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Learning from Labour | 

Intermediate ETFO Resource

 | www.etfo.ca

Immigration and the Racialization of Work

Lesson Plan

Curriculum Expectation(s) and Big Ideas and Concepts

Unit

Grade

Teacher(s) Timeline:

Immigration and the Racialization of Work

Grade 7 and 8

45 minute lesson

Lesson Description

Students will examine ways in which the prevailing societal racist view of immigrants from non-British backgrounds affected 
both their living and working conditions during the pre- and post-Confederation era.

Curriculum Expectations(s)

Big Ideas and Concepts

History

Analyze some of the actions taken by various groups and/or 
individuals in Canada during the era under study to improve their 
lives. 

Formulate questions to guide investigations into perspectives of 
different groups on some significant events, developments and/or 
issues that affected Canadians during this period.

Big Ideas

Many immigrants and racial minorities in Canada experienced 
harsh treatment and racist attitudes in both their working and 
everyday lives. This legacy of racism and discrimination continues 
to be felt in our present day society. (Continuity and Change)

Many Canadians of British ancestry held deeply racist attitudes 
toward Black, Chinese and Irish workers. As a result, these groups 
were typically treated unfairly and unjustly at work. (Cause and 
Consequence)

The belief that certain groups were better suited for certain 
types of work was widespread. As a result, racial minorities 
and immigrants were often relegated to the lowest paid, often 
dangerous, unskilled labour. (Historical Perspective)

Framing Questions

What was the prevailing view of racialized and immigrant workers 
during this time? How did these views negatively impact the lives 
of these people?

How did racist and discriminatory attitudes towards certain 
groups negatively impact their working conditions?

What kinds of work were Chinese, Black and Irish people engaged 
in? 

Reading

Accommodations/Modifications

Immigrants and Labour

Historica Canada. Immigrant Labour Retrieved June 6, 2015 from 
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/immigrant-
labour/

Exporail. Chinese Railroad Workers in B.C: Railways and 
Immigration to Canada. Retrieved June 6 from http://
histoiredurailhistory.ca/immigration_en.html

Students can be put into mixed ability groups or pairs to research 
one of the three ethnic groups rather than working individually.

Students can be provided with a copy of the notes outlining the 
information on the remaining two ethnic groups for the jigsaw 
activity rather than taking their own notes.

See ETFO Special Education Handbook for suggestions on how to 
meet the needs of all learners..

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