Field trips and workshops

Field trips

We offer fun and engaging field trips for students of all grades.

Field trips include a themed classroom workshop where students learn with primary sources from our collections and a behind-the-scenes tour of our facilities.

When booking, provide the following information:

• your name
• school
• grade
• number of students
• which field trip you want

Capturing History: Painting the Past

In this field trip students will travel back in time to Ontario in the 1800s by viewing historical drawing and paintings of artist and settler Anne Langton. They’ll then create their own watercolour artwork of their school, reflecting on how today’s moments can become tomorrow’s history. Through hands-on art and thoughtful discussion, students will gain a deeper appreciation for how people have recorded their lives and how those records help us understand the past—and preserve the present for the future.

Grade range: 3 to 6

Duration: 2 hours including workshop and tour

Max number: 30 students

Exploring the fur trade

This field trip brings your class to the early 1800s and the expansive North West of British North America to explore the lives of fur traders and the frontier world they inhabited.

Students take part in an interactive fur trade board game developed at the Archives. By playing to win, they gain insights into the high-stakes fur trade economy, navigating challenges drawn from historical fact. A brief discussion after the game consolidates learning outcomes.

Grade range: 6 to 8

Duration: 2 hours including workshop and tour

Max number: 30 students

Curating history: A World War 1 workshop

This interactive World War 1 workshop tasks students with taking on the role of curator. Using replicas of original wartime records, students will explore diverse perspectives of the Great War and choose a unique story to highlight in a curated exhibit. They’ll craft curator notes, plan exhibit layouts within a set budget, and tackle real-world challenges of exhibit design. This hands-on experience builds critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills while deepening students’ understanding of how history is interpreted and presented.

Grade range: Grade 10

Duration: 2 hours (including workshop and tour)

Max number: 30 students

Virtual workshops

We offer interactive virtual workshops for your class that enhance student understanding of primary sources and the important role that archives play in society.

When booking, provide the following information:

• your name
• school
• grade
• number of students
• preferred workshop theme

Learning with archives: analyzing primary sources

In this interactive workshop, students learn what archives are and what they do. Students will examine the difference between primary and secondary sources before taking part in an activity where they learn how to “read” and visually analyze primary sources by taking on the role of historical detectives.

Grade range: 7 to 12

Duration: 1 hour

Technical requirements: Microsoft Teams

Consumerism & Culture in 1920s Ontario

Step into the roaring 1920s with this interactive virtual workshop exploring consumerism in post-WWI Canada. Designed for Grade 10 history students, the 60-minute session examines how the aftermath of the First World War and the Spanish Flu shaped a new era of living, spending, and self-expression. Students will explore innovations, fashion trends, and shifting social attitudes during the flapper era, using real historical documents like Eaton’s catalogue ads. Through discussion and hands-on activities, students will gain insight into how a generation redefined modern life in the wake of global upheaval.

Grade range: 10

Duration: 1 hour

Technical requirements: Microsoft Teams

Power & persuasion: propaganda during the World Wars

Explore the power of persuasion in this interactive virtual workshop on propaganda during World War I and II. Students will learn what propaganda is, break down its key elements, and analyze how it was used to influence public opinion and morale during both wars. Using historical posters, documents, and film clips, the session highlights how propaganda evolved—shaped by new technologies and the need for different messaging strategies in WWII. In the session, students will compare and contrast examples, gaining insight into how media shapes perception in times of conflict.

Grade range: 10-11

Duration: 1 hour

Technical requirements: Microsoft Teams

Our approach to teaching Ontario history

We believe that everyone can connect with Ontario’s past – its people and places.

Our trained educators use interactive, game-based activities to explore universal themes of hope, ambition and conflict in Ontario history. By combining hands-on experiences with factual learning, our field trips and virtual sessions encourage students to become active participants in their learning.

Our field trips and virtual sessions support learning across Ontario’s curricula, including:

• Canadian history
• social studies
• geography
• world studies

We welcome classes from any subject, from the humanities to the sciences.

Questions about our educational programming?

Contact us if you have questions about our educational offerings or to discuss a custom workshop for your school.