Diamond Jubilee Street Party Contest Details

Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Ascension the the Throne: Win Prizes by holding a Diamond Jubilee Street Party with your Class!

In 2012, join schools across Canada as they come together to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign by hosting a Diamond Jubilee Street Party with your class.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Ascension the the Throne, making her the second longest serving monarch in British history.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Ascension the the Throne, making her the second longest serving monarch in British history. To mark this anniversary, street parties will once again be held across the Commonwealth in celebration. The Historica-Dominion Institute is challenging your classroom community to hold a Diamond Jubilee Street Party for a chance to win prizes as we “knight” the class with the most creative “Street” Party! One winning elementary/junior and one intermediate/senior will be chosen. For further information on judging, including a detailed rubric, please see the Diamond Jubilee Street – Classroom Activities section on The Historica-Dominion Institute’s Diamond Jubilee website.

Not sure where to start? The Historica-Dominion Institute’s Diamond Jubilee Project can help. Visit our website for suggestions on Street Party Classroom Activities, authentic recipes and DIY design tools to make sure Diamond Jubilee Street Party an exciting learning opportunity for your students. Document your event with video* or photographs** to show Canada how your class celebrated the Diamond Jubilee.

As thanks for participating, every classroom will receive a Diamond Jubilee Street Party certificate of participation from The Historica-Dominion Institute and your classroom’s celebration will be featured on The Historica-Dominion Institute’s Diamond Jubilee website!

For more information on The Historica-Dominion Institute’s Diamond Jubilee project and to receive updates about the Diamond Jubilee Street Party Contest, please visit our website and signup here.

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*We accept video files from most digital cameras and camcorders, and cell phones in the .AVI, .MOV, .WMV, and .MPG file formats. ** We would prefer digital photographs in the .JPG format.

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Diamond Jubilee Street Party Classroom Activities

What to Consider For A Diamond Jubilee Street Party

Street parties have a history dating back to 1919 as ways of celebrating major events, often related to celebrations of the monarchy, including the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 and the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine in 2011. A street party is simply a community celebration, usually held by a neighbourhood on their street,that marks a significant event. The nature of your classroom “street party” is really only limited by what you would like to emphasize as well as your own imagination.

ALBERT BOULTON / Rex Features/CP Images

Suggested Activities

  • You could make a visual timeline of artifacts to mark the Queen’s reign. Think of concrete items that represent aspects of her life since becoming Queen. You might select things that specifically relate to her visits to Canada. Choose an important item or two from each of the decades of the Queen’s reign. This could be done virtually on a computer or with physical objects. For virtual timelines, check out www.timetoast.com
  • Canada Post has designed special postage stamps to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Now it is your turn. What would you include in the design of a stamp meant to honour the Queen’s 60 years on the throne? How would you show the Queen’s special anniversary along with her relationship with Canada? Use the design template here to create your Diamond Jubilee postage stamp.
  • Assemble a “gift” for the Queen from the people of Canada. The gift could be one large item or a collection of things that represent Canada. For example, Canada once gave Her Majesty a pair of beavers. What types of things would make appropriate gifts for the Queen today?
  • Have a street party in which students come dressed as an important Canadian historical figure from the Queen’s reign. You could research and select personalities from across the decades. Guests can mingle and “meet with the Queen” at the party, telling of their importance to Canadian history.
  • Diamond Jubilee Trivia Party: Have students design trivia questions about the role of the Queen in Canada’s political system as head of state as well as about her visits to Canada and the important events she has been a part of.
  • Hold a genuine street party in which you design a special thematic menu, set up tables and celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Canada’s Queen for its own sake. Dress up anyway you like. Be sure to toast Her Majesty!
  • Hold a street party in which you have several “Queens” who write and present speeches as though they were the Queen addressing her Canadian subjects. What would she say to Canada?
  • Make a time capsule to celebrate the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. What objects would you include to capture her 60th year as Queen?
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Street parties usually have bunting, pennants or other flags, banners and music

Other Considerations

Think about how you might like to decorate your classroom. Street parties usually have bunting, pennants or other flags, banners and music. Many of these items can be easily made or picked up at a local dollar store.

Curriculum Connections

In addition to the history or civics that can be assessed with this project, teachers may consider emphasizing other areas of curriculum, including: research, writing, oral communication, storyboarding, set design, and drama, as well as learning skills such as co-operation, teamwork, initiative and self-regulation.

Check out the Diamond Jubilee – Recipes and Party Tips for suggestions as to how you can turn your educational activities into a Street Party celebration fit for a queen!

Assessment Criteria

The street party will be assessed according to the criteria here. Please note the goal of the streea party is to provide an experience for students that is both fun and educational. We hope the event will allow your students to get a better understanding of the Queen, her history with Canada, her role as Head of State and the times of her reign. Street parties that demonstrate this will earn the highest grades from the contest judges.

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Diamond Jubilee Street Party Tips Recipes

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Food is a big part of any celebration and a great way to explore culture and history with your students. Add an authentic note to your Diamond Jubilee Street Party by researching and recreating dishes from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation or get creative with your students and invent/reinvent Street Party foods for your celebration.

Here are some recipes and tips for your classroom’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party!

Classic British Dishes

Travel back in time and include dishes based on the Queen’s Coronation Menu and classic British dishes of the time:

  • Roast beef sandwiches
  • Cucumber sandwiches
  • Scones and marmalade or jam
  • Sausage rolls
  • Shortbread cookies

When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned, a special chicken salad dish, Coronation Chicken, was created by Cordon Bleu chefs to mark the occasion. This simplified adaptation is still popular:

Coronation Chicken

  • 1.5 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast fillets - cooked and diced
  • ½ cup of mayonnaise (or to taste)
  • 1-2 tbsp chunky mango chutney
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, toss the ingredients thoroughly. Cover and let marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving. May be served garnished with chopped cilantro and in sandwiches.

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