Marguerite’s Odyssey consists of an introduction page and seven challenges to print for the students to complete. Answer sheets for each challenge are available for teachers.

These challenges are fun and a motivating way to learn about the history of Marguerite Bourgeoys, the Congrégation de Notre-Dame and New France.

The seven challenges include texts to read and games to play that are based on the texts. To give variety to the students’ experience and maintain their interest, all the games are different. Illustrations and photos enrich the challenges.

Components of the education program and description of contents

The challenges elaborate on three main themes:

1. The life and work of Marguerite Bourgeoys, pioneer of education in Quebec and Canada.
2. The development and implication of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys.
3. The history of Quebec and Canada, from New France to today.

These three themes make it possible to cover a broad range of topics from the everyday lives of the pioneers to contemporary concerns.

Download Challenges 1 to 7 in pdf format (25 pages - 7735 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenges 1 to 7 in pdf format (9 pages - 1430 ko)
Download free Adobe Reader to view and print pdf files (external links)

Challenge 1. Marguerite finds her vocation and joins in the dream of Ville-Marie.

1640-1653: Vocation of Marguerite Bourgeoys, Société Notre-Dame de Montréal, establishment of Ville-Marie by de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance, fur trade, populating the colony.
Download Challenge 1 in pdf format (4 pages - 740 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 1 in pdf format (2 pages - 190 ko)

Challenge 2. Marguerite sets out on her mission to Canada.

1653-1700: Perilous crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, difficult living conditions in New France, comparison with today.

Download Challenge 2 in pdf format (6 pages - 2096 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 2 in pdf format (2 pages - 167 ko)

Challenge 3. Marguerite contributes to the development of Ville-Marie.

1653-1700: Marguerite Bourgeoys’s projects to participate actively in the development of Ville-Marie.

Download Challenge 3 in pdf format (2 pages - 1164 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 3 in pdf format (1 page - 1141 ko)

Challenge 4.  Marguerite founds a “revolutionary” community.

1653-1700: Journeying life, Congrégation de Notre-Dame de Montréal, temporary and permanent missions.

Download Challenge 4 in pdf format (2 pages - 506 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 4 in pdf format (1 page - 122 ko)

Challenge 5. Continuing the work of Marguerite Bourgeoys in peacetime and in war.

1700-1763: Death of Marguerite Bourgeoys, Great Peace of Montreal, society in New France, Congrégation de Notre-Dame de Montréal, Seven Years’ War, Siege of Louisbourg, Battle of the Plains of Abraham, Treaty of Paris.

Download Challenge 5 in pdf format (2 pages - 338 ko)<
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 5 in pdf format (1 page - 146 ko)

Challenge 6. The Congregation adapts to the new régime and evolves.

1763-1850: Post-Conquest, Quebec Act, American Revolution, Loyalists, Irish Catholic and Scottish immigrants, Constitutional Act and Union Act, reconstruction and expansion years at the Congrégation de Notre-Dame, the role of education in the new society.

Download Challenge 6 in pdf format (4 pages - 1214 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 6 in pdf format (1 page - 132 ko)

Challenge 7. The Congrégation de Notre-Dame broadens its horizons and faces new challenges.

1850-1960: Political instability during the 1850’s, Confederation, industrialization, rural exodus, social movements, wars, Great Depression, “baby boom”, education system, university studies, education of girls and women.

Download Challenge 7 in pdf format (5 pages - 2583 ko)
Download the Answer Sheet to Challenge 7 in pdf format (1 page - 140 ko)

Teaching at the stable-school

Teaching at the stable-school

Ville-Marie (Montreal), New France (Quebec), [between1658 and 1673].