Historical Significance

Let’s get started…

Individually

• List the 5 most important moments of your life to date.

• Indicate the reasons why they are important to you.

• Keep this list (and the reasons why) so that you can contribute to our definition that we create later.

You have 10 minutes

• Groups of 4• Half a piece of chart paper, markers• Draw a diagram that shows the most significant events, people, or developments in the history of the world• Use pictures, icons or words• Arrange them in a way that makes sense to you

Analyzing your sketch

1. Does your sketch show well-known people & events OR the lives of ordinary people?

2. Any references to nations or countries?

3. Any connections to local, national or international issues?

4. Do your choices feature big historical changes?

5. Did your choices change people’s lives?

What are the criteria your group used to decide?

Agree or disagree:“If it is in the textbook it must be significant.

Why else would they put it in there”

It’s Historically significant if…1. It resulted in change

2. It “reveals” something about the time

Historical significance varies over time and from group to group

Mentions of Passchendaele in the Globe & Mail by Decade

1910-19 16

1920-29 7

1930-39 6

1940-49 4

1950-59 2

1960-69 5

1970-79 11

1980-89 33

1990-99 11

2000-09 1016

• 8 Prime Ministers in a hot air balloon

• OH NO!!! Too heavy! We need to throw 3 of them out or else … !!

• How do we decide who should stay ? Assess their historical significance

Toss em’ out we’re losing air!

Toss em’ out we’re losing air!

Trudeau (1970s), Laurier (1910s), Pearson (1960s), Diefenbaker (1960s), Borden (WWI), Bennett (1930s), King (WWII), Mulroney (1980s)

• 10 minutes to research your PM so that you can decide who stays and who goes