New Educational Resource: Allward – Bringing Stone to Life

Are you an educator looking for engaging ways to teach about art, history, and commemoration?

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial, designed by renowned sculptor Walter S. Allward, is not only a tribute to Canada’s role in the First World War but also one of the country’s most significant works of art. To create its powerful sculptures, Allward used life-size models, known as maquettes, which helped shape the final monument.

Our Allward: Bringing Stone to Life lesson plan, designed for grades 9–12, brings this artistic and historical process into the classroom. Available in both English and French, this resource encourages students to explore the question: What should be memorialized? Through inquiry and creativity, they will design their own meaningful memorials, drawing inspiration from the themes of the Vimy Memorial.

The lesson also prompts critical discussions on key questions such as:

• Should wars be memorialized?
• Do historical monuments still have relevance?
• Do historical monuments reflect everyone?
• Are physical monuments even needed anymore?

This lesson plan integrates our Allward: Bringing Stone to Life digital project, providing students with an interactive way to engage with Allward’s artistic process and the creation of the Vimy Memorial.

‍Bring this unique learning experience to your students today: Explore the lesson plan