Civics in the Classroom: Citizenship Challenge Elementary Education Guide

THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP ACTIVITY 3: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Canadians have both rights and responsibilities. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms tells people living in Canada what their rights and freedoms are in this country. The Charter was added as part of the Constitution in 1982. The Constitution is the highest law in Canada, meaning that it and the Charter are the most important laws we have. Canadians also have responsibilities. These responsibilities allow Canadians to live together in peace and participate in Canada’s democracy. Responsibilities like protecting the natural environment help keep Canada safe and clean for future generations. Some rights and responsibilities in Canada relate to Indigenous peoples. Responsibilities toward Indigenous peoples in Canada are addressed in Activity 4 in the section Impact of Colonialism in Canada , starting on the next page. PART I: 1. Have the teacher write five rights and five responsibilities of Canadian citizenship on the board. As a class, categorize each word on the board as either a right or a responsibility. How might some rights (e.g., the right to democracy) be linked to some responsibilities (e.g., the responsibility to vote)? 2. Have a class discussion about which rights and responsibilities are important in a classroom/school/country. What might happen if someone at school did not live up to their responsibilities? Can you think of a time when you witnessed or heard of someone being denied their rights? PART II: 1. Working individually from the list of examples below, create a poster or infographic that represents a specific right or freedom as well as a specific responsibility. Older students can write a paragraph accompanying their designs, which should include definitions of the right/freedom and responsibility, and an explanation of the symbolism in the visuals. RIGHTS: • Mobility rights — Canadians can live and work anywhere in Canada and can apply for a passport. • Legal rights — Canadians have the right to be treated fairly during legal proceedings, including those charged with a criminal offence. • Official language rights — French and English have equal status in the federal government. • Equality — All Canadians are equal under the law. For example, men and women are equal in Canada. • Multiculturalism — Canada is a multicultural country and works hard to protect its multicultural heritage and accept differences among Canadians. • Democratic rights — All Canadians have the right to participate in Canada’s democracy, including voting in elections. FREEDOMS: • Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression • Freedom of religion • Freedom of association • Freedom of peaceful assembly RESPONSIBILITIES: • Obeying the law • Serving on a jury • Voting in elections • Helping others in the community • Protecting Canada’s natural environment ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITY: CREATING GROUP TABLEAUS 1. Introduce Canadians’ rights/freedoms and responsibilities through a tableau. A tableau is a frozen scene created by students, using their bodies to depict an idea, story, moment in time, or emotion. 2. Divide into small groups of three or four students. Select one right or freedom from the lists above. Work in your group to create a tableau that represents your chosen right or freedom. 3. With your group, create a second tableau that represents one responsibility of Canadian citizenship from the above list. 4. Once you are prepared to share your work, have each group present its frozen images as the teacher reads out the right/ freedom and responsibility depicted. TEA Consider going through Canadians’ rights, freedoms, and responsibilities listed on the right together as a class. Some, for example “freedom of assembly,” may require further explanation. Consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s “The rights and responsibilities of citizenship” for a summary of the rights and responsibilities Canada has enshrined: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration- refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications- manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/canadian- citizenship/overview/rights-responsibilities.html You can also consult Canadian Heritage’s “Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms” available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/ services/how-rights-protected/guide-canadian-charter- rights-freedoms.html#a2e Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (courtesy Library and Archives Canada/Robert Stacey fonds/Crown copyright/R11274-148/1 of 2). Dancers at a multicultural fashion show in Vancouver in 2012 (Dreamstime/ Howesjwe/25474158). 5