In October 2016, Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire formally launched the Secret Path, a book and CD which chronicles the story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old boy who died after running away from Residential school in the 1960s.

As part of our ongoing commitment to engage teachers in reconciliation work, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society recently assembled a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers from across the province to discuss and explore the Secret Path and to create lesson and unit plans to support the use of this resource for the teaching about Residential schools in Manitoba classrooms.

The culmination of the discussions and work of this tremendous group of teachers is found here. We want to hear from other teachers who are willing to share lessons or unit plans.

If you are interested in submitting materials to the MTS website please contact Sarah Gazan at sgazan@mbteach.org

Lesson Plans and Resources

Early Years Lesson Plans

Secret Path Early Years Lesson Plan – When We Were Alone ENG | FRE

Secret Path Early Years Lesson Plan – The Best Part of Me ENG | FRE

Middle Years Lesson Plans

Secret Path Middle Years Lesson Plan – What Were Residential Schools ENG | FRE

Secret Path Middle Years Lesson Plan – Identity ENG | FRE

Secret Path Middle Years Lesson Plan – Notice Think Wonder Chart ENG | FRE

Secret Path Middle Years Lesson Plan – Art Project ENG | FRE

Secret Path Middle Years Lesson Plan – Blank Template ENG | FRE

Senior Years Lesson Plans

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – Social Studies ENG | FRE

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – KWLS Chart ENG | FRE

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – Think and Ink ENG | FRE

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – Action Project Planning Guide ENG | FRE

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – Action Project Bibliography Sheet ENG | FRE

Secret Path Senior Years Lesson Plan – Action Project Community Consultation Sheet ENG | FRE