Identity, Culture, and Community

Students will explore concepts of identity, culture, and community in relation to individuals, societies, and nations.

Many factors influence identity and life in communities, including culture, language, history, and shared beliefs and values. Identity is subject to time and place, and is shaped by a multiplicity of personal, social, and economic factors. A critical consideration of identity, culture, and community provides students with opportunities to explore the symbols and expressions of their own and others’ cultural and social groups. Through a study of the ways in which people live together and express themselves in communities, societies, and nations, students enhance their understanding of diverse perspectives and develop their competencies as social beings. This process enables them to reflect upon their roles as individuals and citizens so as to become contributing members of their groups and communities. The specific learning outcomes within Identity, Culture, and Community include concepts such as human interaction and interdependence, cultural diversity, national identities, and pluralism.

Lessons

Hype!

Kellogg Special K Ads

Marketing to Teens: Alternate Ads

Marketing to Teens: Gender Roles in Advertising

Marketing to Teens: Gotta Have It! Designer & Brand Names

Marketing to Teens: Introduction

Marketing to Teens: Marketing Tactics

Marketing to Teens: Talking Back

Sex in Advertising

The Pornography Debate: Controversy in Advertising

The Price of Happiness

Crime in the News

Television Newscasts

Comparing Crime Dramas

Crime in the News

Ethnic and Visible Minorities in Entertainment Media

Perceptions of Race and Crime

The White Screen: Absent Voices in the Media

Too White: Minority Representation in the Media - Lesson

Advertising and Male Violence

The Pornography Debate: Controversy in Advertising

Free Speech Versus the Internet

Privacy in the Information Age

Propaganda Techniques on Hate Sites

Understanding Online Hate

Movie Heroes and the Heroic Journey

The Blockbuster Movie

Violence on Film: The Ratings Game

Popular Music and Music Videos

The Function of Music

Defining Popular Culture

Teachable Moments

Real Beauty in Magazines

Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty

Real Beauty in Magazines

Media Literacy Key Concepts in Action

Photographic Truth in the Digital Era

The Land: Places and People

Students will explore the dynamic relationships of people with the land, places, and environments.

People exist in dynamic relationships with the land. The exploration of people’s relationships with places and environments creates an understanding of human dependence and impact upon the natural environment. Students explore how spatial and physical characteristics of the environment affect human life, cultures, and societies. They consider how connections to the land influence their identities and define their roles and responsibilities as citizens, locally, nationally, and globally. The specific learning outcomes within The Land: Places and People focus on geographic understanding and skills, and concepts such as sustainability, stewardship, and the relationship between people and the land.

Lessons

The Resource Racket:  A Global Perspective on Resources and Consumption

Teachable Moments

Buy Nothing Day

Earth Day

Hurricane Katrina and the Internet

Hurricane Katrina

Protest in Quebec City: Anticipating the Media Coverage

Historical Connections

Students will explore how people, events, and ideas of the past shape the present and influence the future.

The past shapes who we are. An exploration of Canadian and world history enables students to acquire knowledge and appreciation of the past, to understand the present, and to live with regard for the future. An important aspect of this process is the disciplined investigation and interpretation of history. Students learn to think historically as they explore people, events, ideas, and evidence of the past. As they reflect upon diverse perspectives, personal narratives, parallel accounts, and oral and social histories, students develop the historical understanding that provides a foundation for active democratic citizenship. The specific learning outcomes within Historical Connections enable students to develop an interest in the past, and focus on chronological thinking, historical understanding, and concepts such as progress, decline, continuity, and change.

Lessons

Cinema Cops

Selling Tobacco

Global Interdependence

Students will explore the global interdependence of people, communities, societies, nations, and environments.

People, communities, societies, nations, and environments are interdependent. An exploration of this interdependence enhances students’ global consciousness and helps them develop empathy with respect to the human condition. Students critically consider diverse perspectives as they examine the connections that link local, national, and global communities. Consideration of global connections enables students to expand their knowledge of the world in which they live and to engage in active democratic citizenship. The specific learning outcomes within Global Interdependence focus on human rights and responsibilities, diversity and commonality, quality of life and equity, globalization, international cooperation and conflict, and global environmental concerns.

Lessons

Crime in the News

Cinema Cops

Comparing Crime Dramas

Crime Perceptions Quiz

Perceptions of Race and Crime

Viewing a Crime Drama

Bias in the News

Diversity Audit

Ethnic and Visible Minorities in Entertainment Media

The White Screen: Absent Voices in the Media

Too White: Minority Representation in the Media

The Resource Racket:  A Global Perspective on Resources and Consumption

Challenging Hate

Fact Versus Opinion

Teachable Moments

TERRORISM: 2001 09 11

Buy Nothing Day

Earth Day

TV Turnoff Week

Power and Authority

Students will explore the processes and structures of power and authority, and their implications for individuals, relationships, communities, and nations.

Power and authority influence all human relationships. Students critically examine the distribution, exercise, and implications of power and authority in everyday life and in formal settings. They consider diverse forms of governance and leadership, and inquire into issues of fairness and equity. This exploration helps students develop a sense of personal empowerment as active democratic citizens. The specific learning outcomes within Power and Authority include concepts such as political structures and decision making, governance, justice, rules and laws, conflict and conflict resolution, and war and peace.

Lessons

Political Cartoons

Diversity Audit

Bias

The White Screen: Absent Voices in the Media

Too White: Minority Representation in the Media

Teachable Moments

Protest in Quebec City: Anticipating the Media Coverage

TERRORISM: 2001 09 11 - Teachable Moment

Economics and Resources

Students will explore the distribution of resources and wealth in relation to individuals, communities, and nations.

The management and distribution of resources and wealth have a direct impact on human societies and quality of life. Students explore the effects of economic interdependence on individuals, communities, and nations in the global context. They examine economic factors that affect decision making, the use of resources, and the development of technologies. As students explore diverse perspectives regarding human needs, wants, and quality of life, they critically consider the social and environmental implications of the distribution of resources and technologies, locally, nationally, and globally. The specific learning outcomes within Economics and Resources include concepts such as trade, commerce, and industry, access to resources, economic disparities, economic systems, and globalization.

Lessons

Marketing to Teens: Gotta Have It! Designer & Brand Names

Crime Perceptions Quiz - Lesson

Perceptions of Race and Crime

Perceptions of Youth and Crime

Viewing a Crime Drama

Diversity Audit