High School

Access curriculum-based programs at the City of Toronto Archives for Grade 9 to Grade 12 students.

Booking Information

Free of charge.
90 minutes in length.
Available weekdays between 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m.
Minimum group size is 10, maximum is 30.
Programs can be adjusted to meet your schedule or special needs, including ESL classes.
Advance booking is required. Contact archivesoutreach@toronto.ca to book.

Archives 101

An engaging program introducing students to the City of Toronto Archives and the world of primary sources. View our collections centre, get hands-on with primary sources and see how your neighbourhood shows up in the Archives collections. This program can be adapted to suit a wide variety of grade levels and interests.

Topics to explore

Immigrant life 100 years ago in Toronto’s Ward neighbourhood
Geography using historic maps
Archival letters and documents
Specific time periods or historical events (e.g. the 1920s, home front life in WWII)
The history of Toronto’s Public Health Department
Toronto’s rivers, waterfront, islands and Portlands
Creative writing with primary sources
Customized requests

Curriculum connections

Grade 9: Exploring Canadian Geography; English
Grade 10: Canadian History Since World War I; English
Grade 11: Gender Studies; English
Grade 12: World Issues: A Geographic Analysis; The Environment & Resource Management; World Geography: Urban Patterns & Population Issues; Canada: History, Identity, and Culture; English; The Writer’s Craft; Equity & Social Justice: From Theory to Practice

Warehouse with shelves of boxes — Toronto Archives Spadina Records Centre
2023

Black and white photograph of a young girl standing outside a one storey building with Toronto's old City Hall in the background. — Rear of 21 Elizabeth Street, the Ward neighbourhood
May 15, 1913
City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Subseries 32, Item 187

Civics in the City

This interactive 90-minute program supports civics learning for high school students. Participants explore how municipal government works, discover the wide range of services the City provides, debate local issues and find out ways to be active, engaged citizens. Students also learn about the history of their local neighbourhood and school using original maps and photos from the City of Toronto Archives.

Curriculum connections

Grade 10: Civics and Citizenship
Grade 11: Politics in Action: Making Change
Grade 12: Equity & Social Justice: From Theory to Practice

Black and white map of Toronto — Algate’s automobile, motorist and pedestrian map, Toronto environs
1911
City of Toronto Archives
Series 726, Item 376

Child's hand drawing on a colourful map. — At the City of Toronto Archives, participants become city planners designing a new Toronto master plan.

Online Resources

Durie’s War

Using primary sources such as telegrams, diaries, newspaper articles, letters and photographs from the Durie family collection, students will interpret the different accounts and piece together a story of this family’s experience during the First World War.

Curriculum connections

Grade 10: Canadian History Since World War I; English
Grade 12: Canada: History, Identity, and Culture; English; The Writer’s Craft

More Resources

A package of key materials from the Durie’s War program is also available in PDF format for classroom use, for classes unable to visit the Toronto Archives in person. To request the package, contact archivesoutreach@toronto.ca.