Confederation of Canada | Paper

Learn about the events leading to Confederation of Canada. The issues, Fathers of Confederation, conferences and the laws are discussed in this activity designed to help upper elementary students understand some of the issues that led to Canada becoming a country.

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Drama circles are similar to readers' theatre activities where students read small sections of text. They encourage listening and reading fluency. Best of all, they require only moments to prepare, but students are engaged and learning for an hour or more.

Topics included:

• issues in the colonies leading to Confederation: trade, defence, economic factors, railway, government, protection of French language and culture, expansionism of the USA
• Fathers of Confederation: Macdonald, Cartier
• Charlottetown Conference, Quebec Conference, London Conference
• passing of The BNA Act
• terms of The BNA Act: joining of Province of Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, parliamentary system, constitution, agreement for future colonies
• basic information for the other provinces and territories joining Confederation
• lasting impacts of Confederation

This engaging activity includes:

• directions on how to run a drama circle.
• a teacher quick guide.
• a set of 40 cards (in colour and ink-saving versions).
• a set of discussion questions to do after the drama activity.
• a variety of reading difficulties and amounts of text on the cards so you can differentiate easily for your students.
• a few blank cards if you need to change the language on a card.
• a list of outcomes for Alberta teachers.

This activity aligns with:

• the Alberta Social Studies Curriculum Grade 4 ©2025

This activity supports:

• learning about Canada or the geography of Canada.
• learning about Confederation.
• Canadian history.

Ninja Note: This resource requires downloading the PDF, printing the cards, and cutting them apart before beginning the activity.

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