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The Historical Exploration Continues
Grade Levels: 4/5, 6/7
Subject Area: Social Studies/History/Language Arts
This lesson plan is inspired by the article “Black Voyageurs” in the Black history in Canada issue of Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids (expanded in 2022) and the How Furs Built Canada issue of Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids.
Lesson Overview
This lesson focuses on exploring what is known about specific Black fur traders, learning more about their life and character, and applying this knowledge to illustrate why they were qualified for various jobs at the Hudson’s Bay Company or North West Company.
Time Required
80 minutes
Historical Thinking Concept(s)
- Establish historical significance
- Identify continuity and change
- Take historical perspectives
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Examine job posts and evaluate information in order to determine why the Black fur trader they have selected is the best candidate for that job
The Lesson Activity
Activating: How will students be prepared for learning?
Get students to reflect on their learning by sharing what they have learned so far about Black fur traders and the skills that they brought to their jobs as employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company or North West Territory Company.
Acquiring: What strategies facilitate learning for groups and individuals?
Once students have completed their job advertisement, get each student to switch their advertisement with another student in the class. Do this a couple of times so that students have the opportunity to read a few different job advertisements.
Applying: How will students demonstrate their understanding?
Think-Pair-Share: Get students to read a job advertisement with a partner. This will provide English Language Learners or students with learning disabilities the opportunity to have a peer help support them as they read an advertisement.
Discuss: Share two reasons why you think someone would apply to the job posting that you read. Have students switch partners and share the response to the discussion question with another pair.
Class Discussion: Once students have had sufficient time to share their responses with a partner, take up the discussion question with the whole class and record student responses.
What have you learned so far about Black fur traders and the skills that they brought to their jobs as employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company or North West Territory Company?
Materials/Resources
- Explore the Role of Black People in the Fur Trade Industry
- Chart paper, markers
- “Black Voyageurs,” Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids
- Student job advertisement
- K-W-L ongoing chart or Padlet Document
- Replying to a Job Advertisement Collecting Information – Graphic Organizer
