Social Studies Grade FiveConcepts
Knowledge ObjectivesStudents will know that:
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Students will:
Students will:
Citizen Action ObjectivesStudents may:
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Some pertinent ideas and information that may be incorporated in this module include:
Discuss rules and laws, and their similarities and differences.
Make connections between change and decision making.
Have students identify times in their lives when they must make decisions. Identify changes that could result from decisions.
Learn to use a decision making model such as a Decision Tree. Draw a tree with two main limbs. Put the decision to be made on the trunk, for example, Should we go to Ottawa to see the Parliament Buildings? Label one limb `yes' and the other `no'. Put consequences of each decision on the branches of each limb. Use the Decision Tree to assess the consequences of other decisions.
Use current events to identify decisions and the people who make them. Learn about people who have been elected to various governing bodies (SRC, municipal council, local band). What decisions have they made recently? Did the decision result in positive changes?
Federal Government
Use drama in context to learn about the role of government. For example, explore
trade and free trade. Divide the class into three `countries'. Students assume
roles representing people in government such as the Minister of Trade, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Labour, Minister of the Environment. Students
set up a trading situation. They may want to bring items from home to use in
the trade, or each country may wish to manufacture goods. Play money could be
used. Start by imposing tariffs. Begin a round of business among the countries.
Next, enter into negotiations to establish free trade. Continue the business
among the countries. You may wish to incorporate other issues such as standard
of living in the countries, cost of labour in the countries, environmental impact,
treaties regarding issues such as fishing and water rights.
Government simulation activity
Using a current project or issue dealt with by the federal government, plan
and participate in a simulation activity. In a simulation the class may be divided
into two or three constituencies and the students may choose to reflect existing
parties or may create their own, with original platforms. Research and represent
varying points of view about a current issue.
Continue the simulation with students assuming various roles, for example,
managers of a school division, grocery store, hospital, pet store, or employees.
Use play money. Have Members of Parliament levy various taxes. Other members
of the constituencies may propose plans for government grants.
The simulation might continue here to include the payment of taxes to the
elected officials and they in turn paying salaries, expenses, and giving grants
to agencies.
Services for Children In 1989 every member of the House of Commons promised, "To seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000".
Send for information regarding the current status of child poverty in our country. Do a check-up to see what progress is being made on the 1989 promise. Make predictions about the future.
For information write to:
Campaign 2000 Countdown
c/o Family Service Association
22 Wellesley St., East
Toronto, ON M4Y 1G3
tel: (416) 922-3126
fax: (416) 922-9235
Develop understanding about how the Federal Government funds agencies to help children. Where do they get the money for this funding? Include local, national, and international examples. Will there be a need in the future for more or fewer agencies to help children? How can student actions now and in the future affect the need for agencies to help children in the future? Is working for an agency to help children a possibility for a future career?
Learn about the impact of child poverty. Poor nutrition and health care can have life- long effects.
Consider the costs of preventing problems when children are young as opposed to solving the problems when they become adults.
Find out about the work of agencies such as Save the Children - Canada, The Canadian Red Cross Society, and Unicef at home and in other countries.
The Canadian Red Cross Society
2571 Broad St.
Box 1185
Regina, SK S4P 3B4
tel: 352-4601
fax: 757-2407
The Canadian Red Cross Society has staff who are trained to deliver programs in schools.
Save the Children - Canada
#6020 - 3080 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4N 3P4
Unicef
2724-13th Avenue
Regina, SK S4T 1N3
tel: 352-5449
Suggested Resources
(listed in other bibliographies and catalogues)
Canada's Capital: Behind the Scenes (MHP, V2683)
Canada's Parliament (MHP, V3279)
The Morning Tour (MHP, V8218)
Parliament Hill (MHP, V3278)
Speaker of the House (video)
Open House
Public Information Office
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
tel: (613) 992-4793
(request past issues for your files)
Student Information Page: Making Decisions
Read the case study and discuss the questions:
Since there are no jobs in town, and my mother's part-time job is never secure, we're sitting at the kitchen table to make some decisions about dealing with the change. My parents feel they will qualify for student loans and could finish the university degrees they began many years ago. But that would mean moving to the city. Cities are expensive. I suppose I could get a paper route.
Read the case study below and discuss the following questions:
Lots of adults enjoyed using the park. The senior citizens would go for walks, or sit on benches, talking and enjoying the weather. Parents took their young children to the park, helping them get on and off the swings and slides, and watching them play in the sand box. People in our town were satisfied and got along well.
Then trouble arrived. An out-of-province company purchased the land used for the old playground and began to construct a housing project. That meant everyone in town was forced into sharing the park. Before long there was competition and complaining - the old blaming the young for having too much freedom and making too much noise; the young blaming the old for spending too much time in the park. The young parents with their small children were caught in the middle. What a mess!
Student Information Page: Rules and Laws
Read the following sentences. Beside each write if it shows a rule or law. Then tell what group (e.g., school, church, family) made the rule and what government (e.g., municipal, provincial, federal) made the law.
A. Look both ways before crossing a street.
B. You must stop at the corner of Apple and Orchard.
C. Walk along the right side of the hallway.
D. I always have to be home before 9 o'clock.
E. You must pay your taxes.
F. Everyone gets equal playing time.
G. License your bicycle.
H. Stay off the swings after 10 o'clock.
I. Keep skateboards off city sidewalks.
J. Park your bike by the side of the school.
K. Line up in single file.
L. Yield for pedestrians at a crosswalk.
M. Get a permit before opening a business.
N. Drive on the right side of the street.
O. Wipe your shoes before entering the school.
P. If you touch the net you lose the ball.
Q. Get permission before hiking in the park.
R. Return library books on time.
S. Do your homework before going out with your friends.
T. Use a seat belt while driving.
Student Information Page
: Women in Government
Profile: Agnes McPhail
In 1921, Agnes McPhail was the first woman ever to be elected to Parliament in Ottawa. It was the first federal election in which women were allowed to vote. She was a good politician and was re-elected for 19 years. Although she was unwelcome at first, she won the respect and friendship of other politicians. She began as a member of the Progressive Party (later called Progressive Conservative), then ran as an Independent member, and then was one of the people who started a new party called the CCF (later changed to New Democratic Party).
When she was defeated as a federal candidate, she was elected to the Ontario legislature, and served for two terms.
She was the first woman to be a Canadian delegate to the League of Nations which was somewhat similar to the United Nations. While there, she was active on the Disarmament Committee. She was very interested in working toward world peace.
She also worked hard to get a better deal for farmers, to improve prison conditions for women, to get equal pay for women doing the same work as men, and many other issues.
When she was 65 years of age, she was one of the people the government was going to appoint to the Senate. But she died before the announcement was made.
Profile: Grace McInnes
Grace McInnes was the first woman NDP member to be elected to Parliament. She served for 4 years as an MLA in B.C. (1941-45), and then 9 years as an MP (1965- 74). She worked hard in B.C. and Ottawa for many things, especially for housing that people with low incomes could afford and for equality for women.
Since Agnes McPhail and Grace McInnes, more women have been elected. But there are still many more men than women in government. Why? People have different opinions about that. Here is what some say:
Jeanne Sauvé was a woman of several firsts. She was the first woman cabinet minister from Quebec. She was the first woman to be Speaker of the House of Commons. She was the first person born in Saskatchewan to be Governor General of Canada. She was the first woman to be Canada's Governor General.
Jeanne Benoît was born in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan. The family moved to Ottawa when she was three years old. They lived close to the Parliament buildings. Whenever they could, she and her dad would go and listen to the debate in Question Period. One day when they walked past the bronze sculpture of Agnes McPhail, her father commented that she might be a Member of Parliament some day. She thought it was a crazy idea.
How did she get started in politics? When she was 15, she joined a group called the Young Catholic Students. During a time when "children should be seen and not heard", YCS worked hard to get adults and children to communicate. Later, this led to a full-time job and contacts with many different people and organizations.
Jeanne believed that young people are the key to world peace. She believed that young people, French and English, Black and White, need to get together and talk to one another. She once said, "Miracles can happen when young people get together. They are uncertain about world peace and unemployment. They need to come together to discuss their future world."
As Governor General, she visited the provinces several times. Once when she was in Saskatchewan, she was the main guest at a banquet in Regina, and was to go to Saskatoon and Prud'homme the next day. During the banquet, a blizzard swept through southern Saskatchewan. The airport was closed, police warned motorists to stay off the highway. How was she to get to Saskatoon and Prud'homme? She took a bus. She arrived a little later than planned, but people were glad to see her.
Sometimes when a woman gets a job that a man usually gets, people say that she got it just because she is a woman. When Jeanne Sauvé was appointed Governor General of Canada, people said, "Jeanne Sauvé is not the best woman for the job, she is the best person for the job."
Profile: Audrey McLaughlin
Audrey McLaughlin was elected as the leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada on December 2, 1989. She was the first woman leader of a national party.
Audrey was born in Ontario, where she also went to school and university. She has worked at a number of different jobs - a teacher in Ghana, a community worker, a business person, and then a politician. She travelled in Africa, Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean. She has two children and some grandchildren.
She moved to Whitehorse, Yukon, in 1979, where she still has her home. Many people there were proud that their Member of Parliament was the leader of the NDP.
Profile: Nellie Cournoyea
In the fall of 1991, the legislature of the Northwest Territories held its first vote for a government leader. The Honourable Nellie Cournoyea was chosen. She is the first Aboriginal woman to ever lead a government in Canada. But she doesn't seem too interested in talking about that. She is interested in talking about the job and the many things that need to be done. If anyone can get things done, it is her. She is smart, she is self-confident, she is willing to work very hard.
Ms Cournoyea is not sure exactly where she was born, but it was in a tent somewhere on a trap line near Aklavik. Her father is an immigrant from Norway, her mother is an Inupiak from Herschel Island.
As a child, Nellie Cournoyea could have gone to school in Aklavik, but chose to take correspondence lessons, sent from Alberta by plane. As an adult, she has had various jobs. When her children were young, she worked odd shifts for CBC in Inuvik. At that time she made contacts with many different people. Her voice was heard on radio by people all over the north, and she fought to get money for Aboriginal programming. After CBC, she worked at negotiating Aboriginal land claims. For the past 12 years she has been in government.
Because her region is so large and the communities so far apart, she has three homes - in Yellowknife, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. She lives mainly in Tuktoyaktuk. But all three houses, though, are seldom empty. People travelling through, friends, or any adults or children who need a place to stay always seem to be welcome.
Information about Nellie Cournoyea adapted with permission from Native Woman Inc., Vol. I, Issue 1, September 1992.
Across: 3. Cournoyea represents a vast ___.
5. Jeanne Sauvé was born in ___.
7. NDP stands for New ___ Party.
9. McLaughlin taught in ___.
10. Politicians are ___ by the people in their constituency.
12. The federal government meets in the ___ buildings.
14. About half the population is made up of ___.
15. Sauvé was ___ of the House of Commons.
18. Abbreviation for United Nations.
22. Jeanne ___
23. A candidate has to ___ in an election.
24. Audrey McLaughlin represents a constituency in ___.
26. The federal government meets in the city of ___.
27. Sauvé was the ___ person for the job.
28. Abbreviation for Member of the Legislative Assembly.
29. Audrey ___
Down:
1. Abbreviation for New Democratic Party.
2. Sauvé was the first woman to be ___ General of Canada.
3. Cournoyea was born in a ___ along the family's trapline.
4. Elected people ___ the people in their constituency.
5. Abbreviation for Progressive Conservative.
6. Abbreviation for British Columbia.
8. Cournoyea has worked for Aboriginal land ___.
11. PC stands for Progressive ___.
13. Cournoyea is the first ___ woman to lead a government in Canada.
16. Cournoyea lives mainly in ___.
17. Nellie ___.
19. Our national government is also called our ___ government.
20. Many people believe that half the people in ___ should be women.
21. Agnes ___
25. Sauvé was Speaker of the ___.
Word list: Answerss:
ABORIGINAL BC BEST CLAIMS CONSERVATIVE COURNOYEA DEMOCRATIC ELECTED FEDERAL GHANA GOVERNOR GOVERNMENT HOUSE MCLAUGHLIN MCPHAIL MLA NDP OTTAWA PARLIAMENT PC PRUDHOMME REPRESENT RUN SAUVE SPEAKER TENT TERRITORY TUKTOYAKTUK UN WHITEHORSE WOMEN