Mackenzie House School Trips
Mackenzie House, located at 82 Bond St. (Yonge/Dundas), is the restored home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first Mayor, a radical journalist and publisher and leader of the Rebellion of 1837 in Upper Canada. This house was given to Mackenzie by friends and supporters, when he retired from public life, and in recognition of his many years of serving the community.
Programs at Mackenzie House offer students the opportunity to experience hands-on printing on the 1845 press and discuss topics connected with the history of media and activism, via the newspapers of William Lyon Mackenzie and Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first Black woman to edit and publish a newspaper in North America. Currently the historic house is undergoing restoration.
Explore the school trips below.
How was the printing press historically used as a tool of activism? How is critical thinking applied to the media of today? Taking inspiration from the lives and work of Mary Ann Shadd Cary and William Lyon Mackenzie students use type and an 1845 printing press to personalize their own newspaper.
- Typeset their name into a 19th century newspaper
- Print the newspaper using the 1845 printing press
- Write a letter to an Editor using steel nib pen and ink well
Duration
1 to 1.5 hours
Group Size
10 to 25 students
Cost
$4.42 plus HST per student
One supervisor free per 15 students or part thereof. $4.42 plus HST per additional supervisor.
Accessibility
Please advise of accessibility needs when contacting the museum.
Ontario Curriculum Connections
Grade 7 History: New France and British North America, 1713–1800, A
Grade 7 History: Canada, 1800–1850: Changes and Challenges, B
Grade 8 History: Creating Canada, 1850–1890, A
Grade 10 English: Oral Communication
Grade 10 English: Reading and Literature Studies
Grade 10 English: Media Studies
Grade 10 History: Historical Inquiry and Skill Development, A
Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a teacher, an abolitionist and the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America. Students print their own copy of her newspaper, The Provincial Freeman, on the 1845 printing press, while discussing anti-racism and critical thinking in media.
In this program, students will:
- Typeset a personalized copy of The Provincial Freeman
- Print the poster using the 1845 printing press
- Use steel nib pens and ink wells to write a letter to the Editor, Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Duration
1.5 hours
Group Size
10 to 25 students
Cost
$5.31 plus HST per student
One supervisor free per 15 students or part thereof. $5.31 plus HST per additional supervisor.
Accessibility
Please advise of accessibility needs when contacting the museum.
Ontario Curriculum Connections
Grade 5 Language: Strands A, C, and D
Grade 6 Social Studies: Heritage and Identity: Communities in Canada, Past and Present, A
Grade 6 Social Studies: Understanding Context: Canada’s Global Interactions, B
Grade 6 Language: Digital Media Literacy, A2
Grade 7 Language: Digital Media Literacy, A2
Grade 7 History: Canada, 1800–1850: Changes and Challenges, B
On this guided neighbourhood tour, students discover the deep and layered history of the downtown streets, including the stories of individuals who lived in the diverse Ward neighbourhood, and how their contributions shaped Toronto
The tour considers the impact of editors such as William Lyon Mackenzie and Mary Ann Shadd Cary, and how they influenced Toronto media in the 19th century.
Students learn about the contributions of the Black community in the city, through the stories of William Peyton Hubbard and Ann Maria Jackson and her family.
Duration
1 to 1.5 hours
Group Size
Up to 40 students
Cost
$4.42 plus HST per student
One supervisor free per 15 students or part thereof. $4.42 plus HST per additional supervisor.
Accessibility
Please advise of accessibility needs when contacting the museum.
Ontario Curriculum Connections
Grade 7 History: New France and British North America, 1713–1800
Grade 7 History: Canada, 1800–1850: Changes and Challenges, B