The current Alberta Social Studies curriculum places a strong emphasis on recognizing the importance of multiple perspectives in the interpretation of Canada's past. The three drawings that the author has created represent the progression from the overall arching grand narrative of Canadian history to the introduction and embedding of the multiple…

Discusses activities, adaptable for elementary through high school levels, for learning about the people who work in local government and the programs local governments provide. Explains that the activities are useful starting points for project ideas that enlist the involvement of students, teachers, and local government officials. (CMK)

Describes a lesson consisting of activities such as a mock town hall meeting, forming a lobby group, and attending a town hall meeting. Focuses on community-based issues and the role of citizens in bringing about change at the local level. (CMK)

Describes a global issues project in which students modeled the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Discusses project aspects while focusing on the use of the Alta Vista Forum for web-based threaded discussion. (CMK)

Provides information about Alexander Cameron Rutherford, a provincial politician. Includes a letter written by Rutherford in 1912 that provides insights into his responsibilities to the general public, information about Rutherford himself, the economic conditions of Alberta, Canada in 1912, and information about the individual to whom it was…

Examines strategies students and teachers can use when viewing (and countering) the universal and objective image popular culture diffuses. Focuses on teaching environmental/ecological issues in a grade 11 social studies classroom. Suggests that students must engage texts by "writing themselves" to the conversations these texts initiate. (CMK)

Explains how teachers can help their students better understand their textbooks. Describes five textbook writing styles, such as linear time sequence style or a cause-effect style, and activities related to the style. Provides hints to help students develop an understanding of their textbooks. (CMK)

Provides activities for grades 6 to 8 that will promote student awareness and understanding of the use of hydropower in Canada, the benefits and drawbacks to hydropower, and also the drawbacks of electricity transmission lines. Explains that the activities focus on the James Bay Hydro Project in Canada. (CMK)

Describes criterion-referenced assessment that involves the teacher establishing what should be assessed, the standards for assessment, and then finally utilizing a rubric. Discusses the use of criterion-referenced assessment in social studies and humanities classes, the students' role in developing the rubrics, and the success of this type of…

Addresses the problems with conventional assessment in social studies and describes an alternative form called dynamic assessment. Explains how to use dynamic assessment in social studies, and in particular, for evaluating citizenship participation. Provides two charts that demonstrate how dynamic assessment can modify teachers' evaluation…

Explains that the Internet is a good source of information and misinformation about the rights that Canadians do and do not enjoy. Provides websites that address human rights issues, such as government and non-governmental organizations, and information for locating newsgroups and listservs. (CMK)

Describes activities that can be adapted for students in elementary to high school grade levels that link teaching about local government to the concept of community and provide starting points for project ideas centering on the active involvement of students, teachers, and local government officials. (CMK)

Explains that sentencing circles are a form of traditional Canada Native justice in which the entire community is involved to combat offenders. Provides a unit plan on sentencing circles for social studies in order to teach students about the need for sentencing circles in Native communities. Provides sample lesson plans and an example worksheet.…

Presents an annotated bibliography of sources in the ERIC database concerning Canada. Many of the documents suggest topics for curriculum development or describe instructional strategies for teaching about Canada and/or Canada-U.S. relationships. Information about ordering or accessing the documents is included. (MJP)

Questions how the goal of participatory citizenship can be taught within the typical classroom environment. Argues that the hidden curriculum, textbooks, and instructional methods do not provide opportunities to see citizenship in action or ways to practice it. Recommends providing students with choices and opportunities for engagement in some…