Page 152 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies

Citizenship Education
The expectations in the Grade 10 civics (politics) course provide numerous opportunities for students to explore the four elements of the citizenship education framework: identity, attributes, structures, and active participation (see page 10).
Political Significance
This concept requires students to determine the importance of things such as government policies; political or social issues, events, or developments; and the civic actions of individuals or groups . Political significance is generally determined by the impact of a government policy or decision on the lives of citizens, or by the influence that civic action, including the civic action of students, has on political or public decision making . Students develop their understanding that the political significance of something may vary for different groups of people .
Related Questions*
− What do you think is the most important reason for engaging in civic action? (B1 .3)
− What criteria do you think should be used when deciding which events or people to formally
recognize? (C2 .2)
− Why do some people not vote? What is the significance of their lack of participation for Canadian
citizenship? (B1 .2)
Objectives and Results
This concept requires students to explore the factors that lead to events, policies, decisions, and/or plans of action of civic and political importance . It also requires students to analyse the effects of civic and political actions and to recognize that government policies and decisions as well as responses to civic issues can have a range of effects on various groups of people . A comparison of the initial purpose or goals of a policy or decision and its effects enables students to distinguish between intended and unintended results .
Related Questions
− How would you know if your plan were achieving its objectives? (C3 .4)
− Why do you think that, in order to earn a secondary school diploma in Ontario, students must complete
community involvement hours? (B3 .2)
− What was the objective of the UN Declaration of Human Rights? Do all people enjoy the rights
embodied in that document? (B3 .4)
The Concepts of Political Thinking
The four concepts of political thinking – political significance, objectives and results, stability and change, and political perspective – underpin thinking and learning in all politics courses in the Canadian and world studies program. At least one concept of political thinking is identified as the focus for each overall expectation in strands B and C of the Grade 10 civics (politics) course. The following chart describes each concept and provides sample questions related to it. These questions highlight opportunities for students to apply a specific concept in their studies. (See page 13 for
a fuller discussion of the concepts of disciplinary thinking.)
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies
(continued)
* The “related questions” are drawn directly from the overview chart that precedes the Grade 10 civics (politics) course and from the sample questions that accompany many specific expectations.
150