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We will continue to add resources
to this list as we locate them - please feel free to submit
a link for posting to berthelotj@spsd.sk.ca.
Many schools have identified
active citizenship as a strategic priority. There seems a
shift in moving community service to service learning, and
in transforming passive learning about citizenship to reflective
and experiential exercises in citizenship.
RESOURCES:
- Two straightforward,
practical resources for both teacher and student are the
Kielburger books, Take Action: A Guide to Active
Citizenship and Take More Action.
While both claim to target Grades 6 to 10, the first is
written for middle-years (Grades 6 to 8) and the second,
while adaptable, seems to work better for Grades 9 and 10.
These resources provide “how to guides”, incorporate
numerous authentic learning opportunities for realizing
ELA objectives (as well as objectives from other subjects),
and explore local and global issues. COPIES
OF THESE BOOKS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE CMC for schools and
teachers to access.
- You may wish to examine The Global
Groundwork Resource Kit produced by teachers from
the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Their website
address is: www.peelschools.org/slgd/kits.html
and includes field-tested resources and lesson plans in
water, poverty, health care, education, food and agriculture,
and Canada’s Global Role. Like the Kielburger books,
a template for an action plan is provided. These resources
and lessons target middle years and the first two years
of high school. Check out the Issue + Gift = Change activity—it
seems a great way to web ideas and for students to think
about possible actions/solutions. If you have trouble
accessing the videos, please contact Mark Wilderman for
a copy of them on DVD.
- Consider A & E’s current campaign,
Lives That Make a Difference. The focus
is not just on celebrities (although it does emphasize this),
but ordinary individuals making a difference in various
and unique ways. Sound-bytes of Will Smith (actor) and
Erik Weihenmayer (blind man who climbed Mount Everest
featured in Touch
the Top of the World) could support class discussions
on the definitions of heroes—and provide the examples
(and perhaps non-examples) of selflessness, and active citizenship.
Certainly, there are some great critical thinking opportunities
here. The website is www.aetv.com/class/makeadifference/index.jsp
- Mark has sent copies of Planting
Seeds: A Year-Round Activity Guide about Citizenship
(Grades 4 to 6) and Nurturing
Growth: A Year-Round Activity Guide about Citizenship
(Grades 4 to 8), two Government of Canada publications to
a number of schools. These resources are practical, strongly
Canadian, and based on initial feedback from teachers, adaptable.
There are many opportunities to realize social studies and
ELA objectives through the activities identified. These
resources can also be found on-line in English at www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen/celebrate.html
or in French at www.cic.gc.ca/francais/citoyen/celebrons.html
 UNICEF
- UNICEF’s direction is perhaps obvious in their pledge:
“For every child: Health, Education, Equality, and
Protection”. The regional representative would like
to remind you of the interesting and interactive materials
available to teachers. Visit www.shopunicef.ca
for the complete selection of easy-to-use educational resources
and videos. Online resources can be found at www.unicef.ca
and include downloadable lessons, meaningful classroom activities,
teacher’s guides as well as other United Nations education
sites. Of special note may be the section “For Kids
and Teens” where young people can learn about global
issues, have some fun with interactive games, and engage
in discussions with children around the world.
- The agency is very willing to work
with classroom teachers and/or students, offering leadership
development programs especially targeted at middle years
and secondary levels. They also offer a bank of volunteer
speakers available for school visits to speak on topics
including child rights, HIV/AIDS, girls’ education
and child labour. While they are based out of Winnipeg,
they make regular visit to Saskatchewan to work with
teachers and/or students. PLEASE CONTACT MARK
WILDERMAN FOR AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION.
- Oxfam
is looking at lasting solutions to global poverty and social
injustice. They too offer a variety of resources for teachers
to access. Again, teacher resources are available largely
for middle years and secondary teachers, although not exclusively.
Offers include: trade simulations where students come to
understand that the world’s “rich” and
“poor” may be connected to unfair trade barriers;
children and young adult literature titles that provide
non-Canadian voices and perspectives on challenges for global
citizens; and lessons and PowerPoint presentations that
can be modified to meet your objectives and the needs of
your particular students.
- The Canadian website is
http://www.oxfam.ca/news-and-publications/educational-resources
and the regional contact person is located in Saskatoon.
She has expressed her desire to work with teachers interested
in exploring global citizenship, world poverty, and/or
social injustice. PLEASE CONTACT MARK WILDERMAN
FOR AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION.
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