EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF CHINESE RAILWAY WORKERS
The unit helps students to gain insight into the experiences of the Chinese
who came to Canada in the 1880s to work as labourers on the Canadian Pacific
Railway, and the six decades of discrimination that the Chinese faced
through the Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act despite their contributions
to nation-building.
After completing this unit students will be able to:
• Identify the main characteristics of Chinese settlement in Canada up to
the mid 1950s, and their contributions to Canada’s nationhood, diversity,
and enfranchisement of previously discriminated peoples.
Recommended grade levels:
• The lesson is adaptable to the varying grade levels (K-12).
Curriculum links:
• Recommended: Social Studies, History, Law, Language Arts, Visual Art
The unit consists of:
• One in-class workshop: research and writing/drawing personal reflection on
the history of the Chinese railway workers
Time required:
• Recommended 30-60 minutes, split between research and completing Student
Submission form
Evaluation based on:
• Research
• Presentation of Student Submission form
Materials provided by Rocky Railway High (Closure) website and blog:
• Primary source material (oral histories, public submissions, photographs
and videos from Rocky Railway High (Closure) events and B.C. trip) and
historical materials (regarding railway workers, Head Tax, Chinese Exclusion
Act)
Equipment required:
• In-class or computer lab computers and home computers
• Downloadable Student Submission form
• Drawing and writing materials
Part 1 – Introduction
1. Introduce Rocky Railway High (Closure) website to students, explaining
what the project is about.
2. Class discussion on students' prior knowledge of Chinese Canadian
immigration and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
3. Students briefly review the website online. Alternatively, if computers
are not available, hand out printed pages of website pages.
4. Class discussion on what they learned from the brief review. The
following questions may be useful:
• Was there a surprising piece of information in the website or about the
Rocky Railway High (Closure) trip, and why?
• Who were the Chinese railroad workers?
• What was life like for the Chinese railroad workers during the railway
building period and afterwards?
• What challenges did the Chinese railroad workers experience? What about
their descendants’ challenges?
• How did the Chinese railroad workers and their descendants help shape
British Columbia and Canada?
Part 2 – Research Reflection and Sharing
1. Hand out Student Submission form.
2. Students are invited to express their own thoughts on their research by
writing, drawing, collaging, etc.
3. Students present their Student Submission Form in groups or to the class,
and can share something new that they learned from the research and
assignment with the class and get feedback.
4. Collect the Student Submission forms, and submit to Rocky Railway High
(Closure) by November 15th, 2011 either by emailing scanned submissions
(info@rockyrailwayhigh.com) or by mail (5803 Leslie St. #348, North York, ON
M2H1J8).