Enemy+Aliens

Lesson Plan Designing- Lyndsay Robinson

Based on the actions taken by the Canadian government against “enemy aliens” on the home front during WWI, is Canada a country we can be proud of? Why or why not?
 * Critical Question **

** Expectations **  Canada’s Participation in WWI and experience on home front  Treatment of enemy aliens  Research  Formulate different types of questions  Distinguish between primary and secondary sources of information  Evaluate the credibility of sources  Organize information gathered through research  ** Key Learning **  The imprisonment of “enemy aliens” in internment camps during WWI was a direct result of Canadian fear. Though our society condemns the actions of the Canadian government, there were no simple solutions.  ** Listening Strategies  **  Before the “thinking strategy task: the value line” I would like to create a hand out which provides students with a description of “enemy aliens” from the Grade 10 textbook. This paragraph will have words missing. I will have students turn to the page in the textbook and I will print this paragraph on an overhead and fill the words in for the students while going over the material, “I do, you help.”   Paragraph in full: <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> In 1914, more than a million people from Germany and Austria-Hungary were living in Canada. Many Canadians feared that some people with German or Austria-Hungarian roots, were acting as spies for enemy countries. As a result, these people were labelled "Enemy Aliens." There were specific laws created for enemy aliens to abide by, such as: carrying an identification card, reporting their movements to police and potentially losing their right to vote. As a result of fear felt by many Canadians, the government forced more than 8000 Germans and Ukrainians into internment camps, which were like prisons. Ukrainians were included since at the time of WWI, the Ukraine was still apart of Austria-Hungary. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Thinking Strategies ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Value Line <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Which statement do you feel is the most correct? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> “ The holding of Canadians with German, Austria-Hungarian, Ukrainian and Japanese roots, in internment camps was necessary to protect other Canadian citizens. “Enemy aliens” were a danger to the Canadian cause and home front during WWI. Canada is a country we can be proud of. “ <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> “The forced imprisonment of so-called “enemy aliens” in internment camps during WWI was a direct violation of human rights and is an example of extreme racism. Canadians with German, Austria-Hungarian, Ukrainian and Japanese roots were the scapegoat of Canadian fears of WWI. The actions of the Canadian government towards so-called “enemy aliens” during WWI make Canada a country we can not be proud of.” <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> I plan to use this value line after reading a short blurb from the textbook. I would like the students to provide an answer based on their gut reaction. I would like to then open the floor up for a class debate in which they will be able to formulate arguments. After I have taught the lesson and provided the students with more knowledge on enemy aliens and the home front, I would like to revisit the value line and give students the opportunity to re-think their previous choice. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Critical Challenge  ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> First Question/First Reflection: After writing your name on the value line, write a one-page reflection as to why you took on that position. Include your reasoning and provide concise arguments. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Again, I would like students to write their initial feelings about the subject and then revisit this assignment at the end of the lesson/unit about WWI. The first assignment will be assessed and the second reflection will be evaluated as students will be required to research and apply the knowledge they learned in class rather than just providing their initial thoughts. The question students are expected to answer on the second reflection will be modified. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Second Question/Second Reflection: After writing your name on the value line, write a one-page reflection as to why you took that position. Has your position changed since your first reflection or has it remained the same? Why or why not? Your paper should include two outside sources. Be sure to staple your first reflection to your final assignment. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Skill set for newspaper spread (how will this prep them for...?) ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> This lesson will allow students to think critically and formulate arguments. They will also learn how to research and decide which sources are the most useful for their arguments. They will practice critiquing social and political events. <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Background knowledge (content and skills) ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Specific Expectations <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Canada’s Participation in War, life on the home front and the treatment of enemy aliens <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Understand why certain ethnicities were targeted on the Canadian home front during WWI <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> The conditions of living in the internment camps <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> The social and legal restrictions of enemy aliens <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> The effectiveness of internment camps <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> How are the decisions of the Canadian government towards enemy aliens viewed today? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Have there been any events in which the Canadian government has admitted to being right or wrong for its actions taken towards enemy aliens in WWI? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Criteria for Judgment ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> How do they support their arguments? Do they understand what an “enemy alien” is and why they were targeted? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Critical Thinking Vocabulary ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Critique, analysis, consistency, evidence, reasoned judgment <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Dimension of Historical Thinking ** <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> Historical Perspective Taking <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> * What were the goals/perspectives of the Canadian government when forcing “enemy aliens” into internment camps? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> * How would that be different from someone writing a political cartoon on the situation? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">** Concerns: ** Will the students be able to arrive at one conclusion? <span style="line-height: 19.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">

Thanks for inserting the initial task, Lyndsay. I look forward to seeing your initial planning for your lesson plan also in this space. I know you were posting stuff elsewhere - please let me know when you have a chance to post it here.


 * Enemy Aliens**


 * Canadian History Grade 10 Textbook**

Describes how in 1914, more than a million people from Germany and Austria-Hungary were living in Canada. Many Canadians feared that some people with German or Austria-Hungarian roots, were acting as spies for enemy countries. As a result, these people were labelled "Enemy Aliens." There were specific laws created for enemy aliens to abide by, such as: carrying an identification card, reporting their movements to police and potentially losing their right to vote. As a result of fear felt by many Canadians, the government forced more than 8000 Germans and Ukrainians into internment camps, which were like prisons. Ukrainians were included since at the time of WWI, the Ukraine was still apart of Austria-Hungary.

This text provides a very small summary of "enemy aliens." It includes a small diagram with "enemy aliens" in the middle and four small captions/descriptions of enemy aliens around it, such as, "someone from an enemy country." Also included is a picture of Germans and Ukrainians interned at Castle Mountain Internment Camp in Alberta.

Overall, provides a very basic knowledge that does not address the positions of all parties involved. Perhaps is at the learning level of a Grade 10 student. The article also points out that enemy aliens were not limited to just Germans and Ukrainians, but also: Italians and Japanese.


 * Scholarly Source: Ethnic Minorities During Two World Wars**
 * By: John Herd Thompson**
 * Department of History, Duke Universit**y

This source takes on an approach that criticizes Canada's notion of a "multi-cultural society" and how immigrants were tolerated. This scholarly source is much more in depth and provides the reader with more information. It also describes how enemy aliens who were unskilled were persecuted quicker than others, as they had nothing to offer Canadian society. This source provides different points of views of different members of Canadian society during WWI. The article spends more time on each ethnic background and how they struggled differently at a time when racism was the scapegoat for Canadian fears. This article also provides more facts and statistics as opposed to the Grade 10 textbook which just provides a generalization of the struggles of just two ethnicities during WWI. Canadian-born enemy aliens were forced out of their communities where they had been settled for many years into internment camps, even if they were loyal to the Canadian/British cause in WWI.

This article also goes into greater detail and provides primary sources in regards to the treatment of enemy aliens in internment camps.

Overall, this article criticizes Canada's so-called multi-cultural society during WWI. It also provides the reader with greater detail and actual primary sources which enhances the reader's experience while reviewing this document.

Click on “Edit” (top right hand corner of the page) to edit this page.

Your name:

**Initial Reading and Assessment of Textbook Treatment of the Topic**

Name of Gr. 10 Textbook examined:

Name of more "scholarly" source examined:

__Your Initial Thoughts:__ Please provide a **brief** (5-10 sentences) initial assessment of the textbook's treatment of the subject. We have not developed any particular criteria by which to assess the textbook so this is really simply you initial reactions, feelings, questions about what you have read. Thanks!