Orange Shirt Day Curriculum

As September 30 approaches, communities across Canada prepare to observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day). This day is intended to honour residential school survivors, remember the children who never came home, and commit to the ongoing journey of healing.

In recent years, Canadian educators, Sunday school leaders, and parents across our denomination have reached out with a shared request: “How can we help our kids engage the truth of residential schools in a way that is age-appropriate, faith-rooted, and grounded in hope?”

In direct response to those requests from our congregations, CRCNA Indigenous Ministries is honouring this call with our new K–12 Orange Shirt Day Curriculum—a comprehensive, flexible resource designed to help learners of all ages listen, reflect, and learn.

What Makes This Curriculum Unique?

• Faith-Rooted: Grounded in Christ’s love, this resource reminds students that every child is an image-bearer of God, deserving of love, care, and dignity.
• Tailored for Kindergarten through Grade 12: Content is thoughtfully adapted across age levels so every student can participate:
  • Kindergarten–Grade 3: Focuses on foundational themes of belonging, love, and care.
  • Grades 4–8: Explores history, personal survivor stories, and the ongoing impact of the residential school system, guiding students to cultivate empathy and active listening.
  • Grades 9–12: Engages high schoolers with primary sources, systemic impacts, and practical ways to practice active reconciliation in Canada today.
• Built for Year-Round Education: Though this content is crafted with September 30 in mind, reconciliation is an ongoing journey. These materials are designed with flexibility—use them for a dedicated Orange Shirt Day focus, or adapt them throughout the school year as part of your studies.

Learn More

Whether you are guiding a Christian school classroom, leading a youth group, or discipling children in a church setting, we invite you to download these materials and adapt them to your learning environment.

May these tools serve as a blessing as we stand in solidarity with survivors, honour the children, and reaffirm together that Every Child Matters.