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Learning Resources

These learning resources are intended to improve civic literacy, introduce the concepts of governance and democracy, increase awareness about the workings of government in Canada, and teach students how to effectively participate as active and informed citizens in their community.

ES

Elementary/Intermediate Level

These learning resources were developed for grades 4 to 8/secondary I-II. Each unit has several activities and options available, for the ease of adapting it to your particular classroom.

Please use, modify, rearrange and choose from the suggestions as you see fit. The units build upon one another and have a clear flow, but they can also be used as stand-alone lessons or activities depending on your classroom needs and available time.

  • Campaign Guide PDF
  • Welcome PDF
  • How to Use This Resource PDF
  • Suggestions for Wider Engagement PDF
  • Election Manual PDF

SECTION I: The Basics

  • Lesson 1: Government and Decision-Making Models PDF
  • Slide Deck 1: Government Types PPT
  • Video: ‘Government and Democracy’ YouTube
  • Video: ‘Democratic Principles’ YouTube
  • Activity 1.1: How Should We Decide? PDF Word
  • Activity 1.2: Reflection Card PDF Word
  • Lesson 2: Rights and Responsibilities PDF
  • Video: ‘Democratic Principles’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 2: Rights and Responsibilities PPT
  • Activity 2.1: Anticipation Guide PDF Word
  • Handout 2.2: Highlights from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms PDF
  • Activity 2.3: Charter Scavenger Hunt PDF Word
  • Activity 2.4: Our Rights and Responsibilities PDF Word
  • Lesson 3: Politics PDF
  • Activity 3.1: Politics – KWL Chart PDF Word
  • Lesson 4: Governments in Canada PDF
  • Video: ‘Levels of Government’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 4A: Who Am I, What Am I? PPT
  • Slide Deck 4B: Governments in Canada PPT
  • Activity 4.1: Government Responsibilities PDF Word

SECTION II: Information Literacy

  • Lesson 5: Informed Citizenship PDF
  • Slide Deck 5: Informed Citizenship PPT
  • Feed for Thought newsliteracy.ca
  • Video: ‘Behind the Screens – Who Decides What I See Online?’ YouTube
  • Activity 5.1: Community Referendum – Voice your choice! PDF Word
  • Activity 5.2: Evaluating the Pros and Cons PDF Word
  • Activity 5.3: Be an Algorithm PDF Word
  • Lesson 6: Online Verification Habits PDF
  • Video: ‘Information Pollution’ YouTube
  • Video: ‘Disinformation’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 6: Online Verification Habits PPT
  • FakeOut newsliteracy.ca
  • Videos: ‘Check the Source/Claim/Image’ YouTube
  • Activity 6.1: Verification Skills – Review and Practice PDF Word
  • Activity 6.2: Practicing Digital Literacy Skills PDF Word
  • Activity 6.2: Exemplar PDF Word
  • Videos: ‘Online Verification Skills with Mike Caulfield' YouTube
  • Lesson 7: Questioning Images PDF
  • Slide Deck 7: Questioning Images PPT
  • Handout 7.1: Questioning Images PDF
  • Activity 7.2: Questioning Images PDF Word
  • Guide 7.3: Questioning Images (Teacher Guide) PDF
  • Exemplar: "A Political Football?" PDF Word
  • Lesson 8: Facts vs. Opinion and News Analysis PDF
  • Video: 'What Is Journalism and Why Does it Matter?' YouTube
  • Slide Deck 8: Fact vs Opinion and Journalism PPT
  • Activity 8.1: Fact vs Opinion PDF Word
  • Activity 8.2: Defining Journalism PDF
  • Activity 8.3: Journalism Vocab List PDF Word
  • Activity 8.4: Election Scrapbook Assignment PDF Word
  • Activity 8.5: News Analysis PDF Word

SECTION III: Federal Elections

  • Lesson 10: My Candidates PDF
  • Video: ‘Federal Elections’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 10: Federal Elections PPT
  • Activity 10.1: My Riding PDF Word
  • Guide 10.2: Planning An All-Candidates Meeting PDF
  • Lesson 11: Campaign Communications PDF
  • Lesson 12: Election Debates PDF
  • Video: 'Logical Fallacies' YouTube
  • Activity 12.1: Debate Organizer PDF Word
  • Activity 12.2: Evaluating the Leaders’ Debate PDF Word
  • Activity 12.3: Analyzing Articles about the Debate PDF Word 
  • Lesson 13: The Voting Process PDF
  • Video: ‘Why Voting Matters’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 13: The Voting Process PPT
  • Activity 13.1: Make Your Mark! PDF Word
  • Lesson 14: Post-Election Analysis PDF
  • Activity 14.1: Results Comparison PDF Word
  • Activity 14.2: Election Reflection PDF Word


Download Full Resource
Download Campaign Guide
Download Lesson Pathways

SS

Secondary Level

These learning resources were developed for grades 9 to 12/secondary III-V. Each lesson has several activities and options available, for the ease of adapting it to your classroom.

Please use, modify, rearrange and choose from these activities as you see fit. The lessons build upon one another and have a clear flow, but they can also be used as stand-alone lessons or activities depending on your classroom needs.

  • Campaign Guide PDF
  • Welcome PDF
  • How to Use This Resource PDF
  • Suggestions for Wider Engagement PDF
  • Election Manual PDF

SECTION I: The Basics

  • Lesson 1: Democracy PDF
  • Video: ‘Government and Democracy’ YouTube
  • Video: ‘Democratic Principles’ YouTube
  • Activity 1.1: What Does Democracy Mean? PDF Word
  • Handout 1.2: The Principles of Democracy PDF
  • Activity 1.3: The Principles of Democracy in Action PDF Word
  • Lesson 2: Rights and Responsibilities PDF
  • Slide Deck 2: Rights and Responsibilities PPT
  • Handout 2.1: Highlights from the Charter of Rights and Freedoms PDF
  • Exemplar: How to create a Mind Map PPT
  • Lesson 3: Democratic Participation PDF
  • Slide Deck 3: Democratic Participation PPT
  • Handout 3.1: Federal Election Voter Turnout by Age Group PDF
  • Activity 3.2: Voting Survey PDF Word
  • Lesson 4: Levels of Government PDF
  • Video: ‘Levels of Government’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 4: Levels of Government PPT
  • Handout 4.1: Government Responsibilities PDF
  • Activity 4.2: Levels of Government Graphic Organizer PDF Word
  • Activity 4.3: What does government have to do with me? PDF Word
  • Activity 4.4: Exit Slip PDF Word

SECTION II: Information Literacy

  • Lesson 5: Informed Citizenship PDF
  • Feed for Thought newsliteracy.ca
  • Video: ‘Behind the Screens – Who Decides What I See Online?’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 5: Informed Citizenship PPT
  • Activity 5.1: Community Referendum – Voice your choice PDF Word
  • Activity 5.2: Exit Card PDF Word
  • Activity 5.3: Online Investigation PDF Word
  • Lesson 6: Online Verification Habits PDF
  • Video: ‘Information Pollution’ YouTube
  • Video: ‘Disinformation’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 6: Online Verification Habits PPT
  • FakeOut newsliteracy.ca
  • Videos: ‘Check the Source/Claim/Image’ YouTube
  • Activity 6.1: Verification Skills – Review and Practice PDF Word
  • Activity 6.2: Online Verification Practice PDF Word
  • Activity 6.2: Exemplar PDF Word
  • Videos: ‘Online Verification Skills with Mike Caulfield' YouTube
  • Lesson 7: Questioning Images PDF
  • Slide Deck 7: Questioning Images PPT
  • Handout 7.1: Questioning Images PDF
  • Activity 7.2: Questioning Images PDF Word
  • Guide 7.3: Questioning Images (Teacher Guide) PDF
  • Exemplar: "A Political Football?" PDF Word
  • Lesson 8: Journalism in Democracy PDF
  • Video: 'What Is Journalism and Why Does it Matter?' YouTube
  • Slide Deck 8: Journalism PPT
  • Activity 8.1: Defining Journalism PDF
  • Exemplar 8.2: Journalistic Standards PDF Word
  • Activity 8.3: Election Scrapbook PDF Word

SECTION III: Federal Elections

  • Lesson 9: The Federal Political Landscape PDF
  • Slide Deck 9: The Federal Political Landscape PPT
  • Vote Compass: Canada Youth Edition youth.votecompass.com/canada
  • Handout 9.1: Views on the Political Spectrum PDF
  • Handout 9.2: Key Political Terms and Concepts at the Federal Level PDF
  • Lesson 10: My Candidates PDF
  • Video: ‘Federal Elections’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 10: Federal Elections PPT
  • Party Leader Q&A Campaign Tools
  • Pollenize Canada 2019 pollenize.org/en/elections/canada-2019
  • Activity 10.1: Anticipation Guide – Federal Elections PDF Word
  • Graphic Organizer 10.2: Getting to Know the Candidates PDF
  • Activity 10.3: Campaign Reflection PDF Word
  • Graphic Organizer 10.4: Analyzing the Campaign Promises PDF
  • Lesson 11: Election Debates PDF
  • Party Leader Q&A Campaign Tools
  • Video: 'Logical Fallacies' YouTube
  • Activity 11.1: Debate Organizer PDF Word
  • Activity 11.2: Common Logical Fallacies PDF Word
  • Activity 11.3: Evaluating the Leaders’ Debate PDF Word
  • Activity 11.4: Analyzing Articles about the Debate PDF Word
  • Guide 11.5: A Framework for Organizing an All-Candidates’ Debate PDF
  • Lesson 12: The Voting Process PDF
  • Video: ‘Why Voting Matters’ YouTube
  • Slide Deck 12: The Voting Process PPT
  • Activity 12.1: Preparing to Vote PDF Word
  • Activity 12.2: Brainstorming Sheet PDF Word
  • Lesson 13: Post-Election Analysis PDF
  • Pollenize Canada 2019 COMING SOON
  • Activity 13.1: Analyzing the Outcome PDF Word
  • Activity 13.2: Election Reflection PDF Word


Download Full Resource
Download Campaign Guide
Download Lesson Pathways

Videos

Learn the basics about government, democracy and elections in Canada through these fun and engaging animated videos.

  • ‘Government and Democracy’

    What are the different types of government that exist around the world, and how do they compare? What type of government do we have in Canada?

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Democratic Principles’

    There are several guiding principles that act as the foundation for democracy: fundamental freedoms, free and fair elections, accountability and transparency, the rule of law and citizen participation.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Levels of Government’

    Government in Canada is divided into several different levels. What is each level responsible for, and who is the leader and elected representative for each?

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Federal Elections’

    How does the election process work at the federal level? After the votes are cast, how do the election results determine the next government?

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Logical Fallacies’

    This video outlines the different faulty arguments used in debates, including authoritative arguments, slippery slope, appeals to tradition, personal attacks, false dilemmas and straw-man arguments.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Why Voting Matters’

    Past Student Vote participants share inspirational and thought-provoking messages on why voting matters.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Information Pollution’

    When anyone can post anything online, the result is a lot of information. To understand the problem of false and misleading information, it helps to define and categorize it.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Disinformation’

    Disinformation is false or misleading information that is shared deliberately to cause harm. Learn about how disinformation producers use knowledge of human emotions and technology to spread disinformation.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Behind the Screens – Who Decides What I See Online?’

    How do algorithms work, and what is a filter bubble? Canadian media expert Taylor Owen explores the business model of online platforms and the consequences for democracy when information is personalized to us.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘What is Journalism and Why Does it Matter?’

    Hear directly from leading Canadian journalists such as Rosemary Barton, Andrew Coyne and Althia Raj as they outline the essential role journalism plays in supporting democracy.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Online Verification Skills with Mike Caulfield’

    In this series of four videos, digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield reviews simple verification techniques anyone can use to evaluate the accuracy and credibility of online information.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Check the Source/Claim/Image’

    These short videos introduce three essential checking skills, demonstrated with engaging examples. To investigate information, just check the source, check the claim or check the image.

    Watch Video ➔

  • ‘Organizing Student Vote Day’

    This videos offers tips and suggestions on how to organize Student Vote Day at your school.

    Watch Video ➔

Student Vote is a program of CIVIX.
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Student Vote Canada 2019 is made possible by Elections Canada.