Historic Sites of Canada

Gr 7 Up-UNESCO World Heritage Sites are featured in this updated program. The visually stunning film focuses on the cultural importance of Quebec City, Quebec; Lunenberg, Nova Scotia; Haida Gwai on Anthony Island, British Columbia; and Head Smashed-In, Alberta. The natural importance of the Canadian Rockies also qualified these magnificent mountains as a site. The five 12 to 13 minute chapters are narrated by a British-Canadian male voice. Aerial footage portrays the grandeur of the Canadian landscapes while slow pacing allows time to reflect on their beauty. The emphasis is on places such as Quebec City's historic district and fortifications and Lunenberg's colonial houses, churches, and wooden longboats. The ruins of houses and memorial poles from the once thriving 19th-century Haida village remind viewers of the devastation smallpox epidemics brought to Indians. Contemporary Canadians in colorful native Indian dress hunt and dance near Head Smashed-In where buffalo were herded over the cliffs and butchered at the bottom for food and raw materials. The film lends itself to group viewing and discussion. Onscreen questions are available for teachers. The topics presented support a study of Canada or North America with the added value of stimulating viewers' interest in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. An optional purchase for middle- and high-school libraries.

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal. Used with permission.

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This pair of DVDs is designed for classroom use with grades seven and up. Each program contains four to five 12-minute episodes on a single topic, for example, on the United States disc, Independence Hall, Monticello, the Statue of Liberty, and the Grand Canyon, and for Canada, Quebec, Lunenburg, Head-Smashed-In (southern Alberta), Anthony Island, and the Canadian Rockies. Each video provides beautiful cinematography coupled with a narrative detailing each site's history. From the main menu, viewers can access discussion questions on topics ranging from the Founding Fathers to the evolution of the Rockies. Each discussion question allows you to review the video segment or corresponding image that supports the question or answer. A "Languages" option changes the video narration from English to Spanish but doesn't translate the discussion questions into Spanish. A brief teacher's guide has summaries of each video, vocabulary, follow-up discussion questions (different from those on the disc), suggested extra activities, and additional suggested Internet and print resources. Recommended for school libraries.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal. Used with permission.

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