O Canada! How did we get to celebrate this wonderful occasion? While our history may not be extensive like some, our country still has a story to tell! We are built on Aboriginal, British and French roots that have become ingrained in part of who we are as a nation. As a result of these roots, we have been shaped over the years into an independent nation and are now blessed to have influences from all over the world.

Money is used every day across Canada in transactions such as purchases, sales, loans, and borrowing/lending. Learning about the history of Canadian money and fun facts can help you understand more about the important role money has in daily life.

May is the month when most provinces are starting to experience some warmer weather, and outdoor BBQ’s and gatherings are kicking off for the summer. One of the first big summer events is often Victoria Day, but did you know why we celebrate Victoria Day? Did you know not every province celebrates Victoria Day? Did you know there are a number of provinces that have their own provincial holidays throughout the year?

Homeschooling multiple ages in one home can seem impossible. Teaching multiple kids at various ages and learning levels is not a new concept. Homeschooling children of multiple ages is remarkably similar to the one room schoolhouses that were used as recent as the 1950’s in public education and are even still used today in mennonite communities.

We learn and teach about history for different reasons. Whether our children retain all the facts and can recall the exact dates isn’t as important as the process of learning and that they are able to express their perspectives and opinions on events and eras throughout the ages. History teaching for our teens should encourage them to explore the topic on their own and be a training ground for research and critical thinking skills that will benefit them in many areas of their lives.

Books can be an excellent way to teach history. Some of the biggest positive aspects of using read alouds are the fact that it allows you to teach a wide range of children all at once and it engages your students in conversation. A living book can help your children put themselves into a time or place in history far better than a textbook can. There are many books out there on Canadian history, but here is the short list to give you a quick look at some of the options.

Learning from biographies can be as simple as watching a show or reading a book, but there are many different ways to expand the learning potential. You can springboard on to other topics in discussion or worksheets and cover other subjects with related material to focus on writing, spelling, science, etc. The ideal biography learning experience will include the interests of one or more of your family members and incite conversation about the person and places in the story.

The best way to get a deep understanding of history and the people that were a part of our history is through living books. Some of the best living books to use for history studies are biographies. History comes alive as you read about someone’s life. Jumping into a biography can make the historical figure and events come to life. Each book will create a connection that will lead to a deeper understanding and memory of them as well.