Wildfire Ravages Jasper
Questions for online exploration (p.9)
1. Watch these news reports about the Jasper wildfire and the destruction it left behind:
2. Learn more about Jasper’s history and how it has been forever changed by the wildfire:
3. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Trudeau talk about relief for the victims of the wildfire:
4. Listen to this podcast with Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland and two other mayors who have experienced wildfire devastation in their towns:
5. What do communities hit by wildfire have in common and how can residents of these communities protect themselves from wildfires?
6. Visit Parks Canada's official site for Jasper National Park:
7. Jasper National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site. Learn more about Jasper and other world heritage sites:
A Spectacular Olympics in Paris
Before reading (p. 16)
Have students view a video montage of Canada's biggest moments from these Games:
5. Debrief student answers as a class. (It is suggested to have a fact checker for this activity. All Canadian medalists can be found at this site:
Questions for online exploration (p. 21)
Visit the official Olympic Games website for details of the Paris Games:
2. Visit the official Canadian Olympic team site and the CBC Olympic site for Canadian Olympic highlights:
3. Watch the most memorable moments of these Games:
4. Canada made history at the 2024 Olympic Games:
5. The Paris Olympics cost France an estimated $15 billion. Watch the highlights of the extravagant opening and closing ceremonies of these Games:
a) Opening ceremony
b) Closing ceremony
6. Review the medal count and results by sport at these Games:
7. Learn more about the soccer scandal that plagued Canada's Women's soccer team and how the team responded:
Graphing Instructions ( p.26)
1. Complete the table below to show the number of medals Canadian athletes won at the last 13 Summer Olympics.
The following link will help:
The 2024 U.S. Election
Questions for online exploration (p.33)
1. Watch this TED-Ed video which explains how the Electoral College works during a U.S. presidential election:
2. Hear why President Biden made the decision not to run for re-election:
3. Learn how Kamala Harris is recharging the Democratic party since her nomination as candidate for president:
4. Why did Kamala Harris choose Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate for the Democratic party?
5. Explore the highlights of Donald Trump's acceptance speech for presidential nominee:
6. Why did Donald Trump choose JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate for the Republican party?
7. Visit the official websites of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Democratic Party website:
The Cod Fishing Moratorium Ends
Before reading (p. 36)
Reveal the answer: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick. (The compiled data can be found at:
Questions for online exploration (p.40)
1. Learn more about the end of the 32-year cod moratorium in June 2024:
2. Listen to two podcasts that review the history of Northern cod fishing.:
3. Review the data that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) used to reinstate cod fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador:
4. Hear from fishing producers who advocated for an end to the cod moratorium:
5. Hear from representatives of Newfoundland's fisheries union, fish harvesters, and the premier of Newfoundland, who are all calling for a reversal on the DFO’s decision to end the moratorium on cod fishing:
6. Meet some loyal residents of Trepassey and other Newfoundland towns who were devastated by the 1992 moratorium on cod fishing:
Inquiry project
The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 46)
Check out these short videos to learn how to check the credibility and reliability of websites:
How to evaluate sources for reliability:
How to check if a website is credible:
Helpful Teacher Resources on Inquiry-based Learning (p. 50)
1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning:
• https://www.trevormackenzie.com
2. John Spenser is another educator whose videos, blogs, and resources offer practical strategies and structures for engaging students in inquiry. Here are two to get you started:
“Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry”
“Using a Wonder Week to Spark Inquiry-based Learning”
3. Edutopia has a number of articles on student inquiry, including:
“What the heck is Inquiry-based Learning?”
“Resources and Downloads to Facilitate Inquiry-based Learning”
