Lesson Plan: Newfoundland Joins Canada

Lesson Plan

Before Exploring

Before analyzing the specifics of this particular historical event, have students generate a list of what they already know about Newfoundland joining Confederation in 1949. Each student can begin a Know/Wonder/Learned chart. They should record what they know in the Know column. Then ask what they wonder about the topic, and have them record that information in the Wonder column.

Outline the Opportunity

Direct students to the topic Has Confederation Been Good for Newfoundland? on the CBC Digital Archives website. Students can browse for about 30 minutes, watching and listening to clips of their choice. Provide students with the framework below to guide their viewing and listening:

What were the major events that led to Confederation?

Who were the key people involved in Confederation?

What has happened to Newfoundland as a result of Confederation?

Has Confederation been good to Newfoundland?

Have students use the information they have found to complete their Know/Wonder/Learned chart.

Revisit and Reflect

Have students sit in pairs to discuss and compare their charts. Ask them to add items from their partner's lists that are different from their own.

Repeat this sharing activity with a group of four students. Once each group of four has had sufficient time to process the lists, create a class master list using large chart paper. Be sure to allow for each group's contributions, without students repeating ideas already included.

Extension

Students can listen to the clip "Smallwood on Term 29," and note the main points expressed by Premier Smallwood.

Students can then listen to the clip "Sewage in the streets." They can create a Venn diagram to show examples of how the situation in Newfoundland has changed and how it has remained the same since Confederation.