Skills and Processes of Civic Studies 11
- Apply critical thinking skills— including questioning, comparing, summarizing, drawing conclusions, and defending—to a range of issues, situations, and topics.
- Demonstrate effective research skills, including: accessing information, assessing information, collecting data, evaluating data, organizing information, and presenting information.
Informed Citizenship
- Identify historical roots of the Canadian political and legal systems, including: British parliamentary system, political philosophies and parties, British common law, le droit civil (French civil code), British North America Act.
- Describe the division of powers in Canada among federal, provincial, territorial, First Nations, and municipal governments.
- Describe Canada’s electoral systems and processes.
Civic Deliberation
- Evaluate the relative abilities of individuals, governments, and non-governmental organizations to effect civic change in Canada and the world, with reference to considerations such as: power and influence, circumstances, methods of decision making and action, and public opinion.
Civic Action
- Evaluate the citizen’s role in civic processes locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
Discover Your Legislature is particularly well suited to match the Prescribed Learning Outcomes in Civic Studies 11. As this resource deals with both People and Purpose, many of the PLO’s are accessible in a dynamic and interactive manner. Students will benefit from the descriptors provided under each of the headings in the People section as well as all of the information provided under the headings in the Purpose section.
The opportunity to access the British North America Act, 1867 (and the subsequent Constitution Act, 1967) is extremely beneficial for the students in this course. There is a detailed and informative description provided of citizens’ participation in both the Legislative Assembly and the provincial government helping students learn how they can have direct access to Members of the Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Committees and provincial government representatives. Special recognition is also given to issues of fairness and equality in BC, by highlighting the specific roles of government officials, e.g. the provincial Ombudsman.
The constitutional evolution of Canada as a nation is also explored along with a breakdown of the various branches of government. Students can also access information on BC Elections along with an electoral map of BC.
As the History section deals with social programs, First Nations’ history, women’s rights and a myriad of other facts, the student and the teacher can ascertain significant information. The Interactive Games section, Parliamentary Puzzle is an excellent addition for students at this grade level. Students will be able to development a sense of civic identity after previewing this material.