Come to the Archives for some hands-on history! This City of Toronto Archives program addresses two Grade 3 units, Early Settlements in Upper Canada and Urban and Rural Communities. During their visit, students will:

• discuss what an archives is and why it is important
• use old photographs, maps, and drawings to study how common aspects of daily life have changed in the past 150 years
• compare the features of 19th century rural Ontario to those of downtown Toronto of the time

The program is free, and lasts 1½ to 2 hours. The program can be adjusted to meet your class's schedule or special needs, including ESL classes. Advance booking is required. To book a visit or for more information, please contact the Archives.

Curriculum Expectations

This City of Toronto Archives program will fulfil the following expectations from the Grade 3 curriculum.

Canada and World Connections: Urban and Rural Communities

• use primary sources to locate key information about urban and rural communities
• sort and classify information about communities to identify issues and solve problems
• compare land use, access to natural resources, transportation, population density, and buildings and structures in urban and rural communities
• consult map legends when looking for selected features
• use appropriate vocabulary to communicate the results of inquiries and observations about urban and rural communities

Heritage and Citizenship: Early Settlements in Upper Canada

• use primary sources to locate key information about early settler communities
• collect information and draw conclusions about human and environmental interactions during the early settlement period
• compare and contrast aspects of daily life for early settler children in Upper Canada and children in present-day Ontario
• compare and contrast aspects of life, buildings/dwellings, and tools and technologies in early settler communities in Upper Canada and in their own community today
• use appropriate vocabulary to describe their inquiries and observations

Minimum size of groups is 10, maximum is 30.

Please contact the Archives at 416-392-0558 or at archives@toronto.ca to book a tour.