Lesson
Name: Current Events
Category: Canadian History
Course Code: CHC 2D/2P
Created By: Mark Melnyk, Adrienne Chong and David Butler
School: Markville Secondary School
Level: Grade 10
Time: Ongoing throughout course
Rationale:
Students explore current
ideas and opinions on a weekly basis regarding various topics related to
Canada. The process will help students to understand the continuity, changes
and challenges that exist in Canadian History and develop critical thinking
skills about Media Bias and Awareness.
This exercise helps
students with identifying the thesis and main arguments useful for essay
writing. It helps students understand the importance of formulating arguments
that are supported with solid evidence (useful for essays and oral debates,
trials and presentations).
Expectations:
Overall
Expectations
- demonstrate
an understanding of the elements of Canadian identity;
- demonstrate
an understanding of the ways in which outside forces and events have
shaped Canada’s policies;
Methods of
Historical Inquiry
- ask
questions, identify problems, and effectively use historical research
methods to investigate topics and issues in history;
- use
a variety of information sources effectively when researching historical
topics or issues, accurately record relevant information, and then
organize this information in a meaningful way;
- analyse
and evaluate information when researching historical topics or issues;
- demonstrate
an ability to apply insights from history to other situations.
Analysing and
Evaluating Information
- identify
different viewpoints and explicit biases when evaluating information for a
research report or participating in a discussion;
- distinguish
between primary and secondary sources of information, and demonstrate an
understanding of how to use each appropriately in historical research;
- distinguish
between fact and inference in primary and secondary sources (e.g.,
artifacts, visuals, articles);
- use
relevant and adequate supporting evidence to draw conclusions.
Instructions:
1. The primary goals are
to facilitate a greater understanding of the role of the media in society, help
students to develop connections between current events and Canadian historical
development, and develop critical thinking and analysis skills that should
become a regular part of students daily life.
2. Three Part
Activity (One, Two or All parts can be used)
a) Weekly current events sessions in class
b) Develop a Current Events Journal
c) **Enrichment** Develop a weekly newsletter or
monthly magazine that allows students to develop their writing, reading and
thinking skills.
Part A. Weekly Current
Events Sessions
- The teacher can start
by providing students with the first few articles: we post ours on our website
for all students to print http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/canbinder.html
- Guide students through
the process of active reading;
-
read with a pencil &
highlighter in hand
-
identify the thesis
-
establish the author’s purpose
-
identify the main
arguments
-
highlight interesting
points
-
importance to Canada’s
development
-
develop 5 questions about
the issues and the article
-
generate relevant personal
comments.
- We use the first 30-40
minutes of every Friday class as the “current events” session, reading through
the article, analysing and questioning along the way. Teachers may want to copy
articles to an overhead the first few times to help students identify critical
points.
- Encourage students to
identify links within the articles to events that are being studied in the
course, and to issues that are relevant to them as young Canadians. Ask
students how the issues in the articles relate to the continuum of social,
economic, or political thought and consciousness in Canadian development.
- Students will then be
encouraged to take leadership in bringing in articles for analysis.
Part B. Develop a
Current Events Journal
All articles will be
kept in a specific section of their binder, as there will be a current events
test at the end of the term. Be sure to refer to the various articles during
current events sections to make the links and connections relevant for
students.
Part C. **Enrichment**
Develop a weekly newsletter or monthly magazine that allows students to develop
their writing, reading and thinking skills.
The purpose of this
portion is to allow students to play the role of journalists, historians,
writers and publishers. Organization is crucial if students are working in
groups. Assiging specific roles insures balance, equality and a professional
product. Some of the basic roles that can be used are:
Editor, Assistant
Editor, Publisher, Layout, Researcher, Reporters, Creative Design (images and
artwork), Writers and Reporters.
The Editor ensures that
all members of the group are taking responsibility for their work. Students can
use their finished product as a study tool.
Specific Assignments for
Section 3:
Historical Newspaper: http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/cannewspaperv2.html
The Post: http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/cannews.html
Historical Review: http://www.everyteacher.com/cgi-local/lessons/pm.cgi?action=display&login=Historical_Review_History_Magazine
Materials:
1. Most articles that
are used at Markville come from the following media:
Maclean’s Online: http://www.macleans.ca
The Economist Online: http://www.economist.com
The Toronto Star Online:
http://www.thestar.com
The Globe and Mail: http://www.globeandmail.com
The Atlantic Monthly: http://www.theatlantic.com
Traditional Newspapers
and Magazines are useful, but articles can be difficult to photocopy.
Assessment &
Evaluation:
- Observation during current events sessions
can identify students with strong verbal communication and critical
thinking skills. Encouraging the “quiet” students to get involved, and
making them feel comfortable participating will assist all students.
- After the first few sessions, ask to collect
students articles checking their “Active Reading” skills. Make comments
and identify where students can improve.
- Develop a current events test at the end of
the term covering all the articles that were used during the year.
** Some media programs
such as the Macleans one listed below has other evaluation and assessment
tools.**
Note:
Some newpapers or
magazines offer current events programs, such as http://www.macleans.ca that can assist with
media awareness and article analysis.
Most articles that are
used at Markville come from the following media:
Maclean’s Online: http://www.macleans.ca
The Economist Online: http://www.economist.com
The Toronto Star Online:
http://www.thestar.com
The Globe and Mail: http://www.globeandmail.com
The Atlantic Monthly: http://www.theatlantic.com