Classroom Resources

Heritage Fair Guide

For many years, the Heritage Fair has been seen primarily as a Social Studies project—an opportunity for students to explore aspects of history, culture, and heritage. However, one of the challenges with framing it strictly within the Social Studies curriculum is that, in allowing students to pursue topics of personal interest, the project often did not align directly with curriculum outcomes. Some students naturally gravitated toward historical themes, but many others chose topics connected to sports, arts, science, or family heritage that, while valuable, did not always meet Social Studies learning objectives.

By approaching the Heritage Fair as a Language Arts project, however, we can ensure that students are engaging in meaningful research, critical thinking, and effective communication—all of which align with key curriculum outcomes across multiple grade levels. Whether teaching Grade 4 or Grade 9, the skills developed through the Heritage Fair process—researching, summarizing, organizing information, writing, and presenting—are foundational elements of literacy. These are the same skills that students use in essays, speeches, and creative writing projects, making the Heritage Fair a natural fit within the Language Arts classroom.

This guide is designed to help teachers integrate the Heritage Fair into their curriculum in a way that maximizes student engagement and learning. It provides a step-by-step approach to guiding students through topic selection, research, writing, and the creation of their display and presentation. Additionally, it offers practical strategies for hosting a successful Heritage Fair event in your school or community.

By positioning the Heritage Fair within the Language Arts framework, we provide students with the freedom to explore topics they are passionate about while also ensuring they are developing essential literacy skills. This approach not only enhances student motivation but also allows for meaningful cross-curricular connections, fostering a deeper appreciation of both heritage and communication skills.