The History of the Canadian Navy in New Brunswick Lesson Overview In this lesson, students will research the history of the Canadian Navy s presence in New Brunswick. They will examine the role played by corvettes on the North Atlantic convoy routes. In addition, students will learn about the province s main shipbuilding yard and the construction of modern day ships for the Canadian Navy. Finally, they will develop an appreciation of the modern Canadian Navy by studying present-day ships that have a connection to the province. Grade Level 9-12 (secondary school) Time Required This lesson requires three class periods. Curriculum Connection (Province/Territory and course) Atlantic Provinces Curriculum for Social Studies: Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET): New Brunswick Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required: Computers LCD projector Reference maps and atlases Student Activity #1: Brainstorming Student Activity #2: HMCS Brunswicker The Stone Frigate Student Activity #3: The Battle of the Atlantic Student Activity #4: Ships of Yesterday and Today Student Activity #5: The Navy Today Student Activity #6: Building a Navy Student Assessment Questions Internet Access Websites: The Royal Canadian Navy in St. John http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/rcn/index.htm The Canadian Navy Canadian Geographic Magazine http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/navy/ Heroes Remember Victor Pellerin Veterans Affairs Canada http://www.vacacc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/hrp/hrp_detail&media_id=2 205 The Battle of the Atlantic Veterans Affairs Canada http://www.vacacc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/canada2/batatl
The Royal Canadian Navy and the Battle of the Atlantic Canadian War Museum http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/explore/military-history/dispatches/the-royalcanadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945 HMCS Sackville Tour Canadian Naval Memorial Trust http://www.hmcssackville-cnmt.ns.ca/tour.html Canadian Navy http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/cms/0/0_eng.asp Halifax Class Patrol Frigate Haze Gray & Underway Naval History and Photography http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/current/halifax/ HMCS Sackville: 1941-2000 http://www.cbrnp.com/rnp/flower/articles/sackville.htm HMCS Fredericton (K 245) http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/867.html Building the Flower Class Corvette: The Smaller Ships Were Vital in World War Two http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/building_the_corvette_ship National Defence and Canadian Forces http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/index.asp Canadian Navy: HMCS Fredericton News and Events http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton/2/2-s_eng.asp Main Objective: Students will identify the impact of the Canadian Navy on the province of New Brunswick. They will develop an understanding of the economic impact of naval ship construction by comparing vessels and personnel from the Second World War and the present. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Access information from print and online sources; Understand the historical significance of the Canadian Navy s role in New Brunswick; Understand the role of the corvettes in the movement of goods and men during the Second World War;
Understand the economic impact of naval ship construction upon the province; Understand how modern technology has changed the role of sailors in the Canadian Navy; Understand how the life of a Canadian sailor is similar to the life of sailors in the past.
The Lesson Teacher Activity Student Activity Introduction Preparation: Become familiar with the websites that will be used for research in the lesson. Use a website such as The Royal Canadian Navy in St. John to gather historical information on the connection between the province of New Brunswick and the Canadian Navy. For background information on the formation of the Canadian Navy visit the Canadian Geographic website and go to the Navy Centennial section. Locate a short summary of the events leading to the outbreak of the Second World War as well as a document on the early years of the conflict. Pay particular attention to the German efforts to boycott Britain by using the Wolf Packs (U-Boats) during the Battle of the Atlantic. With Students: 1.Begin by inquiring: 1.Respond to questions. Why would New Brunswick be geographically and strategically important to Canada in the formation of the Canadian Navy? What economic benefits would come to New Brunswick due to the naval presence? 2. Distribute copies of Student Activity #1: Brainstorming and instruct students (either individually or in groups) to complete the web. 3. Discuss: What made New Brunswick an important location for the Canadian Navy both before and at the start of the Second World War? 2. Complete the brainstorming web. This information is the starting point for the lesson. 3. Participate in a discussion of the geographic factors that made New Brunswick an important location to the Canadian Navy in the past.
Why would many young New Brunswickers want to join the Canadian Navy at the start of the Second World War? What economic benefits flowed to New Brunswick both during and after the Second World War because of the naval presence? During the discussion, students have the opportunity to Demonstrate an awareness of the historical significance of the Second World War. Identify the dangers faced by young sailors involved in getting the necessary resources from North America to Europe. Formulate conclusions about the role played by New Brunswick during this time. Lesson Development 1. Distribute Student Activity #2: HMCS Brunswicker the Stone Frigate for students to complete. 2. Discuss the strategic location of New Brunswick and how this was a determining factor for the Canadian Navy to locate themselves in Saint John. Explore the concept of a Naval Reserve. Discuss the historical period of the Second World War and the impact it had on military and civilian life in the province. 3. Distribute Student Activity #3: The Battle of the Atlantic. Provide background information about the North Atlantic Convoy System. Ask: Why do you think so many young people would risk their lives 1. Complete Activity #2. Use the website to obtain information on the historical role played by New Brunswick in the development of a Canadian Navy, particularly the Naval Reserve. 2. Participate in class discussion. 3. Complete Activity #3 and participate in the class discussion.
during the Battle of the Atlantic? How did the people who served at home by waiting for their loved ones feel? 4. Instruct students to present their written responses to the class. 5. Distribute Student Activity #4: Ships of Yesterday and Today for students to complete. Assist with completion as required. 4. Share written responses with the class. 5. Complete Activity #4 using the website links provided for the necessary information. Participate in class discussion to check for understanding. Initiate a class discussion to check for understanding: of how modern technology has changed the tasks performed by a member of the Canadian Navy. of similarities between life at sea for today s sailors and their wartime counterparts. 6. Pass out Student Activity #5: The Navy Today for completion. Direct students to: 6. Complete Activity #5. Present findings to the class and discuss conclusions. give examples of the duties and missions of the modern Canadian Navy. discuss if and how the Canadian Navy will continue to be important in the future. Ask: Will we still need the Canadian Navy 50 years from now? 100 years from now? How will the Canadian Navy of the future be different from today s Navy? 7. Distribute Student Activity #6: Building a Navy for students to complete. Instruct students to write about the economic benefits of shipbuilding. Inform students that a debate on their findings will follow. 7. Complete Activity #6.
Conclusion Assessment 1. Distribute the assessment questions and collect them upon completion. 2. Organize a debate on the economic impact of shipbuilding in New Brunswick. 1. Complete assessment questions. 2. Debate the topic and create a list of pros and cons. Evaluate the activity sheets, assessment questions, and participation in class discussions and debate. Lesson Extension Research other places in Canada that have built ships for the Canadian Navy. Compare their experience and degree of involvement with that of Saint John and New Brunswick. The National Film Board produced a series of films for the general public during the Second World War. The National Film Board produced a series of films for the general public during the Second World War. Ask students to review some of these movies that are presented online. Examples are http://www.nfb.ca/film/action_stations/ and http://www.nfb.ca/film/atlantic_patrol/. Note the dramatic and sober tone of the narration. Students can discuss the idea of propaganda and its use to inform and motivate the general public. Students can interview someone who is serving or has served with the Canadian Navy. Another interesting ship that had a connection to the province was HMCS Saint John. This ship took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944 and torpedoed a German submarine, U-309, off the coast of Scotland in 1945. Students can conduct independent research on the ship. Link to Canadian National Standards for Geography Essential Element #2: Places and Regions Physical and human processes shape places and regions The importance of places and regions to individual and social identity Changes in places and regions over time Critical issues and problems of places and regions Essential Element #4: Human Systems Cooperation and conflict in the division and control of Earth s surface Economic development by world regions, country and regions within countries Essential Element #6: The Uses of Geography
Influence of geographical features on the evolution of significant historic events and movements Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic Information Systematically locate and gather geographic information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. Systematically assess the value and use of geographic information. Geographic Skill #4: Analyzing Geographic Information Make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic representations. Geographic Skill # 5: Answering Geographic questions Formulate valid generalizations from the results of various kinds of geographic inquiry. Evaluate the answers to geographic questions. Apply geographic models, generalizations and theories to the analysis, interpretation and presentation of geographic information.
Student Activity #1: Brainstorming Instructions: Use the brainstorming web below to record your thoughts about the connection between the province of New Brunswick and the Canadian Navy. Geographic factors impacting the Navy s role in New Brunswick The Navy & New Brunswick Economic Impact on New Brunswick Historic role played by NB in the development of the Canadian Navy
Student Activity #2: HMCS Brunswicker The Stone Frigate The Canadian Navy has had a presence in the city of Saint John since 1923. Research this connection using the website below: http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/heritage/rcn/index.htm 1. List five (5) interesting facts that you discovered about the presence of the Canadian Navy in Saint John before the Second World War. What is a Reserve Unit? Why do you think Saint John was chosen as a site for a Reserve Unit? Does the Canadian Navy still have Reserve Units today? 2. Imagine that you are a young civilian living in Saint John during the Second World War. Write a three-day entry in your diary describing what life was like in the city during wartime. 3. Veterans Affairs Canada has published an online resource called Heroes Remember. One of the stories is about Mr. Victor Pellerin. Read his story from the website below and write a paragraph that describes what you think young men like Victor would have felt during the Second World War. Website: http://www.vacacc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/hrp/hrp_detail&media_id=2205
Student Activity #3: The Battle of the Atlantic Task #1: Read an account of the Battle of the Atlantic from Veterans Affairs Canada at http://www.vacacc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/canada2/batatl OR The Canadian War Museum at http://www.civilization.ca/cwm/explore/military- history/dispatches/the-royal-canadian-navy-and-the-battle-of-the-atlantic-1939-1945. Task #2: Navy Convoy, Second World War Source: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?pgnm=tce¶ms=a1a RTA0000379 Imagine that you were aboard a Canadian corvette escorting convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. Write an account in your diary describing the hard work and the dangers that you faced. Describe some of the feelings that would be going through your mind during this period. You may imagine instead that you are a loved one of someone serving at sea (a parent, sibling, wife or sweetheart). Write about your feelings and concerns. Task #3 Take a tour of HMCS Sackville. Use the website http://www.hmcssackvillecnmt.ns.ca/tour.html to find a virtual view of the ship.
Student Activity #4: Ships of Yesterday and Today Task: Use the following websites to complete chart below. http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/cms/0/0_eng.asp http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/current/halifax/ http://www.cbrnp.com/rnp/flower/articles/sackville.htm http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/867.html http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/building_the_corvette_ship Launched when and where HMCS Fredericton (Then)(First of the name) HMCS Fredericton (Now) (Second of the name) Measurements Armaments and Countermeasures Speed Complement Area of Operation Daily Life of Sailors (Similarities and Differences)
Student Activity #5: The Navy Today Each ship of the fleet has its own website under the Canadian Forces website (www.forces.gc.ca). Open the News And Events section of HMCS Fredericton (http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton/2/2-s_eng.asp) to help you answer the following questions: 1. What modern day tasks do Canada s naval forces undertake? 2. Tours at sea can be long in duration. What effect do you think this has on sailors? 3. Why is it important for HMCS Fredericton crew members to be involved with volunteer activities outside their official duties? 4. What are the effects of these volunteer activities? Student Activity #6: Building a Navy Source: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton/7/7-s_eng.asp?keyword=[05-337 Nine of the twelve ships of the Halifax Class Frigate Program were constructed at Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd. in Saint John and three ships were constructed at Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec. The photos above were taken during the construction of HMCS Fredericton. Name 10 jobs that would have been needed during the construction of these ships. What economic benefits besides direct jobs would have come to New Brunswick due to this project? The late 1990s saw Saint John Shipbuilding left with little work after the Halifax Class frigates were completed. Finally, in 2003, it closed its doors. Outline the benefits and costs for a shipyard in obtaining a large project such as the Frigate Program.
Assessment Questions Answer the following questions: 1. Why was New Brunswick in an important position geographically in the development of the Canadian Navy? 2. Why has HMCS Brunswicker often been referred to as the stone frigate? 3. What challenges did the young sailors aboard the corvettes face during the Battle of the Atlantic? 4. Many people say the little corvette won the Battle of the Atlantic? Why? 5. How is life aboard a modern naval ship similar to life aboard a wartime corvette? 6. How is life aboard a modern naval ship different to life aboard a wartime corvette? 7. What economic benefits came to the province of New Brunswick due to the construction of naval ships in the shipyard at Saint John? 8. In your own words, describe the importance of the tasks performed by the Canadian Navy.