Case Study:
The History of Mining in Cape Breton

Grade: 10
Time: one 72 minute class

Expectations:
Students will:

Knowledge

• produce an evaluation of the contributions to Canadian society by its regional, linguistic, ethnocultural, and religious communities.
• explain how significant individuals contributed to the growing sense of Canadian identity during World War I.
• assess the contributions of selected individuals to the development of Canadian identity since World War I.

Skills

• use terms related to historical organization and inquiry correctly.
• formulate different types of questions.
• use computer-stored information and the Internet effectively to research Canadian history topics.
• demonstrate competence in research and writing.
• express ideas and arguments in a coherent manner during discussions and debates, or in graphic displays.

Preparation:

• locate and copy current labour and/or union related newspaper articles
• read about mind mapping in Program Information Guide from The CRB Foundation We are Canadians kit or in Teaching Guide from the CRB Foundation's Canadians in the Global Community: War, Peace and Security, as it is a teaching strategy suggested for this unit
• copy Suggested Topics: Newspaper Article handout
• reserve computer time for class
• bookmark the Canada's Digital Collection The History Mining in Cape Breton site

Lesson Plan:

1. Collect recent articles about labour or union related news in Canada and distribute copies to the students. The articles demonstrate to students that labour and union issues remain important today, however, their dual purpose is to discuss the characteristics of newspaper articles. After allowing time to read the articles, ask students to co-operate and interact with you to create a mind map describing the components of a newspaper article (encourage students to refer to the examples).
   Mind mapping is a visual presentation to summarize information. A typical mind map is started by putting an image, word, or symbol in the centre (i.e. Newspaper). Other images, words, or symbols are then added around the centre with lines, arrows, or other visual devices (be creative) to illustrate connections and relationships (see Program Information Guide from The CRB Foundation We are Canadians kit for more information about mind mapping).
2. Build a list of common characteristics found in newspaper articles as identified in the mind map. Ask students to copy the list of characteristics for the second part of the lesson.
3. Provide students with a brief introduction to The History of Mining in Canada and on the east coast. Ask each student (or pair of students) to complete the following assignment:
   • pick from a topic from the Suggested Topics: Newspaper Article handout
   • browse the web site for information about the topic (encourage students to read related information to understand the context of the topic)
   • instruct students to complete a mind map for the topic expressing their research and further questions they have generated
   • instruct students to write a three paragraph (remind students to recall expository paragraphs in Lesson 2) newspaper article about the topic according to the criteria already established
   • encourage students to have a partner edit each other's work and complete the peer assessment part of the Suggested Rubric: Mind Map and Newspaper Article

Possible Extensions:

1. Try combining the articles as a magazine. It could be posted on the Internet as a class project.
2. Create a comparison organizer to contrast information found on both the Canada's Digital Collection The History Mining in Cape Breton and The Cooperative Movement in Nova Scotia sites
3. Visit the Canada's Digital Collection Young Worker Awareness Program web site to discuss rights, duties, and hazards of the workplace. Ask students to find examples in The History Mining in Cape Breton site where the rights of workers according to today's legislation were previously violated by employers.

Evaluation:

Informal:

• observe student work habits and participation during mind mapping activity and group work time

Formal:

• Suggested Rubric: Mind Map and Newspaper Article

Bibliography