CBC Archives

Write “Canada” on the board or chart paper. Give students five to ten minutes to list all the images and words that come to mind when they think about Canada. In small groups, students will organize the words on their lists under the following headings: People, Places, and Things.

Groups will select one person, one place, and one thing from their list. Ask: If you were to create an artistic representation of each word as it relates to Canada, would you prefer to do it through music, visual arts, or poetry? Why?

Direct students to the topic Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students will thoroughly review Clip #1, including The Story and Did You Know? sections.

Individually, students will select a word from the list generated in Before Exploring. Then, using the artistic medium of their choice, they will portray the meaning of that word as it relates to Canada.

Have students share their work. Students should explain why they chose their word to represent Canada, and why they felt their chosen medium was strongest to share their message.

Students can visit the Links section of the Web site, select an image of Canadian identity that is meaningful to them, and write a paragraph explaining how that image depicts Canadian identity.