Indigenous People in Canada Turtle Island Drama Colonization Orange Shirt Day
🎭 Drama Circle: The Impact of Colonization on First Nations & Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Bring meaningful discussions into your classroom with this drama circle activity focused on the experiences of First Nations and Indigenous Peoples during colonization in Canada. Aligned with the goals of truth and reconciliation, this resource introduces key events such as treaties, reserves, missionaries, and Residential Schools—helping students learn history through active participation.
Drama circles function much like readers’ theatre: students read aloud short passages from cards, building reading fluency, listening skills, and empathy while engaging in powerful conversations.
✨ What’s Included:
- Teacher directions for running a drama circle
- Quick guide for easy setup
- 40 cards (color + ink-saving versions)
- Discussion questions to extend learning
- Differentiated reading levels for accessibility
- Blank cards for customizing language
🌿 Why Use This Resource?
✔ Encourages listening, fluency, and collaboration
✔ Opens the door to meaningful classroom conversations about Canada’s history
✔ Supports truth and reconciliation education in an accessible way
✔ Requires minimal prep but keeps students engaged for an hour or more
⚠️ Note: This activity is not meant to be the conclusion of lessons on Indigenous history, but rather a starting point for conversation, reflection, and relationship building.
