KPR Educational Programs

Civics

• Curriculum
• LRC Resources
• Websites

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CURRICULUM

Ontario. Ministry of Education

Elementary. Social Studies, Grades 1 to 6; History and Geography, Grades 7 and 8, 2004 (Revised)

Secondary.  Grades 9 and 10.  Canadian and World Studies. Civics

WEBSITES

Links are arranged by course description.  Civics 020

Click on headings or scroll down to view topic areas.

A. General Resources

B. Democracy: Issues and Ideas

1. Civil Society
2. History of democracy
3. Rights and responsibilities

C. Democracy: The Canadian Context

1. History of Democracy in Canada

   1. Confederation and the Constitution
   2. Federalism
   3. Parliamentary system
   4. Unity and regionalism, including Quebec separatism movement, aboriginal issues

2. Branches of government

   1. Executive
   2. Legislative
   3. Judicial

3. Levels of Government

   1. Federal
   2. Provincial
   3. Municipal

4. Participation

   1. Political Parties
   2. Voting and Elections
   3. Lobby, Protest, Interest Groups

D. Democracy: The Global Perspective

1. Human Rights
2. Conflict and Peacekeeping
3. Global Issues: Economy, Environment, Immigration, Refugees
4. NGO=s: non-governmental organizations

A. General Resources:

Civnet is a website of Civitas International for civic education practitioners (teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum designers), as well as scholars, policymakers, civic-minded journalists, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting civic education all over the world. Resources for students and teachers, including lesson plans.
http://civnet.org/

SchoolNet : works in partnership with the provincial and territorial governments, the educational community and the private sector to connect Canadian schools and libraries. Links to federal government and related institutions. For civics: follow links from Social Studies-History-Canadian History-Modern Canadian Government and Economy.
http://www.schoolnet.ca/home/e/resources

Political Science Resource Centre: web reference for Canadian politics and government. See the Internet directory to political science resources as listed below.
http://polisci.nelson.com/

Canadian Politics on the Web. Annotated links to literally hundreds of sites on the Internet that can help with research on Canadian politics and government. Many connections are provided to full-text documents, as well as to useful graphs and maps : http://polisci.nelson.com/canpol.html/constitution

Political Science: A Net Station. Excellent directory of links to political science subjects, such as elections, political parties, and legislatures.
http://www.library.ubc.ca/poli

About Government. Information on the facets of government and its key functions. Government of Canada site with links to international organizations, provincial and municipal governments.
http://www.gc.ca/howgoc/howind_e.html

About Canada Detailed information on Canadian Society, Government, the Land and the Economy with links to teacher and student resources.
http://canada.gc.ca/acanada/acPubHome.jsp?lang=eng

Current Events: World. (American based). Links to NGO=s, peace and nonviolence, and other issues.
http://worldnews.about.com/newsissues/worldnews/

Civics: Participating in a Democratic Society. Links to support the curriculum and textbook from the publisher of this Civics text.
http://www.school.mcgrawhill.ca/resources

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B. Democracy: Issues and Ideas

Focuses on basic ideas and issues that are fundamental to democratic government, practices, and citizenship.

Canadians and Their Government A Resource Guide is a resource guide containing ready-to-use material for various types of learning environments. The information provided within the guide gives a comprehensive and concise explanation of how Canada has developed, and continues to develop, as a strong democratic country.
http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/gouv-gov/cont_e.cfm

Forming a Government. Lesson Plan #:AELP-CPS0005. An AskERIC Lesson Plan. The purpose of this unit is to force students to think about the basic questions of government. Why do we need government, what should it do, and what form should it take?
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Comparative_Political_Systems/CPS0005.html

Planning a Government. Lesson Plan #:AELP-CPS0003. An AskERIC Lesson Plan. At the beginning of the year of a government class, students are amazingly ignorant about just what government is and does, even though they are confident that they can, indeed, define government and its functions. This activity relates directly to that situation.
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Comparative_Political_Systems/CPS0003.html

Paper Clip Game for Learning the Value of Rules. Lesson Plan #:AELP-CIV0023. An AskERIC Lesson Plan. The paper clip game serves as a good device for discussing the need for and importance of rules in society. It acts as a springboard for developing a working definition of law and understanding the importance of law. It serves to overcome an often negative perception of law. http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Civics/CIV0023.html

Center for Civic Education. Lesson plans which focus on rights, responsibilities, and the formations of government. Although U.S. based, some lessons are applicable for Canadian classrooms.
http://www.civiced.org/lesson-plans.html

Civil Liberties Association. Check out the booklet, AThe Fundamentals of our fundamental freedoms.@
http://www.cla.org

Canadian Human Rights Commission covers human rights issues in Canada such as, aboriginal peoples, disability, harassment, pay equity, race and religion, sexual discrimination, sexual orientation.
http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca

Ontario Human Rights Commission. Human rights code, policy, and information about human rights in employment, pregnancy, racial harassment, religious rights, sexual harassment, and sexual orientation.
http://www.ohrc.on.ca

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A Canadian Heritage site that outlines the full text of the charter with explanatory notes for students and ideas for teachers.
http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pdp-hrp/canada/freedom_e.cfm

Canadian privacy laws from the Media Awareness network. Links to Federal Government Laws / Provincial Government Laws / Private Sector Laws / The Quebec Model.
http://www.media-awareness.ca/eng/issues/priv/laws/lawcdn.htm

Ontario. Ministry of Citizenship. Links to human rights, immigration and settlement, and volunteerism.
http://www.gov.on.ca/MCZCR/english/citdiv/human/index.html

C. Democracy: The Canadian Context

Important events, issues, structures in the development and practice of democracy in Canada.

1. History of Democracy in Canada

About Government. Canadian government site gives comprehensive look at Canadian government
http://canada.gc.ca/acanada/acPubLevel2.jsp?font=0&lang=eng&categoryId=1

Canadian Confederation Page (National Library of Canada): Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border. This project, through the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web, brings into focus the influence of the American Civil War on the achievement of Canadian Confederation. Includes a link to historical documents.
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/18

Intergovernmental Affairs. These pages are designed especially for students exploring issues relating to the Canadian federation and federal-provincial relations. They contain easy-to-use documents on our constitutional history, key concepts and current topics relating to Canadian federalism.
http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/

Great Canadian Questions. Articles and teacher resources that invite students to compare and contrast two perspectives on issues such as, founding concepts, national unity, Canada and the world.
http://www.greatquestions.com

Turtle Island Native Network. Aboriginal news and information. Check hot sites for governance and aboriginal rights issues.
http://www.turtleisland.org/

Aboriginal Canada Portal. A partnership with Government of Canada and aboriginal groups:
http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Aboriginal and Federal government responses to aboriginal issues, including legislation and self-government.
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/

2. Branches of Government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial Branches in the Federal Government

Government at a Glance. Links to federal government sites : the monarch, governor general, parliament, judiciary. Click on 'How Government Works' for primer about the history and structure of government in Canada, including diagrams. Excellent resource.
http://www.gc.ca/howgoc/glance_e.html

Parliament of Canada. Check out 'About Parliament' which explains the parliamentary process, the people in parliament, and information for students and teachers. See the Teacher's Institute for lesson plans.
http://www.parl.gc.ca

About Parliament: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Aboutparl.asp?

Office of the Prime Minister: The role of the prime minister and his office, biographical information, key government initiatives, Canadian government.
http://www.pm.gc.ca/

Canadiana. The Canadian Resource Page. Quick information about parliament and the political parties in Canada for background information:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/Unofficial/Canadiana

Government in Ontario and Canada. Explanation of the parliamentary system of government, division of powers, and structures of federal and provincial government:
http://canada.gc.ca/acanada/acPubLevel3.jsp?font=0&lang=eng&categoryId=27

Justice Canada. Government site detailing Canada=s justice system, programs and services, youth justice, victims of crime, crime prevention.
http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca

Access to Justice Network. Canadian law and justice resource materials. Links to lesson plans from Canada's Schoolnet on Canadian law and justice issues. For example, "Thinking about our rights and freedoms" a lesson plan on the charter of rights.
http://www.acjnet.org/capcj/

3. Levels of Government: Provincial and Municipal

Province of Ontario. Central site with links to government information and sites.
http://www.gov.on.ca/MBS/english/index.html

Legislative Assembly of Ontario. See "About the Assembly" for information about the provincial legislature.
http://www.ontla.on.ca/

Intergovernmental On-line Information Network. Links to Municipal Government websites.
http://www.intergov.gc.ca/mun/index.html

Federation of Canadian Municipalities. National voice of municipal governments on issues such as, quality of life, response to crime and drugs, affordable housing, climate protection.
http://www.fcm.ca/

4. Participation in Government

Elections, Political Parties and Parliaments. University of British Columbia Library links to political parties and elections:
http://www.library.ubc.ca/poli/electoral.html

Elections Canada. Election results, electoral districts, election laws, political parties, voting. See Registration of Electors for information about voting.
http://www.elections.ca/

Elections Ontario: [non-partisan agency of the Legislative Assembly]. Resource for information on all aspects of voting in Ontario provincial elections. Explanation of how the Permanent Register of Electors works; details on voter eligibility requirements and the voting process; historical data and statistics from past elections; profiles of each of the province=s 103 electoral districts; the legislation that affects elections in Ontario; the steps to follow to become a candidate; financial reporting requirements; and a wealth of information on the voting process itself.
http://www.electionsontario.on.ca/

Statistics Canada statistical analysis of results of recent elections by region.
www.statcan.ca/english/kits/feder1.htm

Administration and Cost of Elections Project. Alternative electoral systems (international). For background information and to compare electoral systems.
http://www.aceproject.org/

Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance promotes and advances sustainable democracy and improves and consolidates electoral processes world-wide.
http://www.idea.int
Voter turnout: http://www.idea.int/voter_turnout/

Canada Protest Page. Links to various protest pages whose theme is to protest various laws/events/decisions happening in Ontario and Canadian life. Links to politicians and other citizens groups that are taking action.
http://www.tpg1.com/

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D. Democracy: The Global Perspective

Human rights; conflict and peacekeeping; global issues, including economy, environment, immigration, refugees, and the role of NGO=s (non-governmental organizations).

The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade offers information on a variety of topics either directly or indirectly linked to global human rights. Click on either AWorld@ or AForeign Policy@.
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/

International Organizations:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/english/foreignp/organ/menu.htm

Human Rights Worldwide: an American-based organization that tracks and reports on international human rights issues:
http://www.hrw.org/

United Nations sites:

http://www.un.org

United Nations Declaration on Human Rights: http://www.un.org/rights/

United Nations: Economic and Social Development: http://www.un.org/esa/

Peacekeeping and International Conflicts: http://www.un.org/peace/

United Nations and the Culture of Peace: http://www.unac.org/peacecp/index.html

Canada and the UN : http://www.unac.org/

UN for Kids, Youth and Educators : http://www.unac.org/learn/wrld/

The International Forum on Globalization (IFG). Links to IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and the United Nations.
http://www.ifg.org/

Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Includes legislation, policies, refugees, citizenship, immigration.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

Canadian International Development Agency supports projects around the world. Youth Action information.
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/

Global WebLinks: including CIDA=s partners (Links to Volunteer Sector)
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/globalweblinks.htm

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations and Worldwide. Issues, news, and information about the role of non-governmental organizations.
http://www.ngos.net/