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6 Canada Day Activities and a Bannock Recipe!

4 min read

We've prepared six fun and educational Canada Day activities for your child.

You can do them anytime this summer.

But first, some fun facts!

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1 each year.
It marks the anniversary of Confederation, when the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick joined together on July 1, 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada (the original name for Canada at the time).
The holiday was originally called Dominion Day.
The name was officially changed from Dominion Day to Canada Day in 1982.
Canada is home to a population of about 40 million people, and many different cultures and communities live here, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world.
Canada Day is also a time to reflect on Canada’s colonial history and its impact on Indigenous Peoples and Nations who were here long before Confederation.

For more information: https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dominion

Activity 1 - Make a Canadian Flag

Version 1: Age - 18 months – 3 years

Materials Needed:

White cardstock or paper
Red paper
Glue stick
Scissors
Optional: craft stick or straw

Adult Preparation:

Prepare the white cardstock or paper as the base for the flag.
Cut red paper into rectangles for the two side panels of the flag.
Cut a red maple leaf shape or use this template
Have an example of the Canadian flag available for the child to reference during the activity.

Instructions:

Look at the example of the Canadian flag together and talk about the flag, i.e. the colours, shapes, etc.
Invite the child to glue the flag pieces onto the base paper.
Once dry, use the flag as decoration on July 1st to help celebrate Canada Day.

Optional: Attach the completed flag to a craft stick or straw so it can be held, waved or displayed more easily.

Tips:

It’s okay if the flag pieces don’t end up in the exact right spot or if the child wants to glue multiple maple leaves to their flag. Children this age are more focused on the process of an activity rather than the end product.
It can also be helpful to complete your own version of the craft alongside the child, if enough materials are available. This can support engagement, model the process and make the activity feel more connected and collaborative.

Version 2: Age - 3 years and up

Materials Needed:

White cardstock or paper
Red paper
Child-safe scissors
Glue stick
Optional: crayons, markers, paint, etc.
Optional: craft stick or straw

Adult Preparation:

Have an example of the Canadian flag available for the child to reference.
Set up the workspace with all necessary materials.

Instructions:

Look at the example of the Canadian flag together.
Invite the child to create their own version of the flag:
Cut out the different parts of the flag (two red side sections and a maple leaf) and glue them onto the base paper. Tip: Use the Maple leaf template from Version 1.
Create the flag using their choice of art materials (crayons, markers, paint, etc.).
Once dry, use the flag as decoration on July 1st to help celebrate Canada Day.

Optional: Attach the completed flag to a craft stick or straw so it can be held, waved or displayed more easily.

Tips:

Even at this age, it can be helpful to complete your own version of the activity alongside the child - not to demonstrate the “right” way to do it, but to encourage them to stay involved in the process, spark interest and create a shared experience while they explore the materials.

If you’re looking for an even easier activity, click here to download our Canada Day Colouring Pages

Activity 2 - Language Cards: Canadian Landmarks

Ages: 2 years and up

These materials can be used in different ways, depending on your child’s language development and interest in Canadian geography.

Purpose for younger children: to build and enrich vocabulary by introducing Canadian landmarks through visual recognition and repetition.

Purpose for older children: to support early literacy skills, visual discrimination, and beginning reading through matching and labelling activities.

Click here to download the Canadian Landmark Language Cards & Instructions

Activity 3 - Clothespin Cards

Ages: 3 years and up

In a Montessori classroom, an activity like this would be done with clothespins, where the child clips the clothespin over the correct number symbol.

This is a great way to add fine motor development to the activity.

You can also use counters to cover each number or circle the correct number with a pencil or marker.

Click here to download the Canada Day Clothespin Cards

Activity 4 - Cutting Work

Ages: 3 years and up

These strips offer cutting work with a variety of lines and directions to explore, featuring Canadian symbols.

Children can practice cutting along different lines to develop control and scissor skills.

Click here to download the Canada Day Cutting Work

Activity 5 - Lacing Cards & Hole Punch Activity

Ages: 3.5 years and up

This Canada Day lacing cards and hole punch activity offers 2 activities in 1 to support fine motor development.

Children can use a hole punch to create holes in the Canadian symbols, then lace through the holes.

Click here to download the instructions and lacing cards.

Activity 6 - Recipe - Jodi’s Best Bannock

Bannock is a type of flatbread that has long been part of Indigenous food traditions across Turtle Island (North America), with recipes and methods varying from Nation to Nation and family to family.

This recipe comes from Jodi Robson, a member of the Okanese First Nation and is of Cree and Nakoda heritage: https://canadianfoodfocus.org/recipes/jodis-best-bannock/#recipe