ARTS AND CRAFTS

Beavers- Submitted by Sherry

We cut little beavers out of brown fun foam. Cut a hole on his stomach and we glue a Canadian nickel in the hole so the picture of the beaver is showing.

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Maple Leaf- Submitted by Sherry

We cut out a maple leaf out of orange fun foam. Then cut a larger red maple leaf for the back. Cut a hole in the orange leaf then glue a Canadian penny in the hole with the maple picture showing. Then glue the red maple leaf to the back.

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Canadian Stamp Map- Submitted by Sherry

Cut out a small shape of Canada on a piece of cardboard. Then glue lots of Canadian stamps on it. Then modge-podge it to seal it.

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Canadian Flag- Submitted by Sherry

Provide the colors and shapes from construction paper to make the Canadian flag and let the children assemble and glue together. Add a paint stirrer for the flagpole.

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Canada Day Fan- Submitted by Sherry

1 piece of Cardboard 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, 1 piece of White construction paper same size as the cardboard, 2 pieces of Red construction paper, 3 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, Scissors, Maple leaf pattern, Scrap of red construction paper big enough for the maple leaf, Popsicle stick, School glue

Cut out all of the pieces of construction paper and cardboard to the appropriate sizes. Glue the white piece of construction paper to the rectangle of cardboard. Glue the 2 pieces of red construction paper to each end of the white construction paper so it looks like the Canadian flag. Print the Maple Leaf. Cut out the maple leaf from the pattern and trace it onto the red construction paper. Cut out the red maple leaf. Glue the leaf between the 2 strips of red construction paper. Glue the Popsicle stick either behind or stick it between the layers of the cardboard.

Tip: If you have a piece of white cardboard, you can use that. You won't have to use white paper if you do.

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Canada Pin- submitted by Sherry

(Parent supervision needed for the hot gluing of the pin back to the wooden heart.)

Flat wooden heart, Red construction paper, White craft paint, Paintbrush, Maple leaf craft punch, Pin back, Hot glue, School glue, Waxed paper or plastic grocery bag

Lay down waxed paper or a plastic grocery bag on your work area. Paint the wooden heart with white craft paint. Allow the paint to dry. Punch a maple leaf out of red construction paper. Use school glue to add leaf to heart. When glue has set up, add a coating of glue to the top of the leaf to seal. Let dry. Using hot glue, apply pin back to the wooden heart. Wear and show your spirit for Canada Day!!!

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Maple Leaf Magnet- Submitted by Sherry

Red craft foam, Scissors, Pen or pencil, Magnetic sheet, Hot glue gun and glue stick, Maple Leaf printable pattern

Print a Maple Leaf. Cut out the pattern and trace it onto the red craft foam. Cut out the leaf from the foam. Cut a piece of the magnet sheet to fit behind the leaf. Glue the magnet to the back of the leaf.

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Canada Day Noisemaker- Submitted by Sherry

2 Paper Plates, Crayons or Paint, Dried Beans, Stapler or Glue

Decorate the paper plates using red and white paint or streamers. You can also add streamers, maple leaf stickers, etc. Put one paper place on the table, with the right side up. Place the other paper plate on top of the first one, right side down. This will make a gap in the middle. Start stapling the edges together. Leave an opening at the top to slide a handful of dried beans in (you can also use rice or unpopped popcorn!). Finish stapling it shut. You are now ready to make some noise!

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CD Beaver- Submitted by Sherry

2 CDs, Cardboard (from a cereal box, etc), Felt and/or Construction Paper, Pom-Poms, Yarn, Glue

Cut out 2 circles from the brown felt or construction paper the same size as the CDs (it is easiest to trace the CDs). Glue the brown circles onto one side of each of the CDs, covering the one side completely.

For the face of the beaver: Use the felt or paper, pom-poms, and yarn to cut out the beaver's facial features. You can cut out ears and eyes using felt or paper. Make a nose from a pom-pom, and a mouth using yarn. Don't forget the teeth! Glue these onto the felt or paper covered side of one of the cds.

For the back of the beaver: Cut a tail shape out of the cardboard. Paint it darker brown or cover it with dark brown felt or construction paper. Glue it towards the bottom edge of the felt or paper covered side of the other cd.

Now for the slightly tricky part. Once the glue on the 2 CDs is dry, you want to attach them at the top and at an angle. This will make it so your beaver can stand! Glue the top edge together and make sure the bottom edges are about 3 inches apart. Cut a piece of cardboard about 3 inches long by 4 inches wide. Cover the cardboard with a piece of brown felt or paper with feet shape cut out. Glue the bottom part of the CDS onto the cardboard so the feet stick out the front.

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Maple Leaf Necklace- Submitted by Sherry

Red Pony Bead, Red Felt, Fun Foam, or Construction Paper, Glue, White Yarn or String

Cut a leaf shape out of your red felt, fun foam, or construction paper. Once your leaf is cut, put some glue on one side of the red pony bead and stick the center of maple leaf on it. Do not cover or block the holes! Set it aside and let the glue dry. Once the glue has dried, you can string the bead onto a piece of yarn or string and you have your very own maple leaf necklace

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Noodle Fireworks Craft- Submitted by Sherry

Macaroni Noodles, Rubbing Alcohol, Food Coloring, 2 Ziploc Baggie or Bowls, Heavy Black or Dark Blue Paper, Glue

Note: Give yourself plenty of time for this craft! It can take hours for the noodles to reach the desired color, and it can take the macaroni up to 24 hours to dry. And... please do not do this craft without an adults help!

First we want to color the noodles (Save some noodles, we will use plain noodles for white!). Use one baggie or bowl for each color you make. Place the desired number of noodles in the baggie or bowl. Pour on enough rubbing alcohol so all the noodles are covered. Add a generous amount of food coloring to one container of alcohol and noodles. Repeat these steps for other colors. Put these aside and let them sit until they are the desired color (this can take hours - the longer they sit the brighter the colors). Once the noodles have reached the desired color, remove them from the baggie or bowl and lay them in a single layer on paper towels to dry.

Once the noodles are dry, you can create beautiful fireworks pictures. On the paper, make fireworks (star-burst) designs using the glue; be very generous! Once you have your glue picture drawn, stick the colored macaroni on the glue to make colorful fireworks. Be creative and make different designs using the different colors!

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Canada Day Red and White Bracelet- Submitted by Christi

tape, glue, red and white paper

Cut strips of paper that are 2 inches wide (thinner if you want a dantier bracelet) and 11 inches long (don't be too finicky about the measurements... just "ish" it). You'll need 4 red strips and 4 white strips.

Now tape all the white strips together end to end (so you have one LONG white strip) and all the red strips together end to end (so you have one LONG red strip). Accordian fold the strips (place them like an L and then fold over each other in an alternating pattern... see diagram below... solid colours are the front and slashed colours the back of the paper)

When you run out of paper, trim ends as necessary and tape so it doesn't unravel. Roll into a circle and tape to form a bracelet (see photo for how it looks)

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Handprint Wreath- Submitted by Sherry

glue, scissors, red paint or red construction paper and white paint or white construction paper.

There are two ways to do this craft. One is to trace the child's hand onto paper and cut out the prints. The second is to make paint handprints on the paper and cut those out. Make eight handprints (4 red and 4 white). Cut out the prints and glue to form a wreath.

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FOOD AND COOKING

Canada Flag Cake- Submitted by Sherry

Prep Time: 15 minutes Chill Time: 2 hours

Line bottom of 13x9 inch baking pan with pound cake slices. Prepare 2 pkg each JELL-O Strawberry Jelly Powder according to “30 minute Set Method.” Stir in 2 cups crushed or sliced strawberries. Spread over cake slices. Spread thawed Cool Whip topping on top of jelly mixture. Chill for 2 hours. Garnish with additional sliced strawberries arranged to resemble Canadian Flag. Makes 15 servings.

TIP: Cut out pattern of maple leaf. Place in centre of cake and trace leaf pattern using a toothpick. Place a strawberry tip in each leaf point and arrange remaining strawberries to fill in leaf space.

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Beaver Tails- Submitted by Sherry

Yeast Mixture: 1 tbsp. White sugar, ½ cup warm water (120F), 1 package (or 1 tbsp.) Dry yeast,

Dough: 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 21/3 cups warm water, 1 tsp salt, 4 tbsp. White sugar, 5 to 8 cups flour,

Dissolve & mix together the ingredients for the yeast mixture in a small bowl and set aside. Mix other ingredients in a large bowl (except flour), then add yeast mixture and mix. Add flour 1 cup at a time until a smooth dough forms. Knead dough, then let it stand (covered with a tea towel) for 1 ½ hours so dough can rise. Form dough into balls about the size of eggs, then roll flat, making ovals about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Heat oil to 350F in deep fryer, pot or electric frying pan. Fry”Beaver Tails” one at a time until light brown on both sides. Place on paper towels to drain, then sprinkle with white sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice while still hot - and ENJOY!

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CIRCLE TIME

Canada Flag- Submitted by Christi

The Canadian flag has two red rectangles and a white square in the center with a maple leaf in the white portion.

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Canada Is Big- Submitted by Sherry

Young children can start learning a little geography by comparing land masses and their size. Canada is the second biggest country (area) in the world.

If you have a world globe or map, show the children the location of Canada and show how big it is compared to other countries. Show the children the country where they are and compare again.

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What does Canada Mean?- Submitted by Sherry

Discuss that Canada means village. A village is a small town or community. The word comes from an aboriginal word: Kanata.

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Canada- Submitted by Lisa in VA

"Canada, also known as the 'Land of Opportunities' has been assessed as one of the best countries in the world to live-in."

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Symbols of Canada- Submitted by Sherry

Canada's national anthem describes the country as "the True North strong and free." Its unique flag is recognized worldwide. Other symbols of Canadian life include the beaver, a distinctive coat of arms, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the maple leaf, the Canadian Parliament buildings and many more.

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National Symbols- Submitted by Sherry

What represents Canada? What do people recognize with our great country? Among the most popular universal symbols of Canada is maple syrup, the sport of hockey, and for certain the Mountie as even further popularized in Paul Gross' Due South. Below are the official symbols of Canada, and a historical note to go along with each.

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The Canadian Flag- Submitted by Sherry

The flag is red and white, the official colours of Canada as appointed by King George V in 1921, with a stylized 11-point red leaf in its center.

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The Canadian Flag- Submitted by Sherry

The Canadian National Flag was adopted by the Canadian Parliament on October 22, 1964 and was proclaimed into law by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (the Queen of Canada) on February 15, 1965.

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Personal Flags and Standards- Submitted by Sherry

The Sovereign and members of the Royal Family are entitled to display personal flags and standards which are normally flown to denote their presence. These flags and standards are flown day and night at any building in which they are in residence or in which they are attending a public function.

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The Beaver- Submitted by Sherry

After the early Europeans explorers had realized that Canada was not the spice-rich Orient, the main mercantile attraction was the beaver population numbering in the millions. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the fashion of the day demanded fur hats, which needed beaver pelts. As these hats became more popular, the demand for the pelts grew.

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The Maple Leaf- Submitted by Sherry

Well before the coming of the first European settlers, Canada's aboriginal peoples had discovered the food properties of maple sap, which they gathered every spring. According to many historians, the maple leaf began to serve as a Canadian symbol as early as 1700.

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The Maple Tree- Submitted by Sherry

Trees have played a meaningful role in the historical development of Canada and continue to be of commercial, environmental and aesthetic importance to all Canadians. Maples contribute valuable wood products, sustain the maple sugar industry and help to beautify the landscape.

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National Anthem: O Canada- Submitted by Jean

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

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MISC

Canada Day- Submitted by Jean

In Canada, July 1st is known as Canada Day in remembrance of July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act created a free Canada. The BNA Act established the Canadian federal government, a new country free from Great Britain. Prior to 1982 Canada Day was know as Dominion Day, First of July, Confederation Day, and July the First. Canada Day is celebrated with community parades, family picnics, patriotic concerts and fireworks.

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The National Anthem- Submitted by Sherry

"O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, a century after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée.

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Canadian National Anthem- Submitted by Sherry

"O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's national anthem on July 1, 1980, 100 years after it was first sung on June 24, 1880. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer; French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

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Coat of Arms- Submitted by Sherry

The shield at the centre of the Coat of Arms is the most important part of the design. In heraldry, it is the shield "that tells the story" of a country. In Canada's shield, thefirst and second divisions depict four emblems that symbolize the four founding peoples of Canada. The third makes it distinctly Canadian.

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The Canadian Coat-of-Arms- Submitted by Sherry

During the first decades after Confederation, questions relating to the arms of Canada had not received the attention they deserved. The Royal arms of the United Kingdom were then freely used to identify the offices of the Government of Canada.

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The Great Seal of Canada- Submitted by Sherry

The Great Seal of Canada is used on all state documents such as proclamations and commissions of cabinet ministers, senators, judges and senior government officials.

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Official Tartans of Provinces of Canada- Submitted by Sherry

A tartan is a patterned fabric with designs based on Scottish tartan and colours chosen from provincial symbols. This site shows the various provincial tartan patterns and explains the origin of the colours.

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National Colours of Canada- Submitted by Sherry

History records that in the First Crusade Bohemund I, a Norman lord, had red crosses cut from his mantles and distributed to the 12,000 crusaders, who wore them as a distinctive badge on their garments.

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RCMP Musical Ride- Submitted by Sherry

The Musical Ride consists of RCMP members who have at least two years of policing experience and have volunteered for Musical Ride service.

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The Floral Emblems of Canada- Submitted by Sherry

Each province of Canada has its own floral emblem (official flower) and other emblems from nature.

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Information About Canada- Submitted by Christi

Canada's Landmass

Canada is the world's second-largest country (9 970 610 km2), surpassed only by the Russian Federation.

Capital

Ottawa, in the province of Ontario.

Provinces and Territories

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories, each with its own capital city (in brackets): Alberta (Edmonton); British Columbia (Victoria); Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown); Manitoba (Winnipeg), New Brunswick (Fredericton); Nova Scotia (Halifax); Ontario (Toronto); Québec (Quebec City); Saskatchewan (Regina); Newfoundland and Labrador (St. John's); Northwest Territories (Yellowknife); Yukon Territory (Whitehorse) and Nunavut (Iqaluit).

Geography

Diversity is the keynote of Canada's geography, which includes fertile plains suitable for agriculture, vast mountain ranges, lakes and rivers. Wilderness forests give way to Arctic tundra in the Far North.

Climate

There are many climatic variations in this huge country, ranging from the permanently frozen icecaps north of the 70th parallel to the luxuriant vegetation of British Columbia's west coast. Canada's most populous regions, which lie in the country's south along the U.S. border, enjoy four distinct seasons. Here daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35ºC and higher, while lows of -25ºC are not uncommon in winter. More moderate temperatures are the norm in spring and fall.

Parks and Historic Sites

Canada maintains 38 national parks, which cover about 2% of the country's landmass. Banff, located on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, is the oldest (est. 1885); Tuktut Nogait, in the Northwest Territories, was established in 1996. There are 836 national historic sites, designated in honour of people, places and events that figure in the country's history. Canada also has over 1000 provincial parks and nearly 50 territorial parks.

Mountain Ranges

Canada's terrain incorporates a number of mountain ranges: the Torngats, Appalachians and Laurentians in the east; the Rocky, Coastal and Mackenzie ranges in the west; and Mount St. Elias and the Pelly Mountains in the north. At 6050 m, Mount Logan in the Yukon is Canada's tallest peak.

Lakes

There are some two million lakes in Canada, covering about 7.6% of the Canadian landmass. The main lakes, in order of the surface area located in Canada (many large lakes are traversed by the Canada-U.S. border), are Huron, Great Bear, Superior, Great Slave, Winnipeg, Erie and Ontario. The largest lake situated entirely in Canada is Great Bear Lake (31 326 km2) in the Northwest Territories.

Rivers

The St. Lawrence (3058 km long) is Canada's most important river, providing a seaway for ships from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The longest Canadian river is the Mackenzie, which flows 4241 km through the Northwest Territories. Other large watercourses include the Yukon and the Columbia (parts of which flow through U.S. territory), the Nelson, the Churchill, and the Fraser--along with major tributaries such as the Saskatchewan, the Peace, the Ottawa, the Athabasca, and the Liard.

Time Zones

Canada has six time zones. The easternmost, in Newfoundland, is three hours and 30 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The other time zones are the Atlantic, the Eastern, the Central, the Rocky Mountain and, farthest west, the Pacific, which is eight hours behind GMT.

Political System

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic parliament. The Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, consists of the House of Commons, whose members are elected, and the Senate, whose members are appointed. On average, members of Parliament are elected every four years.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Canada's constitution contains a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which sets out certain fundamental freedoms and rights that neither Parliament nor any provincial legislature acting alone can change. These include equality rights, mobility rights, and legal rights, together with freedoms such as speech, association, and peaceful assembly.

National Emblem

The maple leaf has been associated with Canada for some time: in 1868, it figured in coats of arms granted to Ontario and Quebec; and in both world wars, it appeared on regimental badges. Since the 1965 introduction of the Canadian flag, the maple leaf has become the country's most important symbol.

The Canadian Flag

Several people participated in designing the Canadian flag. Jacques St. Cyr contributed the stylized maple leaf, George Bist the proportions, and Dr. Gunter Wyszechi the colouration. The final determination of all aspects of the new flag was made by a 15-member parliamentary committee, which is formally credited with the design. After lengthy debate, the new flag was adopted by Parliament. It officially became the national flag on February 15, 1965, now recognized as Canada's Flag Day.

National Anthem

O Canada was composed in 1880, with music by Calixa Lavallée and words by Judge Adolphe-Basile Routhier. In 1908, Robert Stanley Weir wrote the translation on which the present English lyric is based. On July 1, 1980, a century after being sung for the first time, O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem.

Currency

The Canadian dollar is divided into 100 cents.

Population

As of the summer of 1996, Canada's population was over 30 million.

Main Cities

As of July 1, 1996, the leading Canadian cities are Toronto (4.44 million), Montreal (3.36 million), Vancouver (1.89 million), Ottawa-Hull, the National Capital Region (1.03 million).

Distribution of Population

A large majority of Canadians, 77 percent, live in cities and towns.

Family Size

At the time of the 1996 national census, the average family size was 3.1, including 1.2 children.

Living Standard

Canada ranks sixth in the world in standard of living (measured according to gross domestic product per capita), behind only the United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, and Japan. Canada's rank among nations tends to rise even higher in assessments that consider GDP per capita along with other factors (e.g., life expectancy, education) that contribute to "quality of life."

Health Care and Social Security

Basic health care, with the exception of dental services, is free at the point of delivery. And prescription drugs are in most cases dispensed without charge to people over 65 and social aid recipients. Canada also has an extensive social security network, including an old age pension, a family allowance, unemployment insurance and welfare.

Aboriginal Peoples

In 1996, about 3% of Canadians belonged to one or more of the three Aboriginal groups recognized by the Constitution Act, 1982: North American Indian, Métis, or Inuit. Of this percentage, about 69% are North American Indian, 26% Métis, and 5% Inuit.

Religion

According to the 1991 census, more than four-fifths of Canadians are Christian, with Catholics accounting for about 47% of the population and Protestants about 36%. Other religions include Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. Some 12.5%, more than any single denomination except Roman Catholic, have no religious affiliation at all.

Languages

Canada has two official languages: English, the mother tongue of about 59% of Canadians; and French, the first language of 23% of the population. A full 18% have either more than one mother tongue or a mother tongue other than English or French, such as Chinese, Italian, German, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Ukrainian, Arabic, Dutch, Tagalog, Greek, Vietnamese, Cree, Inuktitut, or other languages.

The Official Languages Act makes French and English the official languages of Canada and provides for special measures aimed at enhancing the vitality and supporting the development of English and French linguistic minority communities. Canada's federal institutions reflect the equality of its two official languages by offering bilingual services.

Ethnic Origin

In 1996, about 19% of the population reported "Canadian" as their single ethnic origin, with 17% reporting British Isles-only ancestry and 9% French-only ancestry. About 10% reported a combination of British Isles, French, or Canadian origin, with another 16% reporting an ancestry of either British Isles, French or Canadian in combination with some other origin. Some 28% reported origins other than the British Isles, French or Canadian.

Education

The educational system varies from province to province and includes six to eight years of elementary school, four or five years of secondary school and three or four years at the university undergraduate level. The 1996 census revealed that, among Canadians aged 15 and over, about 23% had graduated from secondary school, some 9% had bachelor's degrees, and about 6% had advanced degrees.

Sports

Canada's most popular sports include swimming, ice hockey, cross-country and alpine skiing, baseball, tennis, basketball and golf. Ice hockey and lacrosse are Canada's national sports.

Main Natural Resources

The principal natural resources are natural gas, oil, gold, coal, copper, iron ore, nickel, potash, uranium and zinc, along with wood and water.

Leading Industries

These include automobile manufacturing, pulp and paper, iron and steel work, machinery and equipment manufacturing, mining, extraction of fossil fuels, forestry and agriculture.

Exports

Canada's leading exports are automobile vehicles and parts, machinery and equipment, high-technology products, oil, natural gas, metals, and forest and farm products.

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