Lifelong Learning: Portfolio Post #8

Here you will find three charts that list the "Top 5" history websites according to different criteria. I have since done more research and found many more sites, which I will list below. There is a wealth of information out there, a fact that I didn't know until I began this endeavour. Researching these websites also reminded me of the importance of teaching critical literacy to our students (Wikipedia is only as helpful as Google; students need to be directed to the footnotes!), and how to look for reliable sources.

Historical and/or Civics Information

Rank	Website	Significant Content	Why Important?
1.	www.canadahistory.com	Well-organized and comprehensive site of articles about different topics in Canadian history, with access to images and other primary documents.	This website offers a complete look at major topics in Canadian history. It is important for teachers to have a site to which they can refer students for their own research, and this website offers not only primary documents, but also student-accessible language.
2.	www.canadiana.org	Archival site, organized by topic, with section designated for learning about the making of Canada and the fur trade, each of these sections include educational resources, articles, and access to primary sources.	This site is important in that it also offers information on a wide range of topics, as well as a specific section for teachers that includes primary sources and ideas for lessons.
3.	www.canadianmysteries.ca	Case studies of unsolved mysteries from across Canada throughout its history. Broad topic range and significant source of primary documents.	This site is significant because of its application of primary sources; it explores a range of topics through the use of sources, and can be used interactively to offer challenges to students.
4.	www.heroines.ca	Brief, yet informative articles pertaining to significant women in Canadian history with links to further information, videos, books, and other sources.	This site is important because it specifically recognizes the actions and achievements of women in Canada, as well as offering links to other sites for further research or information on specific topics.
5.	www.blackhistorycanada.ca	Brief, yet descriptive timeline of Black heritage in Canada, curriculum connections clear.	This site is important because it specifically recognizes the actions and achievements of Black people in Canada, and includes a section for teachers about Black History month.

History and /or Civics Lesson Plans and Strategies

Rank	Website	Significant Content	Why Important?
1.	www.canadiana.org	· Clear connections to curriculum · Materials/Resources including worksheets, photos, videos, primary documents · Step-by-step guide · Assessments · Lessons organized by topic	This site offers clear, step-by-step guides to lessons, as well as offering specific sources and materials to use in those lessons. It is very well organized by topic and shows clear connections to the curriculum.
2.	www.canadashistory.ca	· Lessons created by teachers · Outcomes, Time Frame, Background Information · Activities · Assessments · Available in PDF format	This website offers lesson plans that have been made by award-winning teachers that are also available in PDF format. Each lesson is clear in its expected outcomes and activities and covers a wide range of topic areas.
3.	www.connectingcanadians.org	· Clear connections to curriculum · Activities · Assessments · Links to resources	This site not only offers ideas for activities, but also links to further resources that may be useful. It also provides clear connections to the curriculum and rubrics to be used for the activities.
4.	www.canadianmysteries.ca	· Clear connections to curriculum · Activities (interactive Mystery Quests) · Teacher’s Guides	This site offers a specific teacher section which includes guides for each “mystery”. It also includes clear connections to the curriculum as well as an interactive website for students.
5.	www.historica-dominion.ca	· Videos · Activities & Assessments	This website offers video resources and lesson plan ideas to be used in conjunction with the videos. It also offers assessment ideas for the activities.

History and/or Civics Primary Documents

Rank	Website	Significant Content	Why Important?
1.	www.canadiana.ca	· Books · Magazines · Government documents · Major Treaties · Immigration documents	This website is a massive archive of a wide range of primary sources, which are all organized by topic.
2.	www.canadahistory.com	· Letters · Treaties · Diaries · Government Documents	This website is well-organized and offers a variety of primary sources which are listed by topic and presented in a simple and interesting way.
3.	www.canadianmysteries.ca	· Letters · Photos · Newspaper/Magazines · Interview Recordings & Transcripts · Diaries/Journals · Government documents	This website uses primary sources as its base and backbone. The sources can be found within each “mystery” section and are arranged by relevance to the topic. There is also an “archive” section in each mystery which lists the primary sources by their type. It is important as it allows students to see the significance of primary documents in a real context of how they can be used.
4.	www.collectionscanada.gc.ca	· Films · Sound recordings · Art, photos · Newspapers/Periodicals · Books · Drawings	This website is significant as it is the main resource for Canada’s primary documents; not all of the documents are easily accessed however.
5.	www.heroines.ca	· Posters · Cartoons · Pictures · Videos · Links to other key websites	This site offers mainly visual sources, which are important for teachers to show students how women were portrayed throughout modern Canadian history.