Course: Grade 10 History
Date: Fall 2021 – In-Person Learning
Teacher: Laura Miedema
Our focus was on researching Canada’s involvement in a major world event since WWII. Some of the chosen topics included the Korean war, Somalia, Canadians in Afghanistan, Canadians in Rwanda, The Gulf War, and the Balkans. We used the historical thinking concepts of Historical Significance and Continuity and Change in historical evidence to show the pivotal role that Canadians played in the chosen battle or peacekeeping mission or event. We looked at how monuments are designed, how they are made, and how they can pay tribute to Canadians who have served.
As an entry event, we went to the Charley Fox Memorial. Charley Fox was a local east Londoner who served in WWII as a pilot, and there is a monument at the Trafalgar and Hale overpass honouring him and his service. Students then worked together in groups researching their chosen historical event. Once they had completed their research, students started to sketch their own monument to pay honour or tribute to Canadians who served in that particular historical event. Ultimately, the goal was to have students present to a panel, as well as to the rest of the class, to determine which design we would try to actually replicate and promote within our community.
Every single one of us are citizens of God’s kingdom, but we are also citizens of the country in which we live. Through this project, we’re trying to pay tribute to individual citizens in Canada who in some cases have sacrificed their life to give us freedom or to help out other people around the world in these various events. As students are involved in creating and using their hands and the gifts that God has given them to create these beautiful pieces of work to honour individuals in Canada in our country who have contributed to life not only within our country but also internationally.
Students really enjoyed working on the project; I think they certainly realized that they are more creative and more capable than what maybe sometimes they give themselves credit for. While some students were not always proud of Canadians’ involvement in some battles and they questioned some issues of justice, we were able to have conversations about how we live in a fallen world and how our world is broken and it won’t be perfect again until Christ returns and redeems all of creation, and how we can bring about change for the future.
Laura Miedema, Teacher
My initial reaction to this project was extremely positive – I love doing creative projects, especially in classes that center on the academic side of learning. My partner (Kiersten Fluit) and I knew from the start that we wanted to focus on something unique, such as women or mental health. Our monument focuses on the mental health of Canadian soldiers [who served in Rwanda]. I really enjoyed this project as it blended research and analysis with creativity and design. It gave us a chance to try something new and expand our knowledge.
In [our] monument, there are beds of flowers. We chose marigolds and forget-me-nots, which represent positive emotions and remembrance. These flowers symbolize mental health. There is ivy growing on the roof, which represent protection and endurance.
Lucy VanderHeide, Student