Contributors to Canada 

  
Today, many leaders are celebrated in our newspapers and on television. We have access to 
print media, technology, and many forms of communication that allow us to celebrate 
people who are impacting our world today! But, what about the leaders from Canada’s past 
whose actions have shaped what Canada is today? Using today’s technology, it is your task 
to create a piece of writing, audio or video that celebrates a historical figure from 
pre-Confederation North America. This can be in the form of a newspaper article, blog 
post, podcast, or video. It is your task to report on the contributions of a historical figure of 
your choosing! 
  
In preparation for your report you will need to: 
  
1. Gather Background Information 
Select a historical figure from the list provided. Using the internet and resources 
provided, gather as much information as you can about him. You ​must ​identify: 
- Where the historical figure originates? 
- How the historical figure impacted Canada in pre-Confederation North 
America? (Identify 3-5 contributions made). 
  
2. Identify & assess the ​greatest​ contribution 
From your research, which of your historical figure’s actions stand out? Consider 
the following questions: 
- Cooperation: Did his/her action(s) encourage or discourage relationships 
between groups? How do you know? 
- Identity: Did his/her action(s) promote or try to prevent each group’s unique 
culture? 
- Sovereignty: Did his/her action(s) allow or not allow each group’s abilities to 
control their own affairs? 
  
3. Get to reporting! 
Choose a form of reporting. Some examples include: a newspaper article, a blog 
post, a podcast, or a video. Other options ​must​ be approved by the teacher. Your 
report ​must​ include: 
- Background information about your historical figure (Name, date of 
birth/death, place of birth/death) 
- Description of one or two major contributions they made to Canada 
- Description of why you think ​this​ historical figure deserves to be celebrated! 
- Report should be equivalent to ​500-700 words​ in writing, and approximately 
5 minutes​ in video/audio. 
 
 Canada’s Contributors 
 
 
Pontiac  Tecumseh 
 
 
 
 
 

Donnacona  John Cabot 

 
 
 
 

Jacques Cartier  Samuel de Champlain 

 
 
 
 

Henry Kelsey  Anthony Henday 

 
 
 
 
 

Samuel Hearne  James Cook 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Part I: Planning 
Background Information 

Historical Figure’s Name:  

Date of Birth: 

Date of Death 

Place of Birth: 

Place of Death: 

Additional Information (Personal qualities, family, education) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contribution 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contribution 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Contribution 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part II: Bibliography 
Record ​where y
​ ou have gathered the information above. 
-  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Part III: What is the Greatest Contribution? 
 
+2  +1  0  -1  +2 

very  modest  no impact  modest  very negative 

positive  positive  negative  impact 
impact  impact  impact 

 
   
  Impact 
Contributions:  
Your historical  Historical Figures  Historical Figures impact  Historical Figure’s impact on 
figures  impact on the  on each group’s unique  each group’s ability to 
relationship between  culture  control their own affairs 
involvement/ 
groups 
actions 

           
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
+2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2 

           
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
+2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2 
            
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
+2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2  +2 +1 0 -1 -2 

 
 
Which contribution made the ​most​ positive impact? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part IV: What do ​you​ think? 
Why does this historical figure deserve to be celebrated? Give your opinion, and support it 
with evidence.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now that you’re done planning… Get to creating!  
 Contributors to Canada Rubric 
Level  Excellent  Proficient  Adequate  Limited *  Insufficient/ 
   4  3  2  1  Blank * 
  
Criteria 

Identifies and  Content  Content  Content  Content  No score is 

describes a major  provides a  provides a  provides a  provides an  awarded 
contribution  comprehensive  substantial  simple  undeveloped  because there is 
made by a key  and detailed  description of  description of  description of  insufficient 
figure in the  description of  1-2  1-2  1-2  evidence of 
exploration of  1-2  contributions a  contributions a  contributions a  student 
Canada.  contributions a  key historical  key historical  key historical  performance 
(7.1.3.3, 7.1.3.4,  key historical  figure has made  figure has made  figure has made  based on the 
7.1.3.6, 7.1.3.8)  figure has made  on Canada.   on Canada.   on Canada.   requirements of 
x2  on Canada.   the assessment 
task 

Explains ​why​ that  Opinion is  Opinion is  Opinion is  Opinion is    
key figure  obvious​ in the  present​ in the  barely ​in the  missing ​in the 
deserves to be  report, and  report, and  report, and  report, and ​is 
celebrated  supported with  supported with  supported with  not supported 
(2.2.1b, 2.2.2d,  many examples  examples ​of  few examples  by evidence. 
5.1.4d)   of evidence.   evidence.    of evidence.  
x2 

Background  Background  Background  Background  Background    

Information and  information is  information is  information is  information is 
Research  comprehensive  substantial.  cursory.  undeveloped. 
(7.S.7)  and detailed.          
   3​ sources have  2 ​sources have  Only 1​ source 
4 ​sources have  been referenced.  been  have been 
been  referenced.  referenced. 
referenced. 

Presentation  Information is  Information is  Information is  Information is    

(7.S.8)  communicated  communicated  communicated  communicated 
  in a ​skillful  in a ​competent  in a ​simple  in an 
  manner  manner  manner  ineffective 
appropriate to  appropriate to  appropriate to  manner 
the chosen  the chosen  the chosen  appropriate to 
format of the  format of the  format of the  the chosen 
report.  report.  report.  format of the 
report. 

 
Grade: ___/24