Backward Design Unit Template: Cycle: 3 Grade 6
Backward Design Unit Template: Cycle: 3 Grade 6
Backward Design Unit Template: Cycle: 3 Grade 6
Cycle: 3; Grade 6
DESIRED RESULTS
Unit Title: Impacts of Immigration on Canadian Society and Territory between 1745-1980
Established Goals:
Broad curriculum competency:
Cycle 3 Competency 2: To Interpret Change in a Society and its Territory
Essential Questions:
● What factors influence immigration policy? (Environmental, political, economic, social)
● How are Canada’s current immigration policies different from past policies? How have
the changes impacted immigration to Canada?
● Who do the current immigration policies benefit? Who is this system fair/unfair to?
● What are the benefits of immigration? What are the concerns? Do these benefits outweigh
the concerns? Why or why not?
● Do you think immigration policies in Canada have improved/gotten worse? How did you
determine your decision? Consider benefits to the
population/immigrant/economy/Canadian government/Canadian society.
● What qualities has Canada sought in immigrants? How has that changed over time?
Big Ideas:
● Canada’s immigration policy has long sought to limit entry to those it considered to be
“undesirable”, with the definition of “undesirable” shifting as Canada’s development has
progressed.
● Through examination of continuity and change as well as the short- and long-term cause
and consequence relationships in immigration laws from the early 20th century to today,
it is apparent that Canada’s policy negatively impacts poorer immigrants applying from
countries whose economies and education standards are considered to be lower than those
of Canada.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
1
Enduring Understandings:
● Students will understand continuity and change as it applies to the context of Canadian
Immigration policy after the Conquest.
● Students will understand the short-term and long-term cause and consequence
relationships that occur due to changing immigration policy in Canada.
● Students will understand the main groups that developed the Eurocentric framework of
Canada and how this Eurocentric framework has impacted immigration to Canada since
colonization.
● Students will understand how Loyalists impacted the population between 1745 and 1820,
and how Black Loyalists we marginalized as a result.
● Students will understand how the Canadian Confederation affected immigration in
Canada between 1820 and 1905 which was largely unrestricted towards certain groups
and tailored to grow the white, settler-colonial base of the population.
● Students will understand how the construction of the Pacific railway increased the
immigration in Canada between 1820 and 1905 and how the influx of Chinese workers
affected the face of immigration law.
● Students will understand that immigration policy has often reflected the racial attitudes or
national concerns of Canada at the time of implementation and how immigration law
evolved through the late 19th and 20th centuries to prioritize the influx of immigrants by
race and economic standing.
a. Indicates changes in the society during this period: (Immigration law, introduction of
proof of finance, introduction of deportation legislation)
b. Names people who played a role in the changes (Wilfrid Laurier, Frank Oliver (minister
of the interior from 1905 to 1911))
c. Indicates events that marked this period: (Influx of Immigrants, Charter of Rights and
Freedoms, Point-based Immigration system)
a. Select information
b. Indicate and name each entry
c. Establish the scale
d. Indicate the legend
e. Indicate the data
f. Indicate the title
Unit Description
In this unit, students will understand how immigration throughout the years has affected Canadian
society and territory. To do so, this unit has been divided into five separate subtasks followed by a
culminating task at the end. The subtasks are presented in chronological order from 1745 to
present day. The substaks, in order, are: the arrival of the Loyalists, Confederation and
introduction of Canadian Immigration law, the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the
Canadian immigration laws of the 20th century, and immigration then and now. Each subtask was
carefully crafted to follow each other so that students can see the progression and effects
immigration law has had on the societal makeup of Canada.
The first subtask consists of examining the arrival of the Loyalists in Canada between 1775 and
1783. Students will explore the different groups of Loyalists from various perspectives. They will
closely examine the difference between the United empire Loyalists and the Black Loyalists
allowing them to recognize the marginalization of the Black Loyalists during this time.
The second subtask explores and examines Canada’s first immigration act which was
implemented in 1869 by John A Macdonald. Through class discussions and examination of
primary source documents, students will make their own inferences about immigration policy in
1869, hypothesize about why the poster was deliberately designed this way, and think about the
affects these events have had on current society. They will then apply this knowledge in making
their own immigration poster, delineating why they believe people should move to Canada.
The third subtask consists of examining the arrival of the Chinese workers to Canada from 1881 to
1884 to help with the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This subtask will also cover
the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. Students will be asked to use primary and secondary
sources to reflect on and create their own understandings of this Immigration Act.
The fourth subtask will allow students the chance to explore primary source documents from the
turn of the 20th century. These documents center around key changes to law and regulation
concerning immigration to Canada during this era. Students will become aware that key elements
of these laws, the introduction of Proof of Finance as well as the Deportation Law, had a great
impact on both 20th and 21st century Canada. Students will also explore the beginnings of our
modern-day immigration point system within the official documentation of the 1967 law.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
4
In the fifth subtask, students will apply the information they learned from the fourth subtask. In
groups of four, students will receive an ‘immigrant profile’ containing information about a
potential immigrant to Canada. Using primary and secondary source documents, students will
decide whether their profiled individual would be admitted to Canada in 1910 and again in 2019.
Students will be encouraged to consider elements such as what elements changed or remained the
same, who immigration laws impact today, how immigration laws are fair/unfair, and who they
are fair/unfair to.
For the culminating task, students will create a poster presenting what they consider to be the high
and low points of immigration policy and laws in Canada. They will use the information from
research they have conducted themselves and from the unit itself. Students will be given primary
source documents for all the time periods and topics covered in class.
In taking the “Big Ideas” of this unit into consideration, students be able to determine the
continuity and change they observe throughout time and identify desirable/undesirable immigrant
groups in Canada throughout history to today. Additionally, they will express the the short-term
and long-term cause and consequence relationships that occur due to changing immigration policy
in Canada. Students will reflect on present-day immigration law in comparison to the past and take
a position on how this impacts marginalized populations in the past and present society.
CT ST 1 ST 2 ST 3 ST 4 ST 5
Laura Neilson Bonikowsky. (2013). Arrival of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia (1783). Retrieved from
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-loyalists-feature
→ This webpage focuses on the group of black Loyalists that arrived to Canada. It illustrates
some of the reasons the this group followed the crown, where they settled compared to the
other groups of Loyalists as well as the occupations that the members of these groups held. This
resource will be provided by the teacher and used by students who will have to research
information about Black Loyalists. It will allow students to have a better and more global view of
this group of Loyalist. This webpage is an interactive resource which will allow students to
research new vocabulary, places or groups that appear.
The Critical Thinking Consortium. (2011). Reasons for the Head Tax. [online] Available at:
https://tc2.ca/sourcedocs/uploads/history_docs/Chinese-Canadian%20History/Reasons-for-the-
Head-Tax.pdf.
→ This resource will be used by the students will they fill out the activity sheet in groups of 3 to
4 people. In this resource, students will be able to read extracts of texts and observe images
showing parts of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. Students will be able to understand that
a head tax was put in place since most people were against chinese immigration.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). The Chinese Immigration Act, 1885. [online]
Available at: https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/the-chinese-immigration-act-1885.
→ This is the resource students will use to do the final activity of subtask three. It is the Chinese
Immigration Act of 1885. Students will use this resource and modify it for the activity. Students
will be able to create their own understandings regarding the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). Immigration Act, 1906 [Webpage]. Retrieved
from https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-act-1906
→ This resource will be used by students within the fourth subtask of this unit plan. Students
will use this primary source to fill out their 5W1H chart. This primary source discusses the
Immigration Act of 1906. Students will be able to understand that this act allowed the
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
8
government to commence a deportation process as well as allowing them veto power, without
need of cause, regarding any admission to Canada.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). Immigration Act, 1910 [Webpage]. Retrieved
from https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-act-1910
→ This resource will be used by students within the fourth subtask of this unit plan. Students
will use this primary source to fill out their 5W1H chart. This primary source discusses the
Immigration Act of 1910. Students will be able to understand that this act allowed for
permanent residency after three years in Canada. This act also solidified and intensified
government power over deportation laws.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). Immigration Regulations, Order-in Council PC
1967-1616, 1967 [Webpage]. Retrieved from https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-
history/immigration-regulations-order-in-council-pc-1967-1616-1967
→ This resource will be used by students within the fourth subtask of this unit plan. Students
will use this primary source to fill out their 5W1H chart. This primary source discusses the
Immigration Point System of 1967. Students will be able to understand that this act was the first
inclusion of a points system as a qualification for admission to Canada. This system was the
groundworks for our present-day system.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). Immigration Act, 1906 [Webpage]. Retrieved
from https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-act-1906
→ This is the summary and primary source document for the Immigration Act of 1906.
Students will use a hard copy of this document to complete this assignment. It, along with all
other past Canadian Immigration policies, can be found at the Pier 21 website. This will be used
by students to justify their stance regarding whether or not the immigrant on their profile was
allowed entry into Canada in 1910.
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. (2019). Immigration Act, 1910 [Webpage]. Retrieved
from https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/immigration-act-1910
→ This is the summary and primary source document for the Immigration Act of 1910.
Students will use a hard copy of this document to complete this assignment. It, along with all
other past Canadian Immigration policies, can be found at the Pier 21 website. This will be used
by students to justify their stance regarding whether or not the immigrant on their profile was
allowed entry into Canada in 1910.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
9
Government of Canada. (2019). Six selection factors for Federal Skilled Worker Program [Webpage].
Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-
canada/express-entry/eligibility/federal-skilled-workers/six-selection-factors-federal-skilled-
workers.html
→ This is the information teachers will use to create an information sheet delineating the
‘points’ attributed for various factors (age, gender, education, etc.) to individuals seeking to
immigrate to Canada. It can be found on the Government of Canada website. Students will use
this information to justify their stance regarding whether or not the immigrant on their profile
would be allowed entry into Canada in 2019.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
10
Why is this task authentic? How does it replicate what adults do when they “do” social
studies?:
This task is authentic in that it uses historical thinking concepts such as identify continuity and
change and analyze cause and consequence. It replicates authentic social studies discourse in that
student will be able to, through research, describe the challenges potential immigrants to Canada
would experience during various time periods. Students will also compare those experiences to
what immigrants might experience today and draw their own conclusions about that experience.
D C B A
Content: Less than 4 4-5 of the events 6-7 of the All 7 events are
4-5 events are are present; events are present;
characteristics present; characteristics present; characteristics are
of each point characteristics are somewhat characteristics very clearly
are not clearly clearly expressed are clearly expressed
are clearly
expressed expressed
expressed
SUBTASKS
Subtask #1: The Arrival of the Loyalists
government promise these groups for remaining loyal to the Crown? What ultimately happened to
each group?”
Assessment Strategy
What student does that will be assessed? How will teacher see it to assess it?
- Students will go back to the KWLM - Observing group work and participation
chart and move their sticky notes. of each group member.
- Students perform a short, informal - Observe class discussions; is the student
presentation sharing the information asking questions and sharing his/her view
they have collected. point.
- The KWLM chart, did the student had to
the Learn section, did the student notice
some misconceptions he/her may of had
before the lesson?
- Observing/analyzing the information that
students will be presenting.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
15
Subtask #2: Confederation, Canada’s first Immigration Act and its Influence on Canadian
Population
Cooperative learning groups of 4: Students will work in small groups to complete a task. In order
to properly complete the task students will have to work collaboratively and divide tasks equally
amongst themselves. To ensure this, students will be assigned the task of timekeeper/tracker
(focus), recorder, document manager, and spokesperson.
Group discussions: Students will engage in class discussions, this will provide an opportunity for
students to share their views, concerns, and respectfully debate their differences in opinions.
Assessment Strategy
What student does that will be assessed? How will teacher see it to assess it?
Students will create two lists. One list The teacher will be able to visually see both lists
containing their observations of the primary and will walk around to observe and listen to
source material (poster), the second on what groups discuss the concepts. The teacher will also
they would change to reflect John A. guide the class discussion.
Macdonald’s “need” if they were to create
their own poster. Students will also listen,
develop, and share their understandings about
the immigration act, immigration policies and
their impact on Canadian society in small
groups and in a whole class discussion.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
17
Assessment Strategy
What student does that will be assessed? How will teacher see it to assess it?
● The teacher will collect the question ● The teacher will look over the students
sheet that the students have answered answers on both documents to make sure
in group of 3-4. Through this the the students understand.
teacher can have a general idea as to ● The teacher will observe the students
what the students understand. during the class discussions to see if they
● The teacher will keep the individual are participating and if the quality of their
activity that the students have filled interjections.
out (Revised Immigration Act). With
this, the teacher will be able to see
what the students really think.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
19
Subtask #4: Canadian Immigration Laws: 5W1H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How)
What student does that will be assessed? How will teacher see it to assess it?
Students will be required to fill out a 5W1H The teacher will act as a facilitator of dialogue
chart based on their findings after having during class discussions. This will allow the
reviewed primary source documents. The teacher to view the different levels of
extent of completion of this chart will be understanding both prior and after the lesson has
assessed by the teacher in order to evaluate taken place. The teacher will take notes of these
their level of understanding and help focus varying levels of understanding in order to be able
what should be revised with the class at the to review progress at the end of the lesson
beginning of the next lesson.
The teacher will circulate during the 5W1H group
The teacher will be able to assess the student’s work section of this lesson. This will allow the
responses within their exit cards. This will teacher a chance to observe participation and
allow the teacher a change to understand the listen in on dialogue between students.
different levels of understanding of each
student.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
22
-Snowball activity: will serve as a modeling exercise. Students will use their knowledge about
Canadian immigration policies past and present, analyze an individual’s profile, and construct and
support their decision regarding the individual’s immigration status.
-Co-operative Groups (4): student will be assigned the task of timekeeper/racker (focus), recorder,
document manager, or spokesperson. This will help students to remain on task throughout the
assignment
What student does that will be assessed? How will teacher see it to assess it?
In groups, students will complete a T-chart The teacher will circulate and observe the
delineating whether the immigration applicant discussion and collaboration that goes on during
on their profile would be accepted into Canada group work.
in 1910 and against in 2019.
The teacher will seek to identify whether students
Students will present their findings to the classwere capable of finding the necessary information
and answer the reflection questions posed to in the primary source documents and recording in
them by the teacher at the beginning of the clearly and accurately on the T-chart
assignment. This reflection should demonstrate
their understanding of historical thinking skills The teacher will note students’ verbal responses
and the influence settler colonial mentality had to the reflection questions each group was asked
on Canadian immigration policy. to discuss during the presentation of their
immigrant profile to the class.
BLAIS, BOISVERT, DOYON, KEEFE, & RACINE
25
Appendix