Canada grew from the many cultures that immigrated to Canada, and not without difficulty or hardship. This resource will aid when teaching students about the development of Canada from an immigration viewpoint. The 10 lesson plans tell the story from the first immigrants to Canada, immigration before and after the wars, the changes in the laws and the process involved for immigrants to become Canadian citizens.

The 10 lesson plans are a guide for ideas on how to introduce, teach, and reinforce the various aspects of Citizenship and Immigration in Canada and the process involved for immigrants to become Canadian citizens. A follow-up is provided for each lesson.

Reproduce the lessons as handouts or use a whiteboard for large group lessons and/or to supplement the teacher’s knowledge of citizenship and immigration in Canada and how to become a Canadian citizen. Teach the lessons in any order and you can select the amount of information needed for your students. A dictionary of terminology associated with citizenship and immigration has been provided and we suggest reproducing it for your students.

Students will:

• understand what citizenship in Canada involves

• understand why people choose to become Canadian citizens

• understand the difference between “citizenship” and “immigration”

• understand why people choose to emigrate to Canada

• describe the process/steps involved in becoming a Canadian citizen

• describe how Canadian citizenship is celebrated

• understand the history of immigration in Canada

• explain how the immigration process works today

• compare immigration laws of today with those of twenty years ago

• name the main points of entry through which immigrants to Canada come

• tell from where immigrants to Canada come and why

• explain how specific immigrants have made a contribution to Canada

The lessons support many of the fundamental concepts and learning outcomes from the curriculum for these provinces: Alberta, Grade 5, Canada, The Land, Histories & Stories, 5.3 Canada, Shaping & Identifying; Ontario Grade 5, Canada & World Connections, Aspects of Citizenship; Saskatchewan, Grade 8, Social Studies, Interactions & Interdependence of Nations, Power & Authority.

Lesson Topics:

Lesson One: Introduction

At the end of this lesson students will:

• understand the meaning of “citizen”.

• understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

• understand the difference between citizenship and immigration.

• understand why Canada is a country formed by immigrants

Lesson Two: The First Immigrants

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• be able to tell about the first immigrants to Canada

• explain why the French and British groups came to Canada.

• tell where the German immigrants settled.

• explain how Black immigrants came to Canada.

• explain why Canada became known as “the land of the free”.

Lesson Three: The Great Migrations 1815-1869 & 1870-1900

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand a little of the history of early immigration in Canada.

• understand why some groups chose to come to Canada.

• understand how the Canadian government encouraged immigration. 

Lesson Four: Immigration Before And After World War II

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand why immigration increased before and after World War II.

• understand how the Canadian government restricted immigrants.

• understand the reasons for restrictions on immigration.

Lesson Five: Causes Of Immigration And The Immigrant Experience

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand the reasons some immigrants chose to come to Canada.

• understand the experiences some immigrants had upon arrival in Canada.

Lesson Six: Immigration Laws Before 1945

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand how immigration laws changed from 1867 to 1945.

• understand the restriction placed on immigration to Canada.

• understand why immigration was encouraged.

• understand the regulations for acquiring Canadian citizenship prior to 1945. 

Lesson Seven: Immigration Laws After 1945

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand how and why immigration legislation changed after 1945.

• understand the importance of the Canadian Citizenship Act of 1947.

• understand the reasons immigration legislation is continually changing

Lesson Eight: Points Of Entry Into Canada

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• describe the traditional points of entry into Canada.

• explain why certain places are no longer used.

• describe the inspection and quarantine process.

Lesson Nine: Becoming A Canadian Citizen

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• understand the regulations for becoming a Canadian citizen.

• understand the regulations concerning who cannot become a Canadian citizen.

• understand how to apply for Canadian citizenship.

• understand what documentation is needed for citizenship.

• know the Oath of Citizenship.

• understand the meaning of Canadian citizenship.

• understand the meaning of Canadian values.

Lesson Ten: Immigrants Who Have Made A Difference

At the end of this lesson, students will:

• name some immigrants who have made major contributions to Canada.

• give details about two immigrants - Adrienne Clarkson and Joseph Schlesinger

Unit Test and Answer Key

Research Activities:

Activity One: Using the website www.memoryproject.com choose and read one of the passages describing an individual’s experience emigrating to Canada. In your own words, describe the reasons why this individual emigrated to Canada as well as the feelings this person had about his/her experience

Activity Two: Using printed materials and the internet, research a group of individuals that emigrated to Cana­da. Investigate such things as why they left their homeland, how they travelled, how much it cost to come to Canada, where they settled, and the situation they faced once they reached Canada. Write a short essay with the information you have found.

Activity Three: Write about a situation in which you are hosting an emigrating family. Tell what you would do to help the family adjust to life in Canada. Take into consideration your lifestyle as well as the family's, and indicate both the benefits and what you may consider the drawbacks

Follow-Up Activities:

Activity One: A Reaffirmation Ceremony

Activity Two: Word Search on Famous Canadian Immigrants

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