A new Grade 6 Island history resource was showcased at Fanningbank, the historic home of the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Barbara A. Hagerman today. Government officials, some Grade 6 students, and teachers and many experts who helped with its creation gathered to celebrate the exciting, student-focused program that is bringing Prince Edward Island history alive in the classroom.
“This is an exciting new Grade 6 social studies resource that inspires students to take a deeper interest in the Island’s past through research and discovery,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Gerard Greenan. “This Island history course encourages students to play an active role in their own learning. When students engage in their own research rather than memorizing dates and event details provided by their teacher, history becomes more relevant and convincing and information is much better retained,” he said.
Exploring the Island: Discovering Prince Edward Island History is a giant step in an exciting new direction for teaching history. Students are more likely to enjoy learning history. This is welcome news for the many experts who believe that a solid understanding of our past is an important foundation for decision making for the future.
The colourful, new resource celebrates a culturally diverse population that has influenced social, political and economic change in Prince Edward Island over the past 500 years. By the end of Grade 6, students are expected to develop a greater understanding of political decisions, how and why they were made and how they impact the lives of the people who live here today. They will also have a more thoughtful appreciation for cultural diversity and a deeper, more personal awareness of the many people who made a contribution to the province’s history and why we should remember them.
The interactive, made-in-PEI resource that is capturing the interests of Grade 6 students across the province has also caught the attention of social studies experts from across the country. Other jurisdictions are taking a close look at the PEI initiative with a view to adopting a similar approach to teaching their provincial history.
Exploring the Island: Discovering Prince Edward Island History creatively guides readers through significant social, economic and political points of time, encouraging students to learn more about famous and not-so-famous Islanders who made a contribution to the province. Well-known Island author Deirdre Kessler weaves seven strands of Island history into a fictional narrative featuring two endearing characters, Rosalie and Vincent. Each chapter also features original artwork by talented artist Natasha Kudaskina who recently moved to the Island. Kudaskina cleverly buried detailed images of the past in each of her drawings so that students could dig for clues in her art in the same way they can dig to discover details of the Island’s past through research and study.
The history course was developed in both French and English by the Social Studies specialists within the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Island historians Georges Arsenault, Edward MacDonald, Tammy MacDonald, Boyde Beck and David Keenlyside provided historical support. It was locally produced and printed by Tea Hill Press. The former textbook, Abegweit, which has been in service since 1982, will continue to be used as a supplementary resource in the classroom.