Divide students up into groups and assign each group a different subtopic to research. For example, some of them might investigate the structure of wooden canoes, while others look into the purpose of the very first canoes. The students will have to conduct research on the topic, write a report and create visual aids to accompany their topic. Have each group present the information that they found to the rest of the class.
Allow students to see how canoes work by going on a field trip. Be sure to check for any age or weight guidelines that the company has before booking the trip. In addition to actually going for a ride in a canoe, use the opportunity to teach the students about the areas that they pass. There may be connections to history on the grounds or different types of flora and fauna that relate to their science studies.
Provide students with the necessary materials to create their own canoes and allow them some creative freedom. For example, some students might choose to cut a one-dimensional canoe out of construction paper and decorate it in the style of a particular Native American tribe. Other students may be inclined to use birch bark and glue to construct a three-dimensional canoe complete with seats, a little set of oars and small figurines to sit in the seats.
Assign students a journal assignment where they need to pretend that they are a famous canoer such as Ivan Lawler, Anna Hemming or Lewis and Clark. They could chronicle the struggles of training to become successful in this particular field or how one felt after an important canoe race or ride. They could also write about the journey down certain bodies of water as a discoverer, and what that person saw along the way.