Free Educational Resources And Teaching Materials For Canadian Educators

The provided source materials describe a variety of free resources, programs, and materials available to Canadian teachers. These resources cover a wide range of subjects and grade levels, often aligning with Canadian provincial and territorial curricula. The offerings include downloadable educational packs, lesson plans, interactive tools, and physical materials such as DVDs and posters. Many of these resources are provided by non-profit organizations, government bodies, corporate social responsibility programs, and educational publishers. Access methods vary, requiring online registration on specific websites, filling out request forms, or direct download without registration.

Curriculum-Based Educational Programs

Several organizations offer comprehensive, curriculum-based educational programs designed to assist teachers in preparing lesson plans and enhancing classroom learning.

CoEd Communications Inc., a not-for-profit educational communications company, operates the website 4edu.ca. This platform serves as a bi-lingual reference guide for Canadian teachers, providing information on free, curriculum-based educational resources and programs. CoEd works in conjunction with Departments/Ministries of Education, school districts, school boards, associations, teachers, and subject specialists across Canada. The resources available through CoEd are intended to fit Canadian curricula in various subject areas and grade levels and can be downloaded for free and adapted for classroom activities.

The Canadian Encyclopedia offers free access to more than 50,000 expertly researched and edited articles and biographies on notable Canadians and Canadian life. It is available in both English and French. The encyclopedia is part of the non-profit Historica-Dominion Institute. The website also provides free online access to the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, a resource focused on Canadian music and musicians.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has created a school resources page for teachers. This page contains educational resources regarding refugee and humanitarian issues, the work of MSF, and teaching materials for French as a second language. These toolkits were developed by educational experts in Canada and Europe and are suitable for grades 6 to 10. The resources include videos, links to multi-media sites, posters, and book suggestions useful for subjects such as world studies, social studies, geography, and French.

Ocean Literacy Courses are available as multilingual learning platforms. These platforms include resources, videos, quizzes, and badges designed to support educators and develop an understanding of how humans impact the ocean and how the ocean influences us. The courses are available for elementary, middle, and secondary schools. Ocean Wise also offers digital connections through virtual classes and collaborative programs.

Sow and Save highlights the importance of seed biodiversity and seed saving in building a resilient food supply. It supports students and educators who wish to learn more about how good seeds grow good food. Sow and Save resources fit with Canadian elementary school curricula and can be used to complement activities in current school garden programs or as part of general science-based activities focused on seeds and biodiversity.

Speak Truth to Power Canada is a website about Canadian human rights defenders and their achievements. It was jointly developed by the Canadian Teachers Federation, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. The website offers lesson plans and classroom activities that align with provincial and territorial curricula.

TELUS WISE (Wise Internet and Smartphone Education) is a free educational program focused on Internet and smartphone safety and security. The program offers interactive and informative workshops and content to help youth have a positive experience as digital citizens. Topics include cyberbullying, protecting online reputation, and identity theft. The program is available for schools and educators.

That’s Not Fair! is a suite of resources developed by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. It includes videos, a teacher's guide, and lesson plans designed to engage young people in discussions about the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

"The Stone Age" Interactive Resource is a six-week cross-curricular interactive resource developed by archaeologist Mathew Charlton in the UK. It covers the Stone Age from the Palaeolithic period through to the Iron Age. The program covers topics such as "What is Prehistory," the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, with cross-curricular lesson plans and activities. The resource features cartoons, videos, and photographs. A free week on the Palaeolithic is available as a taster.

Subject-Specific and Topic-Based Resources

Resources are also available for specific subjects and topics, ranging from animal welfare to digital literacy.

IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) offers Animal Action Education packs about cats and dogs, marine mammals, biodiversity, tigers, and elephants. These packs include crafts, activities, and interactive programs available for free download. By registering on the IFAW website, users can also receive supplementary resources via email throughout the year.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association's "That’s Not Fair!" program is also listed under curriculum-based programs but specifically targets discussions on rights and responsibilities.

Pacific Edge Publishing offers free teacher-created worksheets for Science, Life Skills, Social Studies, and Language Arts.

Digital Literacy and Safety

In addition to general educational content, specific resources address digital literacy and safety.

TELUS WISE focuses on Internet and smartphone safety, covering topics such as cyberbullying, online reputation protection, and identity theft. The program provides interactive workshops and content for youth.

Developed in partnership with teachers and tested in British Columbia classrooms, certain resources offer practical techniques and project ideas to develop students’ critical thinking skills. These resources utilize cost-free and easy-to-use Web 2.0 technology in the classroom.

Physical and Downloadable Materials

Some programs provide physical materials or downloadable toolkits that teachers can use directly in the classroom.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute provides educational materials free online for anyone to access. Additionally, they ship DVDs to educators in North America, which includes Canada, Mexico, the U.S., and its territories. Topics available on DVD include space, ocean life, Zika virus, Alzheimer’s, ecology, and extinction. Educators can order these DVDs through the institute's website.

Dinosaur Train, a PBS show, offers educational resources for teachers. Currently, a free toolkit and poster can be requested through an online form.

ThinkCERCA offers a free poster to help students write a critical analysis of literature. A free CERCA poster can be requested.

The National Education Association (NEA) provides a free downloadable "Bully Free Toolkit" containing resources to help stop bullying in schools.

Sesame Street Learning Resources provide free downloadable materials such as a storybook, activity cards, and games. No registration is required to access these resources.

National School Choice Week (NSCW) is a time to raise awareness about educational opportunities. Free supplies can be received by signing up through the provided link.

Access and Registration Methods

Accessing these free resources typically involves visiting the provider's website and following specific instructions.

• Direct Download: Many resources, such as those from CoEd, IFAW (initial packs), The Canadian Encyclopedia, and Sesame Street, are available for direct download from their respective websites.
• Registration/Sign-up: Some resources require registration. For example, registering on the IFAW website allows users to receive supplementary resources via email. The "Chalk Talk" e-newsletter from CoEd requires joining to receive features and information.
• Request Forms: Physical materials like DVDs from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute or toolkits from Dinosaur Train require filling out a specific request form.
• Online Sign-up: Free supplies from National School Choice Week and posters from ThinkCERCA require clicking specific links to sign up or request the items.

Additional Resources and Tools

TIMESAVERS for TEACHERS offers a downloadable package in PDF format containing 30 attractive, often used forms, worksheets, and practical tools for teachers.

The "Chalk Talk" e-newsletter from CoEd Communications Inc. is available to educators across Canada. It features information on a variety of free, quality, curriculum-based teachers’ resources.

Conclusion

The provided source materials detail a broad spectrum of free educational resources available to Canadian teachers. These resources, provided by organizations such as CoEd, IFAW, MSF, TELUS, and various non-profit institutes, cover diverse subjects and grade levels. Access is generally facilitated through official websites, with options for direct download, registration for email updates, or request forms for physical materials. These programs aim to support Canadian educators by providing curriculum-aligned materials, digital safety tools, and interactive learning opportunities.

Sources

1. 4edu.ca/tors
2. Canadian Teacher Magazine - Free Resources
3. MoneyPantry - Free Stuff for Teachers