Grade 9 French Class Dives Deeper into Toronto’s History and Indigenous Roots
Melody Barclay’s Grade 9 French class is excited to share their findings after setting out to learn more about Toronto’s history and the Indigenous roots of the land we live on. The students used a variety of resources to gather their information, including Driftscape, an app that tells the stories of various cities and locations. From First Story Toronto, Melody’s Grade 9s dove into the history of various areas around our city, and the natural resources that sustained the Indigenous peoples who were first to call Toronto their home. This assignment allowed students to hone their French language skills by using past tenses and new vocabulary to describe the city and surrounding nature.
“Indigenous peoples have had a long and deep history on this land now known as Canada, including hundreds of years of resistance against colonial forces. It is the responsibility of non-Indigenous people to learn both about the histories and present-day experiences of Indigenous peoples on this land as part of our efforts to achieve reconciliation," explained Melody when describing the assignment. The class also showcases Linden's feminist pedagogy in action, where students are encouraged to use an anti-oppression and feminist lens to approach curriculum topics.
Student Projects
Based on the First Story: Lake Ontario by Polly
View more about this project on Driftscape.
Based on the First Story: Yellow Creek by Serena
View more about this project on Driftscape.
Based on the First Story: Aboriginal Human Remains & The University of Toronto by Paige
View more about this project on Driftscape.
Based on the First Story: Verna Patronella Johnston by Cassidy
View more about this project on Driftscape.
Based on the First Story: High Park: Black Oak Savannah by Marlen
View more about this project on Driftscape.
Based on the First Story: Wychwood Park by Rowan
View more about this project on Driftscape.
If you would like to find more stories about Toronto, or other regions of Canada, you can visit https://www.driftscape.com/