Arts

• September 18, 2026

  Teaching with the Vertical $20

  

  Engage students with creative activities linking the new bank note to careers, civics, history, social studies and art.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, Careers, Financial literacy, History, Indigenous studies Grade level(s): Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4
• February 10, 2026

  Love tokens: Change of heart

  By: Graham Iddon

  
  

  

  For centuries, people have been adding alternative messages to coins as political protests, advertising, commemoration and—most charmingly—love and affection. Such things are called love tokens.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, History
• June 5, 2025

  Teaching the Treaties through art and artifacts

  

  

  This webinar, in collaboration with the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba, demonstrates the Bank of Canada Museum’s lesson plan “Five bucks: The economics of Treaty relationships”.

  Content type(s): Multimedia Subject(s): Arts, Economics, History, Indigenous studies, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
• May 22, 2025

  Speculating on the piggy bank

  By: Graham Iddon

  
  

  

  Ever since the first currencies allowed us to store value, we’ve needed a special place to store those shekels, drachmae and pennies. And the piggy bank—whether in pig form or not—has nearly always been there.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, Business, Economics, English language arts, Financial literacy, Geography, Health, History, Math, Science Grade level(s): Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
• September 13, 2024

  Five bucks: the economics of Treaty relationships

  

  Explore how Treaty relationships shaped Canada by examining art, artifacts, and primary sources and using historical thinking.

  Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Arts, History, Indigenous studies, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
• August 6, 2024

  Treaties, money and art

  By: Krista Broeckx, Frank Shebageget

  
  

  

  The Bank of Canada Museum’s collection has a new addition: an artwork called Free Ride by Frank Shebageget. But why would a museum about the economy buy art?

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts, History
• February 2, 2023

  Teaching art with currency

  By: Adam Young

  
  

  

  From design to final product, bank notes and coins can be used to explore and teach art, media and process.

  Content type(s): Blog posts Subject(s): Arts Grade level(s): Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4, Grades 11 and 12 / Secondary 5
• November 18, 2022

  Design your own bank note

  

  Design a bank note by researching a notable or iconic Canadian and selecting meaningful themes, symbols, and imagery.

  Content type(s): Lesson plans Subject(s): Arts, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06, Grade 07 / Secondary 1, Grade 08 / Secondary 2, Grade 09 / Secondary 3, Grade 10 / Secondary 4
• June 15, 2021

  Pirate treasure

  

  Make your own pirate coins and treasure chest while exploring the history of money in the museum’s collection.

  Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Arts, History, Social studies Grade level(s): Early childhood / Kindergarten, Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
• July 7, 2020

  The art of guilloche

  

  Explore the art of guilloche and how this intricate design technique has been used as a security feature on Canadian bank notes.

  Content type(s): Activities and games Subject(s): Arts, Social studies Grade level(s): Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04, Grade 05, Grade 06