Here is everything you need to teach your students about Canada’s governments. Introduce the unit with a fable that provides insight into the need for good and fair government, and progress through a comprehensive study of government in Canada. Twenty-two lesson plans and more than 75 reproducible worksheets and information pages may be used in any order to suit the unique needs of your classroom.

Topics include: Federal, provincial and territorial governments, How the three levels of government function and interact, The electoral process, How a bill becomes a law, Constitution and charter of rights and freedoms, Immigration and becoming a Canadian citizen.

Introduction:

• At A Glance – List of Skills and Learning Expectations

• About the Resource

• List of Resources

• List of Vocabulary

• Teacher Planning Suggestions

• Topic Introduction Lesson

Lesson Plans:

The twenty-two lessons include learning expectations, discussion ideas where applicable, answers, reading passages and follow-up worksheets. 

Lesson One: What is a Government?

 • Students will understand the common elements found in any type of government.

Lesson Two: Kinds of Governments

• Students will become more familiar with the different forms of government found in countries around the world.

Lesson Three: Canada’s Government

Students will:

• become more aware of the style of government that governs Canada.

• have a better understanding of the many terms pertaining to our government.

Lesson Four: Our Parliamentary Government

• The students will become more aware of the different components of Canada’s Federal Government and how each one functions.

a) The Governor General

b) The Prime Minister

c) The Cabinet

d) Our Parliament

e) The Senate

f) The House of Commons

g) Speakers of the House

h) Sergeant-at-Arms

i) The Usher of the Black Rod

j) Parliamentary Pages

Lesson Five: The Opening of Parliament

• Students will understand the traditions and the order of events that take place during the Opening of Parliament.

Lesson Six: A Working Day in the House of Commons

Students will:

• become more aware of the daily organization and functions of the Federal Government in the House of Commons.

• become more familiar with the responsibilities and duties of a Member of Parliament.

Lesson Seven: What Does a Member of Parliament Do?

• Students will learn the tasks and jobs performed by a member of parliament.

Lesson Eight: National Political Parties

• Students will learn about the four main political parties in Canada.

Lesson Nine: How Are Political Parties Formed?

• Students will learn how political parties are organized and formed, how they raise money, the important characteristics of a good leader and more! 

Lesson Ten: Who Are the Backbenchers?

• Students will learn what the parties who are the backbenchers. Lesson Ten and Lesson Eleven need to be completed together.

Lesson Eleven: What Role Does the Opposition Play in our Government? 

• Students will learn the role the opposition plays. Lesson Ten and Lesson Eleven need to be completed together.

Lesson Twelve: What is the Civil Service?

• Students will learn why the civil service is important to government, who are civil servants, and how they help cabinet members.

Lesson Thirteen: What is the Rule of Law?

Students will:

• have a better understanding of the meaning of the word “law.”

• have a better understanding of the process used by the Government to establish laws.

Lesson Fourteen: How Does a Bill Become a Law?

• Students will learn how laws are made.

Lesson Fifteen: How Does Canada’s Environment Shape Its Government?

Students will

• become more aware that Canada’s geographical features, historical events, varied cultures, natural resources, values, and beliefs affect government policies and responses to peoples’ demands.

• have a better understanding that Canada’s extreme diversity is often difficult to govern.

Lesson Sixteen: How Do We Get the Government to Listen to Our Demands?

Students will

• learn about the various ways people communicate their feelings with the government about its decisions or actions.

• know that Canada is a democratic country.

Lesson Seventeen: What is an Election?

Students will:

• be able to identify and describe the electoral process in Canada.

• understand the procedures and organization completed during a Canadian election 

Lesson Eighteen: Confederation

Students will:

• understand the history of the birth of Canada and its Government.

• have a better understanding of the problems that had to be overcome to form Canada’s Government.

Lesson Nineteen: Canada’s Constitution and Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom 1982

Students will be:

• more aware of Canada’s Constitution and what it means.

• more knowledgeable of their rights and freedoms as stated in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982.

Lesson Twenty: Canadian Citizenship

Students will:

• be aware of the rights and responsibilities that accompany their Canadian Citizenship.

• have a better understanding of the process and steps an immigrant must take in order to become a Canadian Citizen.

Lesson Twenty-One: Provincial/Territorial Governments

Students will:

• understand different aspects of Provincial and Territorial Governments.

• become aware of the responsibilities of Provincial and Territorial Governments

Lesson Twenty-Two: Local or Municipal Governments

Students will:

• have the opportunity to explore their own local government and municipality.

• be exposed to the various leaders of their local government.

Learning About Our Community (Booklet) may be used by students to complete an independent study of their community. The pages may be reproduced and collated to make individual student booklets.

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