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Researching the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada
  Recherche sur la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg Lieu historique national du Canada

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INTRODUCTION

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In June 1999, ninety grade 7 students from Cornwallis Junior High School, in Halifax visited the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. Along with their teachers, they were here to learn about specific aspects of life in the community and to talk with the interpretive staff about living in the past.

The students were working on the Louisbourg project from mid April. They came to Louisbourg having done basic research and developed questions about specific aspects of life in the 18th century. The day spent at the historic site was focused and successful. It was also a great deal of fun.

Returning to school, the students prepared a visual and spoken presentation of their research. Some students developed a performance element including arts, dance and music, while others worked with models and static exhibit formats.

The exhibition of the Louisbourg research project was held in the gymnasium at Cornwallis school and was open to the public. The response was extremely positive.

This was the sixth year in succession that Cornwallis had come to Louisbourg to conduct research on colonial life in the 18th century. For the past four years, students have prepared presentations as part of a broad interdisciplinary unit. Teachers involved in this project have been Michael Coughlan, Susan Wilkie, John Figg and Allan Gaskin. The teachers were extremely pleased with the amount of information the students retain of their visit to Louisbourg because of this imaginative approach to understanding the past.

• For pictures click here