Activity Overview

In this activity, students will investigate how a small town community in Ontario mobilized for war. For the purpose of this lesson, Guelph, Ontario has been chosen as the case study; however, research materials and weblinks for the exploration of other small towns in Canada have been provided for use at the teacher’s discretion. 

Using a variety of primary and secondary source materials, students will learn about the social, economic and political factors that contributed to the recruitment, enlistment and mobilization of community members of all ages to support the war effort in Canada and eventually overseas on the battlefields. Students will learn about roles and contributions of individuals, groups, and organizations to the war effort by engaging in a variety of source analysis activities that will allow them to explore different perspectives and from diverse source materials including photographs, letters, newspaper articles, and primary source objects. In order to communicate the results of their inquiries, students will create either an interactive digital map, or a walking tour that will enable their peers to connect historical spaces and places to the rich history of the mobilization of their community to support the war effort. In the process, they will use source materials to bring the stories of the community to life and can assess using good evidence how the community was impacted and forever changed by the Great War in Canada and on the frontlines.

Curriculum connections

This activity was designed as an educational tool for educators teaching Ontario’s Grade 10 history course, Canadian History since World War I. Please read the teachers guide for further information on how the activity meets the curriculum’s course expectations.