A Better World

Resource Ideas

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Description (from Crossroads Series)

In this unit, students will be able to explore some serious social issues, such as poverty, human rights, racism, and cultural diversity. They have a chance to reflect on human nature and issues of justice. The unit should offer students experiences with a variety of genres and formats, such as poetry, an article, a monologue, comic strip, memoir, short story, and paintings.

Students will have the opportunity to respond critically and personally in a variety of ways, and write and create a variety of formats, including a personal essay, questionnaire, press release, photo essay, and speech.

Major Integrated Resource (MIR)

• Crossroads 7 Series available from Nelson Publishing Company

Curriculum Materials Centre

• The Great Gilly Hopkins. [Novel set. Grade 7 reading level] / Katherine
  Paterson. -- New York : Harper, 1987, c1978.
  Multiple copies of same title.

"A Harper Trophy book."
Grade level: Jr.
An eleven-year-old foster child tries to cope with her longings and fears
as she schemes against everyone who tries to be friendly.

• Racism. Grades 4-9. Kit #1 [kit] / [compiled by Curriculum Materials]. -- --
  [S.l. : s.n.], c1975-1996.
  15 books, 2 binders, 1 videocassette.

  RN 1-91471.
  Contents: BOOKS: Chevrolet Saturday -- Defeathering the Indian (2 c.) --
  Discrimination -- Golem -- The international day for the elimination of
  racial discrimination -- New kids in town -- Rethinking Columbus --
  Sentries -- The shimmershine queens -- The story of Ruby Bridges -- 10
  little whitepeople -- Through indian eyes -- Unity in diversity -- The
  well -- The world of daughter McGuire. VIDEO: International day, racism
  wrapup. BINDERS: Doing what's right : an introduction to the Saskatchewan
  Human Rights Code -- (3 title in one binder) Winning ideas to stop racism
  : people are people -- Winning ideas to stop racism -- Stop racism :
  Teachers resource guide.

Web Resources

• An Introduction to Poverty in Canada - A well-written, easy to follow article from Child & Family Canada, a unique Canadian public education website.
• Canadian Human Rights Web Sites - outlines Human Rights Protection Mechanisms, Legislation and Policy with links to each of the Canadian provinces.
• Canada and Human Rights - outlines in summary form, The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• ABC, Teaching Human Rights - ideas for teaching human rights in classrooms, k-12
• The History of Racism in Canada - A webography, this site contains the history of racism as it applies to many minority groups and gives links to explore for each one.
• Racism and Sexism - from the army's Consideration of Others Handbook (CO2) comes this set of notes on these two terms.
• The Salvation Army - home of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
• The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation - Want to encourage kindness on campus? See their free Teacher's Guide, lesson plans, activity ideas, and other materials
• Unicef - the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized.

Related Novel Sets Available from the Curriculum Materials Centre

• The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson - Gilly gets another foster home in a large dusty house. William Ernest is a little boy who is as shy as Gilly is bold. Gilly waits and waits for her rescue by her mother but when the day arrives, Gilly is not sure where her loyalties lie.

Do you have a lesson plan, resource or web site you would like to contribute to this page? Contact us at: Online Learning Centre

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