Canadian Symbols at Parliament
Searching for Symbols Tour
Available from September to April
A visit to Parliament can help
your class build on the activities from this Web site
to make
connections between Canadian symbols and Canada’s Parliament.
Tour Information
Searching for Symbols is a curriculum-based, interactive tour that examines symbols and where they are found at Canada’s Parliament. Specially designed for Grades 1 to 3 (primary cycles 1 and 2 in Quebec), this on-site tour is an excellent complement to a unit on Canadian symbols, citizenship and heritage.
Students will:
- Learn the definition of a symbol
- Play the role of detective on tour
- Use clues and images to find various symbols in the Centre Block
- Discuss symbols and their significance to Canada
- Identify other important symbols in their lives
Tour Overview
- Theme: Canadian Symbols
at Parliament
- Grade
Level(s): 1 to 3 (primary
cycles 1 and 2 in Quebec)
- Curriculum
Links: Canadian traditions, symbols, heritage and citizenship
- Length of Tour: 20 - 45 minutes (varies depending on parliamentary activity)
- Cost: Free
What will my students learn on this tour?
After the tour, your students will be able to:
- Understand and explain the meaning of a symbol
- Describe what symbols tell us about ourselves and our country
- Identify symbols at Parliament and how they represent Canadians and Canada as a whole
- Describe why symbols are important to people, groups and countries
How can I help prepare my students for the Searching for Symbols tour?
- Introduce your students
to concepts associated
with government and nationhood.
These concepts include:- Nation, identity, citizenship and belonging
- Elections and voting
- Community helpers, leadership
- Introduce your students
to the concept of a symbol through activities such as:
- Identifying personal symbols
- Identifying school symbols and local community symbols
- Identifying sports symbols (local or professional teams, Olympic symbol)
- Learning about provincial or national symbols
- There are a number of on-line resources available for you to use in the classroom before and after your tour. See Educational Programs and Products — Primary for a complete list of offerings.