Grades 4 – 8
Programs Notice
The Canadian Canoe Museum is temporarily closed, and our programs are on pause as we prepare to move to our new museum.
If you’d like to be notified when our education programs resume, please sign up for our Educator’s Newsletter.
Visit FAQ
What is the cost?
- School-day program cost is $9* per student for one 90-minute staff-led program.
- Unless otherwise noted.
- Additional 90-minute staff-led programs are $6* per student.
- We require a minimum fee for 15 participants.
- There are no additional taxes on education programs
Can we have lunch?
- Lunch space is included in your visit if scheduled.
- There is no food on site please bring a lunch
- A water fountain is available.
How many chaperones can I bring?
- Chaperones are included at no extra cost at the following ratios:
- K-3 1:5
- 3-8 1:8
- 9+ 1:10
- We do not recommend any additional adults.
How long are the programs?
- Programs are approximately 90-minutes long unless otherwise noted.
- Most classes do a two program day with a 30 minute lunch and 30 minutes at the end of the day for self touring and shopping.
Do you offer French programming?
- Many programs are available in French or English please inquire when booking.
Can I schedule time for students to see the museum?
- Yes we can definitely schedule time for students to self tour!
- We recommend 30 minutes.
Can I schedule time for students to snack in the morning?
- Yes but please let us know in advance so we can plan your program accordingly.
Can I come for a program after hours?
- Week-night program cost is $11* per student for one program
- We require a minimum fee for 15 to run these programs.
Can we come back to spend more time in the galleries?
- Yes with our new class pass you can come back for only $2 a student.
We are a lower income school do you offer any subsidies?
- As a non-profit we run our educational programming with the lowest fees possible. However may of our past groups have made their trip possible with support for busing fees from the charity Day Trippers.
How To Book
To book a school program, email Peter Vooys, Programs Manager, here with the following:
- Your name
- A contact number for you.
- The names of any other teachers accompanying you
- Your School
- Student Grade
- Number of Students
- Preferred Dates
- Preferred Arrival Time
- Program Choices if Known
- Any special needs or considerations of your class
Bark, Skin and Cedar (Grade 3-4)
A great program for 3/4 splits!
(Grade 3 Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada 1780-1850)
Grade 4 People and Environments: Political and Physical Regions of Canada, B3
Grade 4 Heritage and Identity: Early Societies, A2, A3
Grade 4 Language – Oral Communication 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 Reading 1.4, 1.8, 3.2 Writing 1.4, 1.5
Trappers and Traders (Grade 5-7)
Grade 5 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: First Nations and Europeans in New France and Early Canada
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present
Grade 7 History, New France and British North America, 1713-1850
Grade 4 – 8 Drama B1
Grade 4-8 Language – Oral Communication 1.2, 1.4, 1.8, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
Traditional Knowledge and Skills (Grade 4-8)
Grade 4-8 Drama B1, B2, B3, Visual Arts D1, D3
Grade 4-8 Language – Oral Communication 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2,
Reading 1.4, 3.2
Path of the Paddle (Grade 4-8)
Fur Trade Game (Grade 5-7)
Grade 5 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: First Nations and Europeans in New France and Early Canada, A1, A2, A3
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present, A1, A2
Grade 7 History, New France and British North America, 1713-1800 (Continuity and Change, Historical Perspective). While this program addresses the early French period, much of the content is applicable to the 18th century Fur Trade as well. Our staff will modify delivery and emphasis according to your class grade level.
Grade 4-8 Drama B1
Grade 4-8 Language – Oral Communication 1.2, 1.4, 1.8., 2.2., 2.3, 2.4, 2.6 Reading 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, 3.2
Writing 1.3
Arctic Paths (Grade 4-8)
What do you know about Arctic life today? Discover and dismantle common misconceptions about how Inuit people live their day-to-day lives and explore continuity and change in traditional Inuit cultures in this fun and collaborative program. Includes active traditional Inuit games, small group inquiry-based learning, and a scavenger hunt!
Add Soapstone Carving to make a full Arctic-themed day!
Grade 4: Social Studies, Early Societies 3000BCE-1500CE
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present
Grade 4-8 Language – Oral Communication 1.2, 1.4, 2.2, 2.3 Reading 1.4
Grade 4-8 Health and Physical Education, Active Living A1, A3, Movement Competence B1, B2
Decoding The Arctic (Grade 5-8)
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present
Grade 5 – 8 Language – Oral Communication 1.2, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4
Kayak Building (Grade 6-8)
A stimulating hands-on initiative task. Students work together to build an eight-foot skin-on-frame kayak, from a kit based on an Inuit watercraft in the museum’s collection. Students learn about of kayak-building as a community task in traditional Inuit cultures where different members play distinct and crucial roles. Working collaboratively in small groups, students problem-solve to discover the best building method for their group and project. This is a challenging program that promotes team-building and an understanding of Inuit cultures.
Please note that the kayaks that the students build are not take-homes.
Pre- or Post-Visit Activity: Download a Kayak template here.
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present
Grade 4-8 Visual Arts D3
Grade 4 – 8 Language – Oral Communication 3.1, 3.2 Reading 1.4, 3.2
Paddle Carving (Grade 5-8) 3 hours, $18/student
Carve a 24” paddle out of poplar! Using a traditional spoke shave tool, students learn the woodworking techniques to take their rough blank to a smoothly-sanded, finished paddle. Students have a beautiful souvenir to take home and treasure. as well as an introduction to all the skills necessary to make a full-size paddle in the future.
Grade 4-8 Visual Arts D1, D2, D3
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present A1.2
While the majority of this program is hands-on wood-working, we contextualize paddle-making with a brief tour of paddles in our collection, their origins and significance.
Soapstone Carving (Grade 4-8)
A hands-on experience of soapstone carving! The majority of the time of this program is hands-on carving (with sandpaper), starting from a 2×3 inch soapstone blank. As well, we introduce the students this art form in our Arctic Gallery to provide meaningful context, exploring the Inuit cultural tradition in the Arctic environment through our kayak collection and related hands-on artifacts.
Grade 4-8 Visual Arts D1, D2, D3
Grade 4 Science: A 30-minute Grade 4 Rocks & Minerals activity is an optional $1.50/student add-on. (We briefly touch on the properties of soapstone in the standard 90-minute program)
Grade 4 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Early Societies A3.1, A3.2
Grade 6 Social Studies, Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada Past and Present A1.2
Watercolour Painting (Grade 4-8)
Whether your students are new to watercolour painting or would like to further develop their skills with the inspiration of our Galleries and instructors, this program provides a unique and stimulating artistic setting that promotes close study of the Museum’s traditional indigenous watercraft, artifacts and shape and form.
Grade 4-8 Visual Arts D1, D2, D3
Depending on the interests of your students and/or the cross-curricular links desired, we can modify this program to emphasize art in the environment, First Nations arts, or environmental activism and canoeing.