Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site of Canada

Elementary School Educational Program

Discover and Have Fun!

The Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site of Canada, located in the Coaticook Valley 20 kilometres from Sherbrooke, commemorates this Canadian Prime Minister (1948 to 1957), in Compton. In the house where he was born, and in the general store run by his father, Jean-Baptiste Moïse St. Laurent, visitors discover the day-to-day life of an Eastern Townships family from 1882 to the 1950s as well as society in the area at the turn of the 20th century. A multimedia show goes back over the life and work of this great man.

Discover our Elementary School Activities by downloading our leaflet (PDF, 1.99 MB)

A Complete Educational Program

• Intended for all elementary cycles;
• Designed to meet teachers' pedagogical requirements;
• Detailed teaching guide;
• Easy-to-use workbook for students;
• Student evaluation grid;
• Available in French and English;
• Each learning situation involves a visit to the Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site of Canada.

Consistent with the Quebec Education Program

• Five complete and varied learning situations designed in three phases: preparation, realization and integration.
• Activities that are simple, recreational and exciting, introducing students to concepts of the past and of change in their society and the area around them.
• Subject-specific and cross-curricular applications.
• Broad Areas of Learning:
  • Citizenship and Community
  • Environmental Awareness and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
• Subject Areas:
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual Arts
  • English Language Arts
• Duration: Three to six periods per learning situation, including the visit.

FIRST CYCLE
Yesterday and Today

Broad Areas of Learning: Citizenship and Community

In Grades 1 and 2, the learning situation called My Objects uses material culture to introduce students to concepts of the past and of change in their society and the area around them.

1. In class, students use old photos to identify what has changed in the area around them over the last century.
2. In J.B.M. St. Laurent's general store, they play the roles of people from the past and buy the items they need.
3. Back in class, they compare the old items and their present-day counterparts to figure out what has changed.

FIRST CYCLE
Yesterday and Today

Broad Areas of Learning: Citizenship and Community

In Grade 1, the learning situation called My Needs makes students aware of their essential needs by observing how these have changed over time.

1. In class, students figure out their basic needs.
2. While investigating the St. Laurent house, they spot indications of these needs from the last century in each room.
3. Back in class, they note that basic needs remain essentially the same over different eras.

FIRST CYCLE
Yesterday and Today

Broad Areas of Learning: Citizenship and Community

In Grade 2, the learning situation called My Everyday Life enables students to understand that change is something that occurs gradually over time.

1. In class, students use old photos to figure out the changes that have occurred around them and observe that this is a gradual process.
2. While investigating the St. Laurent house, they learn about day-to-day life around 1900.
3. Back in class, they assess the scope of the changes that have occurred over the last century.

SECOND CYCLE
Conserving Yesterday, Consuming Today

Broad Areas of Learning: Environmental Awareness and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

The learning situation called Conserving Yesterday, Consuming Today makes students aware of the concept of consumption, how it has changed over time, and itsimpact on the environment.

1. In class, students explore the current nature of consumption and become aware of the fact that they themselves play a major role in it.
2. In J.B.M. St. Laurent's general store, they discover consumption from 1900. They also take part in a mystery game in the St. Laurent house and discover day-to-day life there from 1882 to the 1950s.
3. Back in class, they use the three "R's" (reduce, reuse and recycle) to figure out the effect of consumption on the environment in 1900 and today.

THIRD CYCLE
I am a Responsible Citizen

Broad Areas of Learning: Citizenship and Community Life

The learning situation called I am a Responsible Citizen introduces students to the three basic aspects of life in a society: democracy, rules, and a citizen's rights and duties.

1. In class, students become aware of the fact that these rules exist in every aspect of their lives and are indispensable to the functioning of society. They become familiar with human rights.
2. In the warehouse of the general store, a multimedia show uses the career of Louis S. St. Laurent to make them aware of the existence of democracy in Canada. They also investigate in the St. Laurent house to discover the day-to-day life from 1882 to the 1950s.
3. Back in class, they are introduced to the exercise of democracy in their society and elsewhere, and they observe some of the variations.

How to Participate?

Reservation and information: (819) 835-5448

You will receive the Teaching Guide and the Student Workbook for the required learning situation on CD-ROM, ready to print.

Our Contact Information

6790 Route Louis-S.-St-Laurent
Compton, Quebec
J0B 1L0
Telephone: (819) 835-5448
Fax: (819) 835-9101
Email: parcscanada-que@pc.gc.ca
Website: www.pc.gc.ca/st-laurent

Schedule

Daily from mid-May to end of October

Other activities close by

• Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook
• Verger Le Gros Pierre (in French only)
• Parc Découverte Nature
• Camp Val-Estrie – Espaces Jeunesse (in French only)
• Mines Capelton (in French only)

The Louis S. St. Laurent National Historic Site is inscribed in the Répertoire de ressources culture-éducation (a directory of cultural resources for schools) of the The Culture in the School program of the Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (Mels) and the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine (MCCCF). This program enables you to request financial assistance for the transport of students.

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