National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is recognized on September 30th to inform and remind Canadians about the history of residential schools and to honour the victims and survivors, their families, and their communities. Since 2013, September 30th has been recognized as Orange Shirt Day, a day to commemorate the tragic history and long-term repercussions of residential schools. The main objective of the National Truth and Reconciliation Day is to provide Canadians with the opportunity to learn about and reflect on a tragic chapter in their country's history, as well as to remember the survivors, their families, and their communities, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Indigenous leaders have requested.

This week's edition will connect you to some excellent resources to learn more about the cultures, stories and experiences of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. During Truth and Reconciliation week, from September 22nd to 30th, we encourage all teachers and students to wear orange to honour the thousands of missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of residential schools.

Grades K-12

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada Giant Floor Map

The Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (IPAC) tiled map offers a unique perspective on our country’s geography that is vital to understanding the history and diverse cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. By studying the distribution of residential schools on the Giant Floor Map, students will gain an understanding of the federal government’s agenda in removing children far from their families and communities so they could end Indigenous cultures throughout Canada. Students will use the map and timeline to learn the various names and labels for residential schools. Teachers can request the map for two weeks or download the map in a smaller size as a tiled map. The IPAC teacher’s guide contains learning activities and ways to take action.

Grades K-3

Shi-shi-etko

Shi-shi-etko is the story of a little girl who will soon be leaving her family and community to go to a Residential School. Shi-shi-etko, whose name means "loves to play in the water", spends her final days with her family members continuing the traditions of her family and creating memories for her to keep on her journey. With each adult Shi-shi-etko experiences the environment around her.



Activities

• Get outside to read Shi-shi-etko. Have students write a letter to Shi-shi-etko to tell her how they feel about the way she spent her four days before leaving home and how she may have felt the day she left home
• Watch Phyllis Webstad present her memories of residential schools and the meaning of Orange Shirt Day. Discuss Why Phyllis was so upset about the orange shirt.
• Take students outdoors to decorate paper orange t-shirts with artwork or words that express their ideas and feelings about Orange Shirt Day

Grades 4-6

Clara Clare: Loss of Language and Culture

This lesson explores the concept of identity by examining the story of Clara Clare, a residential school survivor. Through guided reflection, class discussion, and identity-based activities, students learn how Indigenous children were separated from their families and communities, stripped of their names, languages, and cultural practices, and how this loss of identity caused lasting harm. The lesson encourages empathy, critical thinking, and an early understanding of truth and reconciliation, while helping students appreciate the importance of protecting and reclaiming culture and language.

Activities

• After learning about Clara Clare and completing some of the resource activities, have students create four quilt squares, each representing an important part of their identity—such as family, culture, language, or personal interests—and then share them with their classmates. The squares can then be combined into a class “Identity Quilt” to show how each person’s uniqueness contributes to a stronger community.
• Get outside for a Sit Spot activity. Have students choose one aspect of Residential Schools (loss of language, poor nutrition or separation from family) and write a short reflection
• Create awareness by creating collaborative posters to inform others to wear their orange shirts on September 30

Grades 6-8

What Can I Contribute to Meaningful Reconciliation?

What Can I Contribute to Meaningful Reconciliation? is a thorough resource that explores the causes and consequences of residential schools in Canada. The overarching question the resource attempts to answer is "What might meaningful reconciliation look like?" by considering The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action #62 and #63 as a platform for the activities. The resource not only teaches history but engages learners in critical thinking to create an understanding of what led Canada to this point and the steps to take to intentionally plan where we must go for proper reconciliation.

Activities

• Choose one of the inquiry questions in the What Can I Contribute to Meaningful Reconciliation and have students begin to explore what meaningful reconciliation might look like. Complete some of the suggested activities in the resource
• Invite an Indigenous Elder or a Residential School Survivor to share their voice and answer questions from the class. Be sure to research appropriate protocols
• Discuss the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action and decide what they can do to work towards them as a class

Grades 9-12

It Had To Be Done

This short documentary explores the legacy of residential schools through the eyes of two extraordinary women who not only lived it, but who, as adults, made the surprising decision to return to the school that had affected their lives so profoundly. This intimate and moving film affirms their strength and dignity in standing up and making a difference on their own terms.

Activities

• Watch It Had to Be Done, a short documentary which explores the legacy of residential schools through two women who have lived it
• Have students choose an issue related to Residential Schools. Come up with a inquiry question. Explain why you are interested in finding out more about this topic. Complete an action project related to this issue
•  Select one of the 94 Calls to Action and track its progress. Complete some of the suggested activities in the Beyond 94 Teacher’s Guide
• The National Healing Forests Initiative is an invitation to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, institutions, and individuals to create green spaces throughout Canada to honour residential school victims, survivors, and their families. Create a healing forest in your community to become involved in the reconciliation and healing journey

About Learning Inside Out

Above you will find a selection of activities, broken down by various grade levels. These guides will be released biweekly and archived on our Learning Inside Out page, so you can always access the full catalogue.

Some of the activities have been modified from resources on our R4R database, simplified and adapted for both outdoor learning in the school yard or at-home as needed. The activity descriptions above should contain all the information and links that you need!

If you'd like to view the full original resource on R4R, including curriculum connections for every province/territory, click the activity title.

We want this guide to work for you, so your feedback is invaluable to us.

Use the feedback button at the bottom of this Guide, or email us at info@LSF-LST.ca. We would also love to see photos of students engaging in the activities, please e-mail us any pictures or videos you have!

Please share widely with any parents and teachers in your life!