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Title: Circle of KnowledgeType: Lesson PlanSubject: Social StudiesGrade Range: 6Description: Quebec’s Independence Movement – Canada Unit for 6th Grade Social StudiesDuration: 90+ MinutesAuthor(s):

Instructional Unit Content

Standard(s)/Element(s)Content Area StandardSS6H5 – The student will analyze important contemporary issues in Canada.

a. Describe Quebec’s independence movement.

TAG StandardHigher Order and Critical Thinking Skills

Summary/Overview

The focus of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to explore “why” Quebec wants to become its own country and separate from Canada. The students will have an opportunity to discuss, identify reasons and motivations of why the people of Quebec want to keep their own identity and language and why the Canadian Nation wants to keep Quebec as part of their country. The students will compare and contrast the reasons for the Quebec Independence Movement and Canada’s reasons to keep Quebec as a part of its country through compare and contrast.

Enduring Understanding(s)

At the end of this lesson the student will understand thata. Nationalism plays an important role in the development of countries.b. Diverse languages and cultures influence the character of a region.

c. Conflict often erupts over control of resources, land, and people.

Essential Question(s)

Why does the province of Quebec want to secede from Canada and become a separate country?Why is conflict likely when two or more groups, each with a strong sense of nationalism, occupy the same region? (Points of View)What steps have Canada’s government taken to encourage Quebec to stay part of the Canadian Nation?

Concept(s) to Maintain

Evidence of Learning

What students should know:a. At the time Canada became a confederation in 1867, there were only four provinces.b. Canada wanted their new country to stretch for the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Oceanc. In an attempt to extend Canada’s borders, the Confederation bought the land owned by the

Hudson Bay Company that controlled land stretching from the Hudson Bay area to the Rocky Mountains.

d. A railroad was built on this land. It increased the shipment of goods across the country, along with increasing travel from coast to coast.

e. Four new provinces were created.f. Before the use of railroads, most people did not think of themselves as being Canadian.g. The people thought of themselves as only as belonging to their own town or province.h. World War I began in 1914 and the British and their allies (Canada) fought against Germany and

its allies.i. Canada felt that since they had close ties with Great Britain, they should contribute to the war

effort.j. World War I drastically increased Canadian Nationalismk. Many French Canadians disagreed with Canada’s decision to join World War I., since many of

these people lived in Quebec.l. The idea of a separate French Canadian county spread across Canada.m. By the 1960’s, many French Canadians had become Quebec nationalists, and thought of

themselves as “Quebecers”, not Canadians.

What students should be able to do:a. Responds to questions with supporting information that reflects in-depth knowledge of a topic.b. Examines an issue from more than one point of view.c. Separates one’s own point of view from that of others.d. Identifies stereotypes, biases, and prejudices in one’s own reasoning and that of others.

Suggested Vocabulary

Nationalism, Canadians, Quebecers, Independence, and Secede

Procedure(s)

Phase 1: Sparking the Discussion (Hook)

1. Call for volunteers to answer the following questions;” Have you ever been part of a specific group of friends? Have you ever found yourself wanting to leave this group of friends for any reason? What were some reasons you wanted to separate from the group?”

2. Pose the Question: “Why would a group of people want to separate from their country and form a new country?”

3. Provide students time to jot down their thoughts and share with a partner or group of classmates. Select a few students to respond or have a spokesman from the group respond.

Phase 2: Acquiring Content Needed to Participate in Discussion

1. Pose the essential (focus) questions: “Why is conflict likely when two or more groups, each with a strong sense of nationalism, occupy the same region?” “Why does the province of Quebec want to secede from Canada?”

2. Show Quebec’s Independence Movement – Power Point - slides 1-10 to review the history of Canada through 1995.

3. Activate prior knowledge by having students create sentences using at least three words from the Word Splash.

4. Students will review a Canadian map and read “The Pros and Cons of Quebec Separation Issue”, “Quebec’s Independence Movement” and ”Let’s Work Things Out”

5. After reading, students will write down notes on the Pro and Con Organizer stating reasons for Quebec seceding or staying part of Canada

Phase 3: Kindling the Discussion

6. Students will break into groups of 3-4. Using their notes and a questioning cube; they will answer the questions and discuss answers within their group.

7. In a whole group, students will participate in a discussion driven by the following questions: Why does the province of Quebec want to secede from Canada and become a separate country? Why is conflict likely when two or more groups, each with a strong sense of nationalism, occupy the same region? As a Canadian citizen, what shapes your point of view regarding Quebec becoming a separate country? Did your point of view change as a result of the readings and/or small group discussions?

Phase 4: Synthesis Activity

8. Students will read” Letters to the Editor” - three viewpoints on whether Quebec should secede from Canada written by a Native, a Frenchman and a Canadian living in Canada today. After reading the Letters to the Editor, the students will summarize each opinion and the facts that support it by completing the worksheet,” What Do You Think?” They will then write their own editorial statement at the bottom of the worksheet.

9. The students will view the remaining slides of the “Quebec Independence Movement” Power Point...

Summarizing Activity

3-2-1 Exit Ticket

ModificationsRead to the student the assigned reading. Let student use a word processor or I Pad if necessary.

Extension or Enrichment ActivityStudent can create a Political Cartoon illustrating “Quebec’s Independence”.

Resource(s)

Anchor Text(s):

“To Secede or Not to Secede” - InspriEd Educators, Inc. pages 35-38“The Pros and Cons of The Quebec Separation Issue” – hhttp://www.bookrags.com/essay-2006/1/30/214331/583

“Quebec’s Independence Movement” and” Let’s Work Things Out” www.gallopade.com

Technology:“Quebec’s Independence Movement” Power Point - Slide Share

Handouts:Handout 1: Word SplashHandout 2: Political Map of CanadaHandout 3: Pros and Cons of the Quebec Separation IssueHandout 4: Quebec’s Independence Movement and Let’s Work Things OutHandout 5: Notes Organizer For Pros & ConsHandout 6: Questioning Cube on Quebec’s Independence MovementHandout 7: View Points of Native, Frenchman, and CanadianHandout 8. . . And What Do You Think? WorksheetHandout 9: Ticket Out The Door 3-2-1

Word Splash

French Great Britain Secede

NationalismProvinces

Quebecers

Independence

Transcontinental Railroad Canadians

World War I

Canada and Quebec

Political Map of Canada

QUEBEC'S INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTQuebec is an important part of Canada. A large part of Canadian industry is centered in Quebec.

Many electronics and computer industries are based in the province. The people of Quebec and the rest of Canada share a history of cooperation and success. Most Canadians want to keep the French-speaking citizens as a part of Canada.

Some people in Quebec want Quebec to be independent. These people are called separatists: They believe that Quebec cannot keep its French language and culture in a country where most people have English as a first language. The people have voted on the issue. Both times, they decided to remain a part of Canada.

The government of Canada has passed several laws to help Quebec's citizens preserve their language and culture. First, they made Canada officially bilingual. That means that both the English and the French languages are used for government and business. Canadian law guarantees the right to preserve one's cultural heritage. Quebec has also been officially labeled a "distinct society" in Canada.

In Quebec, French is the only official language. English may be used in advertising, but it must be placed after the French words, and it must be in a smaller size. Some in Quebec are happy with these changes. Others are not satisfied. They still believe that Quebec should be independent.

Let’s Work Things Out

The government of Canada wants Quebec to remain part of its country. Quebec contributes greatly to Canada's economy. The province has thriving high-tech industries, abundant natural resources, and a major shipping channel along the St. Lawrence River. The government also fears that a new country in the middle of Canada would disrupt the rail, road, and water routes that connect the nation.

The Canadian federal government has tried to satisfy the separatists. In 1988, the government passed the Canadian Multicultural Act, guaranteeing all Canadians the right to preserve their cultural heritage. In 1998, Canada's Supreme Court ruled that Quebec cannot secede without the rest of the country's consent. Stay tuned—this issue is a hot one in cool Canada!

Quebec’s Independence Movement from Canada

Complete this organizer after your reading selections on why Quebec wants to separate from Canada.

Pros Cons

To Secede or Not to Secede?

Dear Editor,I am a Cree Native living in Quebec and I’m greatly concerned about the

Francophiles' efforts to have Quebec secede from Canada. As is clear from past ballots, the French are a large group in Quebec. Results show that almost 5O% of Quebec's people want to secede from Canada, but that is only 5O%. My people, other Natives, English, other ethnic groups, and even some contented French make up the other 1/2 of the population. What about us/ if the French separatists believe that people should be able to rule themselves according to their own culture, why haven't they listened to the 95% of the Native people in Quebec that voted "No" to secession?

I believe that Francophile efforts secede show great prejudice. The French say that they have a right to preserve their culture, but what about us? What about our culture? As Matthew Coon Cone, Grand Chief of the Grand Council of Crees said, "I find it totally hypocritical that the separatists can say these things, and at the same time deny the democratic rights of all Aboriginal (native) peoples in Quebec to determine their future." (Cone, 1994)

The French believe that a simple majority vote should allow Quebec to secede, but it should not. if allowing one group their full rights keeps a large number of people from having theirs, that's wrong. In other cases of secession, a simple majority vote should allow Quebec to secede, but it should not. if allowing one group their full rights keeps a large number of people from having theirs, that's wrong. In other cases of secession, a simple majority was not good enough. When Nova Scotia voted to secede in 1868 and Western Australia tried in 1934, neither was allowed to do so because their federal government and the rest of their nation did not agree. Even Canada's Supreme Court said in their 1998 ruling that if the French could gain the majority, they would still need to work out an agreement with Canada before seceding, and that agreement would have to consider the rights of other people living in Quebec.

Neither the French nor the other people of Quebec are treated unfairly. All people enjoy political freedom, so I do not see the point of seceding. As things stand now, the situation is fair, but if the Francophiles get their way, it won't be. I firmly disagree with secession!

Nay-saying Native

InspirEd Educators, Inc. pg 36

To Secede or Not to Secede?

Dear Editor,I am a French citizen living in Quebec, and I fully support Quebec's secession

from Canada. In my opinion we deserve our own French-speaking nation what will respect and preserve our culture and ideas.

Quebec is not like the other provinces and territories of Canada. The rest of the country was explored and colonized by the English, but our history looks back to Jacques Cartier and Samuel Champlain, Frenchmen. We were settled by French explorers, fur traders and missionaries; in fact the original name of our province was new France! The only reason we became an English colony was because the British defeated France in the French and Indian War. French Canadians should not be held responsible for the small failures of the motherland!

Throughout history the Canadian government has made feeble attempts to keep the French Canadians content, but the government has failed. While the Quebec Act of 1774 allowed us to keep our language, we were soon overrun with British loyalists escaping from America during and after its Revolution. We Francophiles, as we are called, are now in danger of losing our culture altogether; we believe it is important that our children grow up knowing about their heritage, and that it is different from the rest of Canada.

Francophiles differ in many ways from other Canadians. Our language is obviously different, our religion is Catholic, while most English Canadians are Protestants, and our heroes are different. We have different tastes in foods, and we have different traditions.

We should be a separate nation, apart from Canada, and we will continue to fight until that separation is achieved. I hope and pray that Quebec will again be given an opportunity to vote on the issue. We almost had the required majority of 50% +1 vote in the past two ballots in 1995 and 1998, and next time we will win our fight! It is a fight that should be won! We want a country!

Favoring Frenchman

InspirEd Educators, Inc. pg 35

To Secede or Not to Secede?

Dear Editor,I am a loyal Canadian; I Jove my country and want it to remain united. I believe mat

me possibility of Quebec's secession poses a serious threat to me structure and economy of our land. Canada, a socially diverse nation mat values tolerance, is one of die world's oldest and most stable democracies. Our economy-is strong and prosperous. Why would we want any of that to change?

If Quebec were to secede, then the Atlantic Provinces would be totally separated from the rest of the country: Depending upon how cooperative Quebec is in trade, this could be devastating to the economies of those provinces. The trade of die rest of the nation would also be at risk, since Quebec actively contributes important products including pulp and paper, transport equipment, food processing, and several mined products.

Culturally, while predominantly French, Quebec reflects me make-up and values of the rest of Canada. English-speaking Canadians, a number of native groups, and others who have come from places around the globe also live in Quebec. Canada is completely accepting of its diversity and considers it a great strength. The country is officially bilingual - English and French - and all government information is available in both languages. Canada has not tried to separate me French Canadians, so I cannot understand why me French would want to separate themselves from Canada.

Even in Quebec most people do not favor secession (50.6% in 1998). Even among those who voted in favor of breaking away, some did so without all of the facts. Many people that voted, "Oui" assumed they would still be Canadian citizens if Quebec seceded. Some thought mat Quebec would still send representatives to the Canadian Parliament, and still others thought that they could continue working in Canada, even if they work for the Canadian government. Unless some type of compromise agreement is worked out, people in an independent Quebec cannot count on any of these things.

Canada is a successful country as it is. If Quebec secedes, Canada and Quebec itself would be at risk, so I want to speak out loudly against secession.

Concerned Canadian

InspirEd Educators, Inc. pg 37

Ticket Out The Door

3 – 2- 1

3 - Points of Conflict between the province of Quebec and Canada.

2 - Possible solutions to the conflict.

1 – Conflict in your life that is similar to the Quebec and Canada Conflict.