WSD Historical Thinking Symposium celebrates student research and critical thinking

Winnipeg School Division's second annual Historical Thinking Symposium brought together approximately 200 students from grades 4-11 across WSD schools to showcase and celebrate Canada's diverse heritage.  

Held at the Manitoba Museum, the symposium focused on developing critical historical thinking concepts while enhancing students' research and presentation abilities.
 
Projects covered diverse Canadian history topics such as natural disasters, historical events like the Battle of Batoche and anti-Asian riots, national historic persons like Viola Desmond and Chloe Cooley, and more.

"From the Oka Crisis exhibit, many of us remember witnessing as children, to the beautiful pointe shoes representing the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the physical models and hands-on displays demonstrated exceptional creativity," said Rebecca Simpson-Litkey, parent of a Grade 4 student at Sir William Osler Elementary.  

Participating schools included École Sir William Osler, École Robert H. Smith School, École Laura Secord School, King Edward, Sargent Park, Sisler High School, General Wolfe, Collège Churchill High School, and Wolseley School. Some students even presented in French, with WSD’s French Leadership Program supporting this bilingual aspect.

Students were challenged to use six key historical thinking concepts in their research and presentation: establishing historical significance, using primary source evidence, identifying continuity and change, analyzing cause and consequence, taking historical perspectives, and understanding the ethical dimensions of historical interpretations.

Grade 4 student Arlo Edwards from Sir William Osler researched Winnipeg's history. "The story of Winnipeg begins with Indigenous Peoples who hunted, fished, and gathered at the Forks. When European settlers arrived, they established a fur trade with the Indigenous communities, building forts at this significant meeting place," she explained.  

Many projects tackled challenging historical subjects with impressive depth and maturity. Grade 9 Sargent Park School student Rhiane Cadangan presented on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Girls and Women in Canada. She said what surprised her the most while researching the topic was discovering that accountability is the foundation for change.

"We cannot address issues if we don't first acknowledge the wrongdoing. Taking accountability for our past—like the residential schools and the abuse Indigenous peoples endured—plays a crucial role in shaping a better future," said Cadangan. 

Based on feedback, two standout projects were selected for special recognition and will be featured on Canada’s History website. They will also have a chance to be featured in Canada’s History magazine, win a $500 RESP contribution, and win a trip to attend a special gathering with other National Showcase winners. 

Sargent Park Grade 9 student Anna McRae’s project about Nellie McClung titled ‘Nellie’s Impact,’ and École Sir William Osler Grade 4 student, Arlo Edwards’ project ‘L’histoire de Winnipeg’ were chosen to be sent to Canada’s History. 

The symposium reflects WSD’s commitment to immersing students in the richness of Canada's diverse heritage while developing crucial critical thinking skills. By focusing on historical thinking rather than mere memorization of facts, students learn to analyze evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and understand the ethical dimensions of how we interpret the past. 

Watch the students and their projects in action on WSD's Instagram reel. Here are some of the outstanding projects we had the opportunity to capture: