FOR THE MILL

Présentateur jeunesse
Educational activities
Resource Kit for Teachers HIGH SCHOOL
GRIST
FOR
THE MILL
CONTENT
OF THE KIT
• Welcome to Boréalis!
• Objective of the Kit
• Themes and General Description of the Workshops
• Specific Description of the Activities
• Useful Information
Photo : Olivier Croteau
• Suggestions of Classroom Activities
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WELCOME TO BOREALIS
Boréalis, the interpretation centre on the history of the pulp and paper industry, is an original cultural experience
in Trois-Rivières!
Through its permanent exhibition, educational programs and activities, Boréalis sheds light on the appropriation
of the boreal forest and the Saint-Maurice River by humans and brings the great saga of logging and the pulp
and paper industry, icons of Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region’s identity, back to life.
Boréalis’ educational mission is to give children a discovery-filled experience while making them aware of the
challenges of tomorrow. Focusing on social studies, science, art and the environment, Boréalis’ educational
program is in line with the Quebec school curriculum.
OBJECTIVE OF THE KIT
THEMES
The objective of this document is to provide assistance before, during and after your visit to Boréalis with your
class. The kit proposes simple and effective in-class preliminary and follow-up activities, practical information
about the museum, relations and activities with the PFÉQ and a description of each activity.
The main themes of the activities at Boréalis revolve around pulp and paper. The children will learn
about the trades of the lumberjacks, log drivers, paper mill workers (forest, river, tools, life in the camps,
black spruce, paper machine), the history of paper, the recipe for paper, and the importance of water
in the paper manufacturing process. In addition, these themes will raise students’ awareness about the
challenges surrounding sustainable development.
OVERVIEW
Each activity takes about 60 minutes and is organized to accommodate up to 30 students per group. The
children discover the world of pulp and paper and Boréalis through fun and artistic games, always under the
supervision of an experienced facilitator.
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Photo : Olivier Croteau
HIGH
SCHOOL
PAPERMAKERS WANTED
Adapted tour of the permanent exhibition
A visit filled with fascinating anecdotes that you won’t forget. Come discover life in the mills and the camps
through the workers’ own accounts.
WORKING IN THE SHADOWS
Discovery activity
In the dark, armed with nothing but an ultraviolet flashlight, come and learn about the underground water reservoir and its century old vaults still in almost their original condition. These remains of a bygone era are full of
information and clues that you must discover.
DEPRESSION COUNCIL
Debate activity
It is 1937, and the owners of the major paper mills of Trois-Rivières have agreed to meet the workers’
representatives. The students will play the role of a figure from this period during a debate where they will
discuss working conditions and defend their party’s interests.
FIRST SHIFT
Discovery activity
During this stimulating urban tour boasting soundscapes and workers’ accounts, students will see what it
was like to be a new employee of Canadian International Paper, the largest paper mill in the world at the
time. During their first shift, your students will discover the mill’s operations, its nooks and crannies, and
living conditions in the neighbourhood and savour the anecdotes told by papermakers of the day. A Unique
Experience.
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USEFUL
INFORMATION
Your Contribution Is Essential
Teachers and adults accompanying the school groups play an important role in the success of the activities. It is
your responsibility to arrive on time, make sure the students respect the safety rules and assure group discipline.
Your collaboration and assistance from the beginning to the end of the visit are essential for encouraging
student participation during the activities and helping them enjoy a unique experience.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Parking
There is a drop-off area for your bus so the students do not have to walk too far.
Lunch Area
If you notify our staff, you are welcome to eat at BORÉALIS. Please inform your group that no microwaves or
refrigerators are available. Lunches should be planned accordingly. When making the reservation, it is important
to mention how many students are in your group.
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PREPARING
FOR THE VISIT
Afin que vos élèves tirent le maximum de leur visite à Boréalis, nous vous suggérons de les préparer à cette
sortie. Voici quelques suggestions d’activités à réaliser en classe.
1. “What is Boréalis?” Discover it with your students.
Is this their first visit to Boréalis? Discuss their museum experiences and then use the pictures on the following
20 min. pages to discover the site and its historical vocation.
a. With your class, define what a museum is and what an interpretation centre is, and what can be found there.
Boréalis is an interpretation centre where you can learn more about the history of paper making, an invention
that dates back nearly 2,000 years. Like a museum, it contains interesting collections of artifacts, as well as
original mechanisms and remains that have been carefully preserved.
b. Pass the pictures around and talk about the place they are going to visit and what they will see and do
at Boréalis.
Boréalis is a building that is part of the City of Trois-Rivières’ industrial heritage. In 2010, the dilapidated building
was converted and turned into a museum (see photos).
Boréalis is a former water filtration plant. This means it took water from the river and cleaned it. We are going to
visit it to learn why water is so important in the paper making process. Et aussi comment il se fabrique!
You need wood and water to make paper. In order to make paper, you make a wood paste by mixing water and
wood pulp. You need up to ten litres of water to make a single sheet of paper... Water is a precious resource that
must be preserved. This is why it is important to recycle paper!
Three enormous pumps connected to motors pumped the water into the basement (see photo). These pumps
pushed it into the upper level and poured it into the leaching basins (see photo). The purified water was then
stored in the reservoir (see photo).
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Photo : Michel Julien
PERMANENT EXHIBITION
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Photo : Olivier Croteau
RESERVOIR
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Photo : Olivier Croteau
PAPER MACHINE
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Photo : Olivier Croteau
PUMPING ROOM
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Photo : Michel Julien
WATER INTAKE
CONTINUE THE EXPERIENCE
AFTER THE VISIT!
Once back in the classroom, we will propose some follow-up activities that will allow your students to use what
they learned during their visit to Boréalis.
1. Debate and Discussion
Following their visit to Boréalis, your students will have heard about various themes you can use for a small
debate or discussion. It is up to you to choose the format that corresponds best to your expectations and
your group (debate between two teams, open discussion, short essay on the theme, etc.) To help you, the
following pages contain photos of the filtration plant’s rehabilitation into the Boréalis museum.
We suggest the following list of themes:
• Deindustrialization and its consequences
• Rehabilitating an industrial building
• The use of paper VS new technologies
• The future of paper
• Plastic bags/cloth bags/paper bags: advantages and disadvantages
BEFORE WORK
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30 min.
DURING CONSTRUCTION
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2. Quiz Do You Remember?
Facilitation Instructions:
Photocopy the following sheet and give a copy to each student.
Answer each question in a few lines.
1. Why did lumberjacks cut trees during the winter?
2. Why was Trois-Rivières a strategic city for setting up paper mills?
3. How did the CIP filter water during the 1950s (filtration steps)?
4. What were working conditions like in the paper mills?
5. What were living conditions like in the lumber camps?
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45 min.
6. What risks did the log drivers face?
7. What were the felts on the paper machines used for and how were they reused when removed from
the machine?
8. In your opinion, what is the future of paper?
9. Why is the old reservoir called “the vaults”?
10. Bonus question: In the 1950s, Trois-Rivières was the capital of what?
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Photo : Olivier Croteau
CONTACT
MÉLANIE BRISEBOIS
[email protected]
Tel.: 819 372-4614 (1242)