Letters to future Canadians

Writing Project
Grade 7 english

Students will learn:

GCO 8. Use many kinds of writing in order to think and learn
GCO 9. Create a variety of texts
SCO 8.5 Integrate interesting effects in their writing (feelings and thoughts, detail,
correct inconsistency, avoid extraneous detail, language choice, vocabulary, and
phrasing
SC 9.1 Produce a range of writing forms (stories, cartoons, journals, business letters,
speeches, reports, interviews, messages, poems, ads)

This is set up for a grade 7 English class of 20 people in 35 minute classes.

This lesson plan is designed for the day after a trip to Pier 21 and exploring both
sides of the museum In an afternoon class.
Intro
-

5 minutes asking how the students enjoyed their trip.

What did they like the most?
What did they like the least?
What is one thing that the learned while they were on their field trip.

Part 1:
-

Students are given cut out suitcases. They will have fold lines in the suitcases
so that the students will be able to fold their cut outs in the shape of a
suitcase.
Students are then asked to design their own suitcases
Inside the suitcases, students are asked to write down 3 things that they
would take with them from home if they immigrated to another country. (The
teacher could make up a new country with certain aspects to in order for
students to be prepared.)

Part 2:
-

After students are finished with their suitcase we will finish folding them and
loop the handles of each suitcase on to a string tied somewhere in the class.
The teacher will then make a chart on the board.
We will then, as a group, briefly speak of the importance immigration has in
Canada and speak about some of those points that were brought up on our

trip into Pier 21. The teacher will then create a chart on the board. One side
titled Excited/Happy The other Saddness/Fear. We will then find reasons why,
as an immigrant, you may feel either way coming from a new country to
Canada.
The teacher will then introduce the elements of writing a letter. As a group,
students and teachers will go through each element of how to write a letter
and will keep it up on the board as an example to the class. The students
then will write letters to potential immigrants coming to Canada. They will be
asked to be very positive in writing their letters in order to combat the fear or
sadness that the immigrants may be feeling as they begin to arrive to the
country.
Plan B: If Students are having trouble with their letters Students can break
down into groups of 4 to talk about how to thank the guides for all they have
learned in a letter. We will come back as a group to discuss. The class,
collectively will write cards back to their guides at Pier 21 thanking them for
their experience and telling the guides just how much they learned during
their field trip.