Elementary Lessons

Title: Rules and Government

Summary: In this unit, students reflect on rules and laws in their community. Students review different decision‑making models and explore their strengths and limitations through dramatic presentations of real life examples. Students discuss the purpose of government and review basic government types. Afterwards, students reflect on why we need government and what it means for them as citizens.

Title: Politics

Summary: In this unit, students explore different opinions and views in a mock schoolyard renovation project. They use their powers of persuasion to try to convince their classmates and the school board to agree with their renovation idea. Students are introduced to the concept of politics and the ways in which citizens influence government. In the Consolidation activity, they reflect on politics and the importance of respecting others’ opinions even if they are different than their own.

Title: Rights & Responsibilities in a Democracy

Summary: In this unit, students explore the rights they have at school as an entry point to a discussion about rights and freedoms in a democracy. Students review the seven categories of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Through a scavenger hunt activity, students navigate the Charter itself and improve their understanding of its application. In the Consolidation activity, students reflect on the responsibilities that go along with their rights.

Title: Levels of Government

Summary: In this unit, students first explore roles and responsibilities in their school community and then within the levels of government in Canada. Students reflect on all the ways the different levels of government affect their lives and then analyze which level is most important to them. In the Consolidation activity, students identify an issue that matters to them and write a letter to the most appropriate elected representative.

Title: My Municipality

Summary: As an introduction to the topic, students will discuss what they know about their municipality and reflect on what they like about it and what makes it unique. As a class, students review the features and services of municipalities in Ontario, and investigate specific information of their own city, town, village or township. Afterwards, students will complete one activity dedicated to either assessing environmental stewardship, developing a plan of action to improve their community or evaluating developments due to the physical environment. In the Consolidation activity, students reflect on why it is important to take an active role in their community.

Title: Municipal Elections

Summary: In this unit, students will reflect on what they know about elections and create a class definition. Students will learn about municipal elections in Ontario and how their  municipal council is elected. Individually or in groups, students will engage in the inquiry process to investigate factors when making their voting decision and to guide their research into the candidates. In the Consolidation activity, students reflect on the process and why it is important to research the candidates and explore election issues.

Title: School Trustees

Summary: In this unit, students form groups and role-play a governing board of trustees where they debate an issue and pass a motion for schools in the board. Afterwards, students will learn more about the role of boards of trustees and individual trustees, and research the composition of their local school board. Then, students will create an ideal profile of a school trustee and find out which candidate most closely matches up. In the Consolidation activity, students will reflect on ways to improve the school experience for students within the board, and articulate these views to the newly elected school trustee(s) or student trustee(s) for their board.

Title: The Voting Process (Municipal Elections)

Summary: In this unit, students review essential information about voting in municipal elections in Ontario. Afterwards, they will practice voting and counting ballots through a mock vote. In the culminating activity, students will demonstrate their knowledge of voting by creating an instructive pamphlet or poster, which can be shared with a parent, guardian or an adult they know, encouraging them to vote.

Title: Government and Democracy

Summary: In this lesson, students will work in groups to explore options for leadership and governance in an exercise called Survivor Island. Afterwards, students will review the concept of government and parliamentary democracy, and investigate events from 1830-1849 that dramatically shifted our political system. In the culminating activity, students will imagine the ways in which a prime minister or premier can ensure they adhere to responsible government.

Title: Voting Rights (April 2018)

Summary: In this lesson, students learn about the struggles some groups experienced in gaining the right to vote in Canada. Students create a visual timeline of events in history that shaped our voting rights today. They will reflect on and discuss how they feel about groups being excluded. Students also have an opportunity to discuss low voter turnout and consider reasons for the decline.