroom resource, Take Action for Reconciliation.

Find the website here: https://schol.ca/x/reconciliation

And the French edition here: https://schol.ca/x/reconciliationFR

The full Discussion Guide can also be downloaded here: https://www.scholastic.ca/reconciliation-resources/pdfs/TruthReconciliationDiscussionGuide_0923.pdf