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What in the World? Level 2 Issue 8 |

Liberals Win A Roller Coaster Election

Questions for online exploration (p. 9) 

1. Check out these maps showing the outcome of the 2025 federal election: 

2. Almost 1 million Canadian students voted in a simulated election this spring. See the results of the Student Vote Canada program here: 

3. Listen to Prime Minister Carney’s victory speech:

4. Listen to several concession speeches from the other party leaders:

Pierre Poilievre: 

Yves-François Blanchet: 

Jagmeet Singh: 

Elizabeth May: 

5. Both Prime Minister Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre face challenges in the months ahead. Find out more here: 

6. Political cartoons portray current events in a humorous way. View several political cartoons related to the 2025 federal election:

Graph INSTRUCTIONS (p. 11)

Use the two links below to complete the table to show the number of seats in the House of Commons the four largest Canadian political parties won in the last eight federal elections.

Celebrating Canada’s Courage During WWII

Questions for online exploration (p. 20) 

1. Watch this video of Liberation Day celebrations in the Netherlands:

2. Find out more about the gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs from Princess Juliana of the Netherlands to Canada:

3. Listen to a 91-year-old Dutch woman share her memories of being liberated by Canadian soldiers in 1945:

4. A group of 21 Canadian WWII veterans returned to the Netherlands for the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Watch their emotional return: 

5. What do a 101-year-old war veteran and an 18-year-old Dutch student have in common? Find out how they became pen pals and eventually met during this year’s 80th anniversary celebrations:

6. Visit the Canadian Armed Forces website to see where Canadian forces are stationed. Choose one of the current operations. Click on it and read about what Canadian soldiers are doing: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/operations/military-operations/current-operations/list.html

The Passing Of A Beloved Pontiff

Questions for online exploration (p.29)

1. Watch the final public appearance of Pope Francis on Easter: 

2. Pope Francis was elected to the papacy in 2013. Find out why this came as a shock to some: 

3. Find out more about Pope Francis’s apology to Indigenous Peoples in Canada: 

4. Learn more about how Pope Francis advocated for climate change:

5. View a timeline of the Pope's accomplishments during his 12-year papacy:

6. Learn more about how a new pope is chosen: 

Fighting Back Against 'Forever Chemicals'

Questions for online exploration (p.39)

1. Find out which household products contain PFAS:

2. Find out more about what Canada is doing about “forever chemicals”:

3. Find out which food packaging products contain PFAS and which ones don’t: 

4. Are compostable food packaging products better for the environment? Find out if these “environmentally friendly” options contain PFAS: 

5. Learn about what University of British Columbia researchers are developing to remove PFAS from the water supply: 

6. Check out this list of 10 simple things your family can do to reduce your exposure to PFAS:

Inquiry project

The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 44)

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. 47)

1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning: 

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”

What in the World? Level 2 Issue 7 |

Canadian Icon Set To Close Its Doors

Before reading (p. 4)

Share these resources that explore the enduring legacy of the Hudson’s Bay Company:

Article: 

Video:

Questions for online exploration (p. 11) 

1. Check out these historic photos of Hudson’s Bay stores across Canada:

2. Watch a video explaining how the Hudson’s Bay Company helped create Canada:

3. Discover three groups behind the Hudson’s Bay Company failure:

4. Find out what will happen to the retail spaces left behind when HBC closes its stores:

5. The article cites the increase in online shopping as one of the main reasons for the fall of the HBC. Check out this infographic about online shopping in Canada:

A New Prime Minister For Canada

Before reading (p. 13)

Display photos of Canada’s former prime ministers on the board or hand out printed images:

Questions for online exploration (p. 18) 

1. Listen to Mr. Carney’s first speech to Canadians after being sworn in as prime minister:

2. Each province and territory is divided into areas called ridings, and different candidates run for election in each riding. Locate your riding on this interactive map:

3. Find out more about the leaders of Canada’s political parties: 

Liberal Party: 

Conservative Party: 

NDP: 

Bloc Québécois: 

Green Party: 

4. Check out these poll trackers that show where each party stands:

5. Find out more about Prime Minister Carney’s first phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump: 

6. Learn about the different ways Canadian citizens can vote in the upcoming election:

Tariff Roadblocks Hit The Auto Sector

Before reading (p. 24)

Debrief student answers as a class. Make note of similar responses. Leave any unanswered questions as such and encourage students to watch for the answers to these as they view a summary of this story at: 

Questions for online exploration (p.29)

1. Find out more about how the auto tariffs will affect the price of new and used cars in Canada: 

2. Check out this list of cars and trucks made in Canada: 

3. Learn how the U.S. auto industry depends on Canada: 

4. Listen to the reaction of Canadian auto workers to the U.S. auto tariffs:

5. Where does Canada rank in the world auto manufacturing scene? This infographic shows the full picture:

Eggsploding Egg Prices

Before reading (p. 32)

Show students images of grocery store egg shelves with different price tags:

Questions for online exploration (p.37)

1. Find out how some restaurants and retailers are handling the egg shortage in the U.S.: 

2. The bird flu outbreak in the U.S. is affecting Canadian farmers in a different way. Watch this video to find out more:

3. Learn about the “Backyard Chicken Boom” in the U.S. as Americans look for solutions to beat rising egg prices: 

4. Eggs are not the only item making grocery shopping more expensive in the U.S. Check out this graph showing how food prices have surged since 2021:

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/charted-how-u-s-food-prices-have-surged-since-2021/

5. Food inflation is on the rise in Canada too. Find out why Canadians can expect to spend over $800 more on groceries in 2025: 

6. Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs? Explore these fun facts about eggs to find out:

Inquiry project

The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 43)

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. 48)

1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning: 

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”

The Canadian Reader Issue 7 |

The Story of a Store 

Internet Connections (p. 11)

1. Learn more about the closure of the store:

2. Learn more about the history of the HBC:

3. For Teachers:
Original HBC logo: 

Map of Hudson’s Bay territory: 

Hudson’s Bay point blanket:

Inside a HBC trading post: 

1st department store in Winnipeg: 

Last Hudson’s Bay trading post:

The Bay logo: 

The Power of Earth Day

Internet Connections (p.p. 20-21)

1. Learn more about Earth Day: 

2. Curious to know more about the history of Earth Day? Check out these links:

3. Find out more about renewable energy sources:

4. See how some countries around the world are conserving energy:

5. Discover if any Earth Day events have been planned in your community:

6. Explore ways to reduce energy:

7. For Teachers:

Earth Day 2025 poster: 

BBC’s online article: 

Explore a plethora of activities and lessons from the Earth Day website:

See Earth Day event suggestions for schools:

Voting for Canada’s Future

Internet Connections (p.p. 28-29)

1. Follow the latest news and trends in the upcoming election:

2. Find your electoral district (type in your postal code):

3. Party Platforms:

4. How to get involved in the upcoming election even though you’re too young to vote:

5. For Teachers:

Composite image of the leaders of Canada’s major political parties:

Composite image of the logos of Canada’s major political parties:

Student Vote Canada 2025: 

Lesson 6: Researching the Parties and Candidates: 

What in the World? Level 2 Issue 6 |

A Soccer League of Their Own 

Questions for online exploration (p.9) 

1. Watch several promotional videos for the new NSL teams (found under the “Meet Our Clubs” heading):

2. Diana Matheson, the organizer of the NSL, feels optimistic about the success of the new league. Listen to her talk about what soccer fans can expect when the league begins:

3. Christine Sinclair is considered to be one of the greatest Canadian soccer players of all time. Watch these video tributes and view an infographic of her accomplishments: 

Infographic: 

4. Have a closer look at the new logos for the six NSL teams:

5. One of the hopes of the founders of the NSL is to inspire girls and women across Canada to be involved in sport. Check out this article and graph showing the percentage of girls participating in sport at different ages: 

A Neighbourly Dispute Over Trade

Questions for Further Thought ( p. 18)

1. Prime Minister Trudeau called the new tariffs “entirely unjustified”. Watch this video explaining how the Canadian government will respond to the tariffs:

2. Explore this infographic about Canadian imports across the U.S.:

3. Canadian consumers are changing their shopping habits in response to the threat of widespread tariffs. Watch these videos about the “Buy Canadian” movement:

4. Not all Americans support President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canadian goods. Find out what some Americans have to say about the tariff threats:

5. Canada’s 13 premiers are planning ways to respond to the tariff threats. Hear some of their suggestions and see highlights of their visit to Washington D.C.:

Table (p. 21)

Complete the table below to show the value of Canada–U.S. trade over the past 10 years. The following link will help: 

A Primer on Trade and Tariffs

Before reading (p. 21)

Have students watch the following brief video that explains the potential impacts of trade disruptions caused by tariffs: 

Questions for online exploration (p.26)

1. Explore these facts about the current Canada-U.S. trade relationship:

2. Check out this infographic showing what Americans think of the tariffs proposed by President Trump:

3. Explore how both Canadian and American consumers could be affected by the tariffs:

4. Learn about the pros and cons of President Trump’s tariffs:

5. Find out more about the helpful role the World Trade Organization (WTO) plays in facilitating trade between its member nations: 

A Huge Ice Island is on the Move

Before reading (p. 32)

Project the first or second photo from the following link: 

Questions for online exploration (p.37)

1. To get an idea of the size of Iceberg A23a, explore these photos and drone footage:

2. Find out more about where A23a is headed: 

3. Watch this animation showing how A23a compares to some of the world’s largest icebergs:

4. Icebergs originating in Antarctica are named in a specific way. Find out more from this video:

5. Learn more about why icebergs are important to arctic ecosystems:

6. Antarctica is a unique continent that is only inhabited by scientists in research stations. Learn more about what scientists do in Antarctica and where they live:

Inquiry project

The Steps of an Inquiry Project (p. 45)

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. 48)

1. Check out Trevor MacKenzie’s website with links to podcasts, blogs, social media links, and other resources on Inquiry‑based learning: 

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”

The Canadian Reader - Issue 6 |

Shola Jimoh, Soccer Superstar!

Internet Connections (p. 11)

1. Learn more about this news story:

2. Discover more about this young super star:

3. Shola Jimoh: The Story So Far: 

4. For Teachers:

Photos:

Shola Jimoh: 

Soccer ball: 

York United Football Club logo: 

Canadian Premier League (CPL) logo:

Photo of Shola Jimoh playing soccer: 

Map of Europe: 

Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team:

Photo of FIFA video game: 

5. Poems:

Acrostic: 

Famous biography poem: 

Fighting Food Waste

Internet Connections (p. 18)

1. Learn more about this news story:

2. Learn more about food waste in Canada:

3. For Teachers:

Ways to represent data:

4. Food Matters Action Kit and Activity Guide

Canada’s Flag Turns 60

Internet Connections (p.p. 26-27)

1. Read about this news story:

2. Watch news stories about this year’s National Flag Day:

3. Discover fun facts about the Canadian flag:

4. Learn more about the National Flag Day:

5. Curious to learn more about the history of the Canadian flag? Check out these resources:

6. Find out more about Canada’s Indigenous flag:

7. For Teachers:

Photos:

Union Jack: 

Canadian Red Ensign:

Canadian Flag: 

8. Blog post distinguishing important vs. interesting facts: 

9. Canadian flag blackline master: