Reading and Remembrance: Developed for Educators by Educators

Reading and Remembrance is a free online educational resource that provides ready-to-teach lesson packages about Canadian military history to engage Ontario students and educators. With a focus on Canada’s contributions to various military conflicts, the project emphasizes the importance of remembrance and highlights the sacrifices made by veterans and civilians in times of war.

Project Founders

Evolution

From humble beginnings as a local program, Reading and Remembrance has now evolved into a vast province-wide initiative reaching over 100,000 students across Ontario. With online accessibility and curriculum-aligned content, the project has become a sought-after teaching resource for Ontario educators.

Lessons Overview

The online lesson packages incorporate diverse materials aligned with subjects like English, History, Music, and Visual Arts. The content balances remembrance education with critical thinking to provide students with a nuanced perspective of Canada’s military history across various conflicts.

Minutes Feature

The Minutes complement the broader lessons through short impactful stories and facts. Minutes categories highlight diverse perspectives, including:

• Aboriginal Minutes: First Nations contributions and veterans.
• Animals & Birds in War: Creature companions like messenger pigeons and regimental mascots.
• Asian Heritage Minutes: Canadians of Asian descent in military efforts.
• Black History Minutes: Black Canadian veterans and home front volunteers.
• Women’s History Minutes: Champions like groundbreaking politician Agnes MacPhail.

Educators can utilize Minutes videos to spur reflections, debates or additional student-led research into these topics of interest. This further engages students with course material in creative ways. Assigning students to create their own Minutes is another enriching activity.

Special Initiatives and Events

Community and Veteran Involvement

The project enriches its educational content through active engagement with Canadian veterans and community members. Veterans share their experiences while community members like the Ontario Historical Society collaborate to enrich the lesson packages. This lends the material greater authenticity and local resonance.

Publications and Resources

The creators have published books and resources that support key themes covered by Reading and Remembrance. These include topics like women’s contributions and hometown efforts that underline Canada’s wartime experience. Educators can utilize these books, such as “Angelika Hoerle: Comet of Cologne Dada” by Angelika Littlefield, to supplement lessons.

The Hangman, by Maurice Ogden

Maurice Ogden’s poem “The Hangman,” tells a cautionary tale of a town complicit in its silence as the hangman executes one citizen after another, each time constructing a larger gallows until the narrator is the last remaining and realizes too late that the scaffold was meant for him all along. The poem serves as a powerful allegory on the consequences of inaction and the importance of standing up against injustice.

HOMELAND STORIES: Enemies Within

During World War II, Canada hosted 26 prisoner of war (PoW) camps, with 12 located in Ontario, interned over 35,000 individuals, and witnessed approximately 600 escape attempts. The Veterans Guard of Canada, mainly comprised of World War I veterans, was responsible for overseeing these camps. The narrative explores the complexities of managing PoWs, internees, and refugees, highlighting notable escape attempts and the challenges of distinguishing between enemy combatants and victims of the Nazi regime interned alongside them.

Les cimetières flamands, by Transl. J. P. van Noppen

In Flanders’ cemeteries, under the red poppies that sway among rows of crosses in the wind, we lie buried. The skylarks still bravely sing in the blue skies, unheard beneath the roar of guns. We died only days ago, familiar with life’s joys, love, the dawn’s freshness, and evening’s glow. Now, our lifeless bodies rest in Flemish soil. Our lifeless hands pass the torch to you; it’s now your duty to hold it high and continue the fight against the foe. If you do not uphold our defiant faith, we cannot rest peacefully beneath the red poppies of Flanders’ cemeteries.

Warrant Officer Gerald Bell 1909-1989: Canada’s First Black Airman

Gerald W.A. Bell, Canada’s first Black airman and former athlete, served in the RCAF during WWII, particularly in the 6th Bomber Group and 424 Squadron. After the war, he continued his service until retiring in 1961, later working in quality control in the aerospace industry. In retirement, Bell contributed to restoring a flying Avro Lancaster Bomber, now displayed at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, honouring his legacy of service.

HOMELAND STORIES: BATTLES ON THE HOME FRONT

During WWII, the Battle of the St. Lawrence saw German submarines attack Canadian waters, sinking 23 ships and killing over 500 people. This conflict brought the war to Canada’s doorstep, highlighting the country’s vulnerability and the bravery of its people. The Canadian Navy expanded significantly in response, becoming a specialized anti-submarine force. This battle is a reminder of the direct impact of global conflicts on Canada and the resilience of its citizens.

Creating Soundscapes – Secondary Drama and English

This activity involves creating soundscapes to enhance the understanding of different settings, including the historical context of “In Flanders Fields.” Participants first identify sounds in their immediate environment and then work in groups to construct soundscapes for specific scenes, like a farm morning or a train station. For “In Flanders Fields,” students examine the poem for explicit and implied sounds, reflecting on the natural and wartime noises that would have surrounded the author. The final task is to produce a soundscape that accompanies a reading of the poem, adding depth to its emotional and historical resonance.

Role of Reading and Remembrance

With its diverse, curriculum-aligned content, Reading and Remembrance facilitates educators in fostering a greater awareness of Canada’s military history among students. Its multimedia offerings cater to different learning styles, making remembrance engaging and accessible. Educators across Ontario can tap these resources to enrich their lesson plans for Remembrance Day, Veterans’ Week and other related events. By spotlighting stories of veterans as well as overlooked groups like women, minorities and communities, the project nurtures empathy, critical thinking and citizenship among students.