Activity 5 - Remembering the Italian Campaign

Aim

To engage learners in an examination of remembrance and commemoration. To help them gain an understanding of why they, as young Canadians, should remember what young men and women did during the Italian Campaign. To engage them in ways so that they can show their appreciation for the achievements and sacrifices made by Canadians who fought and died in the Italian Campaign between 1943 and 1945.

Specific Learning Outcomes

Students will be expected to:

• Demonstrate a general understanding of the history of Canada's involvement in the Italian Campaign; and
• Demonstrate an understanding of remembrance and commemoration of Veterans

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at grades 7 to 12, ages 12 to 18.

Sequence and Anticipated Time Frame

• Background: 10 minutes
• Activity: 35 minutes
• Discussion: 15 minutes

Required Class Materials:

• Veterans Affairs Canada's - A Day of Remembrance;
• Veterans Affairs Canada - Canada and the Second World War;
• Smartboard, screen, whiteboard, or other means of broadcasting and sharing ideas with the class.

Suggested Reference Materials

• Sacrifice, Achievement, Legacy: Canadians and the Second World War 1939-1945 Education Resource Kit. Teachers’ Guide, Section 3: Canadians Overseas - Background Information (Conquest of Sicily, pages 37-38, and The Liberation of Italy, page 68).

Background: 10 minutes

Summarize what the class has studied thus far on Canada's role in the Italian Campaign. Focus on the accomplishments and sacrifices that were made by Canadians during this period of the Second World War. Introduce today's topic of "Remembrance."

Closing: 15 minutes

Using the Veterans Affairs Canada booklet A Day of Remembrance as a guide, provide some background information on the concepts of commemoration and remembrance. Where gaps appear in the students’ overall knowledge, you can assist by providing additional details to keep the discussion going.

Ask some general questions of the group such as:

• Why should we remember?
• Whom should we remember?
• How can we remember the sacrifices and accomplishments made by Canadians during times of war and peace allowing us to live in peace and freedom in the Canada we know today?

Create a list of the responses given by students to each of the three questions above.

Activity: 35 minutes

Once a comprehensive list has been developed for each of the questions, have the students, in groups of three or four, prioritize the responses to each of the questions based on their importance. Have a spokesperson from each group explain to the rest of the class why they have rated each of their responses in the order which they did.

Now ask the class, still in their groups of three or four, to compile a list of five possible activities they could pursue to mark the anniversary of the Italian Campaign. Allow approximately ten minutes for this part of the activity. Examples might include:

• Compiling a list of Italian Campaign Veterans who live in their community;
• Designing and developing a commemorative display to mark the anniversary that could be showcased in their school;
• Organizing a commemorative ceremony at the school and share the event on the Canada Remembers Facebook page or on Twitter;
• Visiting a war memorial or cemetery which pays tribute to fallen men and women of the Italian Campaign or the Second World War, in general;
• Contacting their local municipality or their local Veterans' organization and volunteering to assist with any commemorative activities or events that may be planned for the area; or
• Listen to stories of Italian Campaign Veterans.
• Create a presentation about the Italian Campaign using the Italian Campaign Photo Gallery and Art Gallery.

After the elapsed time frame, ask each group to share their ideas with the class. Make a list of the ideas on chart paper, chalk board, etc. After all of the groups’ ideas have been recorded, have the class vote on which activity they would like to pursue. Once an activity is selected, have the class develop a project plan, identify the various tasks to be done, develop a schedule for the completion of the tasks, etc. Next, divide the class into working groups and assign each group a specific task or tasks in order to complete the activity.

Have each of the individual groups of students work on their assigned tasks. Pick a series of dates for them to report their findings, results, and status back to the entire class as part of a project update.