Rideau Canal Locks

Canada’s Capital Treasures explores the contributions of some of the Capital’s most inspiring commemorations, heroes and symbols to our sense of personal, community and national identity. There are seven free lesson plans related to treasures in Ottawa and the Capital Region.

Through engaging activities, students will identify significant people and events in Canada and understand the real-life stories of people commemorated by the following treasures:

	National War Memorial The National War Memorial was built to honour Canadians who served in the First World War. In the middle of busy downtown Ottawa, it quietly evokes our history. Free Lesson Plan
	Famous Five Monument — “Women are Persons” These statues on Parliament Hill are larger than life. They pay tribute to a group of women who changed Canada forever. They are known as the Famous Five. Free Lesson Plan
	Rideau Canal Locks Most Canadians know the Rideau Canal as the world’s largest skating rink. But, at the time of its construction, the Rideau Canal was the biggest engineering project in the world. Free Lesson Plan
	Peace Tower Like the red maple leaf flag at its top, the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill is one of the great symbols of Canada. Free Lesson Plan
	National Aboriginal Veterans Monument Aboriginal people have served their country on peacekeeping missions and battlefields around the world. This monument honours their service. Free Lesson Plan
	Maurice Richard Monument — “Never Give Up!” For most of us, Canada is hockey. And in a country of hockey players, none was greater than Maurice “The Rocket” Richard. Free Lesson Plan
	Mackenzie King Estate — Abbey Ruins Hiking the trails of Gatineau Park, visitors come upon an unusual sight: a stone ruin. The idea for the ‘Abbey Ruins’ sprung from the active imagination of Canada’s longest-serving prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. Free Lesson Plan

Target Grades

Grade 6 to Grade 9

In Quebec: Elementary 6 to Secondary 3

Curriculum

Meet provincial and territorial curricular objectives in:

• social studies
• history
• geography

These free, bilingual teaching resources were created by the NCC, TEACH Magazine and the Virtual Museum of Canada.

More national treasures can be found in the complete Canada’s Got Treasures collection, developed by the Virtual Museum of Canada.