Citizenship Challenge Civics Education Guide

Modification: As a class, discuss the definitions of “right” and “responsibility.” Next, have the students form groups. Each group has been shipwrecked on an island, and needs to learn how to live together. Have each group write down or discuss three rights and three responsibilities they believe the people on their island should have for their society to be successful. In a class discussion, have each group compare the rights and responsibilities they have selected with those of the other groups. For newcomers, it may be interesting to have them compare rights and responsibilities in their home country with those in Canada, and with what they chose for their island. ACTIVITY FIVE: SHIPWRECKED ON AN ISLAND You and the people in your group have been washed ashore on an island. You don’t know anything about the island, nor where it is located. After a number of weeks, it has become clear that you will not be rescued, and you are going to have to decide — as a group — how you are going to live together on the island. Part of this will include agreeing on fundamental rights and freedoms that must exist for you to live in peace. 1. Complete the “My Island” half of the Shipwrecked on an Island Graphic Organizer (available on the Education Portal ) with your group. a. Agree on three to five fundamental rights and freedoms that you feel are important for citizens to have for your society to be successful. b. Agree on three to five responsibilities that you feel are important for citizens to have for your society to be successful. Be prepared to justify your selections. c. Determine how decisions will be made in your society (governance). For example, if your society has leaders, how will they be selected? d. Decide on three supreme laws for your community. These laws can be about anything and will become your society’s constitution. e. Come to an agreement on the punishments for citizens who violate the supreme laws of your society. Be prepared to justify your laws and associated punishments. 2. Complete the second column of your graphic organizer (“Canada”) with your group, adding in the following information: a. Choose three to five important rights and freedoms we enjoy in Canada. Consult the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the resources mentioned below to help make your selections. b. Choose three to five responsibilities we have as Canadian citizens. c. Determine what type of government Canada has. d. Select three important laws in Canada. e. Research the punishments for those who violate the three important laws you have selected. THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES You’re shipwrecked. Howwill you choose to govern your new society? (Dreamstime/Claudio Bruni/94182448). Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/ Robert Stacey fonds/Crown copyright/ R11274-148/1 of 2). 3. Once you have completed the chart on your rights and freedoms, compare them with those found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . As a group, evaluate the rights of your imagined society in relation to the rights you enjoy as Canadians. What does Canada protect that you might not have thought about? Did you come up with any ideas that might be good for Canada to adopt? 4. As a group, answer the question “Why do you think Canada has enshrined the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today?” Teacher Tip: Have your students consult the following sources to complete the “Canada” section of the graphic organizer: • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s “The Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizenship”: https:/ www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees- citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/ operational-bulletins-m anuals/canadian- citizenship/overv iew/rights-responsibilitie s.html • The Canadian Encyclopedia collection on The Cons titution : https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/collec tion/the-constitution • Canada’s Justice LawWeb site’s Criminal Code: https:/ laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/