METISS is a Scottish Government-funded project led by academics at the University of Stirling that brings together academic specialists and teachers from across Scotland to develop research-led resources to support the teaching of the SQA’s ‘Migration and Empire’ module. It aims to support understandings of the impact of Scots settlers on the Indigenous peoples, cultures, and lands of Canada, Australia and New Zealand between 1830 and 1939.
Below you will find links to a range of teaching materials relating to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These include a teacher introduction to the history of European settlement in each country, full lessons, each based on a historical source, with teacher worksheets and handouts, and short videos by academic specialists on topics pertaining to each region.
All of the lessons are based on historical sources which have been gathered into the PDF document below. They are designed to be stand-alone lessons; however, we recommend that you deliver the Introductory lesson first before teaching any of the individual lessons.
Introductory Lesson
This Introductory lesson explains the categories of ‘emigrant’, ‘settler’, ‘Indigenous’, and ‘immigrant’, and explores how they shaped the social dynamics among communities in the colonized Dominions.
Please be advised that some lessons contain language that was common at the time and is now considered offensive. While many of the lessons contain warnings about the use of such language, teachers should ensure they review materials thoroughly before using them in class.
If you experience any difficulties downloading the lessons, please try using a different browser.
Primary Sources Booklet
Teachers say that difficulty accessing relevant materials is a big barrier to updating their practice. This booklet contains a range of primary sources by and about Scots in the Empire. The booklet contains all of the primary sources on which these lessons are based and many others.
Glossary of Terms
Given the wide range of time and space covered by this module, it can be challenging to stay up to speed with the relevant concepts and ideas.
This brief glossary is an ideal resource for both teachers and students.
Guide to inclusive language and practice
Teaching emotive and sensitive topics can be challenging for any teacher. The guide below was written in association with equalities experts at the SQA to ensure that your language and practice is inclusive and ethical, while also meeting the requirements of the SQA course specification.
The METISS team is Professor Fiona Barclay, Dr Joe Smith, Katie Hunter, and Irina Nakonechna. We would like to thank Professor Michelle Keown, Dr Paula Dumas, Dr Rosi Carr, Dr Darren Reid, Dr Josh Doble, Dr Tom Cunningham, Dr Paul Malgrati, Professor Kirstie Blair, Christine Faucher and Monica Medina for contributing their time and academic expertise, and to the Scottish Government for its financial support.
We would also like to thank the participating teachers: Colleen Hohs, Louise Connelly, Fiona Gardner, Emma Reid, Eilidh Sanderson, Fionnuala Glover, Connor McCrone, Heather McFadyen, Kieran German, Hannah Lockwood, Emma Sinclair, Stephanie Morrison, Fraser Gray, Alice Scott, and Gillian Akhtar.
We are happy to share these resources and would be delighted to hear feedback about how you used them and the impact of these resources on your practice. Please email this to Prof. Fiona Barclay (fiona.barclay@stir.ac.uk) and Dr Joe Smith (joseph.smith@stir.ac.uk).