1. Prime Minister Database

Purposes:

• Students will have the opportunity to research the Prime Ministers of Canada using a variety of sources (traditional research materials, Internet, non-print media sources, etc.)
• Students will gain an understanding of the backgrounds, education, political history and the contributions made by the Prime Ministers in Canada's history
• Students will learn how to create a database using features commonly found in word-processing packages in the school community
• Students will share their research with other students in their school
• Students may share their research with other schools if they publish their work on their school Web site

Grade Level: Grades 4 - 8

• Biographical Data Sheet (pages 22 & 23)
• Access to a variety of research materials (library, encyclopedia, Internet, non-print, journals,etc.)
• Computer access

• Develop a rubric that looks at both the research skills and the technological skills used by the students (check sample Research Skills Rubric included)
• Self Evaluation

2. Classroom or School Election

• Students will explore issues that are relevant
• Students will prepare speeches and deliver them
• Students will participate in an election process
• Students will learn and use appropriate vocabulary related to elections

Grade Levels: Grades 7 and 8

• Information on elections (see: Information pages 6 & 7) Internet and book resources
• Recent information about federal, provincial, or municipal elections

• Review general information about elections in a class setting
• Discuss issues that the class may consider to be important to the class or school as a whole. How are issues of importance chosen? Why are some issues more important than others to the class?
• Break into smaller groups (political parties) to discuss one or two of the issues. What are the issues?
• Each group will choose a candidate from their group to represent them and the one or two issues that they believe are most important. How is your party and your candidate going to address the issues and deal with them? What promises can you make? Can you actually live up to the promises you make?
• Candidate, with support from the political party will write a short (2 - 3 minute) speech to present outlining the issues and how the party proposes to deal with the issues
• A secret ballot vote, complete with scrutineers, a voters list, and ballot box with ballots, should be conducted. Why is a secret ballot an important part of the election process in Canada? How would an election be different if everyone knew who you were voting for?
• Candidate with the most votes is elected as class (or school) Prime Minister and the other members of his/her political party become Cabinet Ministers

• Rubric for oral presentation
• Use of terminology in class discussion
• Group participation and on-task behaviour

3. The Right to Vote

Purposes:

• Students will learn that men and women fought and won the right to vote

Grade Levels: Grades 4 - 8

• Background information on the topic: Books and Internet resources
• Close activity sheets (one per student) : Women and the Right To Vote (pages 24)

• Provide each student a copy of the close activity and have them complete it. Students in grades 4 - 6, or students with special learning needs, could be provided with a word bank to assist them in completing the work. Older students could be expected to complete the work with information discussed in class

• Completion of the activity sheets
• Participation in the class discussion

4. Prime Ministers of Canada Time Line

Purposes:

• The students will research the lives of the Prime Ministers of Canada with emphasis on the major historical and political events that occurred during the time each was Prime Minister
• The students will create a time line outlining the main events and major contributions of each of the Canadian Prime Ministers

Grade Level: Grades 6 - 8

• Canada's Prime Ministers Web site: http://www.archives.ca
• Prime Ministers of Canada Web site: http://cnet.unb.ca/achn/pme/learning/lessons
• Book: The Kids Book of Canadian Prime Ministers
• Book: Canada's Prime Ministers, Governors General and Fathers of Confederation
• Book: Prime Ministers of Canada
• Paper, writing tools, straight-edge (ruler)

• As a class, investigate resources available concerning the Prime Ministers of Canada
• Make a list that includes each Prime Minister
• Assign each student at least one Prime Minister to investigate. Students should find the full name of each Prime Minister, the political party he or she represents, the years the individual was in office. Special attention should be given to major events, crises, and political contributions made during his or her time in office
• Make a large class-size time line with the main events and happenings since the time of Confederation

• Active participation
• Wise use of time and resources
• Accuracy of information

5. Who Am I?

Purposes:

• Students will review the facts and contributions about the Prime Ministers, Fathers of Confederation, and Governors General of Canada in a game format

Grade Levels: Grades 6 - 8

• List of facts and contributions of Canadian Prime Ministers, Governors General, and Fathers of Confederation (collect from books, newspapers, internet sites)
• Small slates, white boards or writing pads with appropriate writing tools
• Team prizes or incentives (free time activities, computer time, etc.)

• Use this activity after the class has studied the contributions and facts about the Prime Ministers and other officials listed above [Note: This is a culminating activity for reinforcing information in a fun game-like format]
• Divide the class into two or more teams
• State a fact [Note: The facts should be well-known ones studied in class rather than obscure pieces of information!]. Teams will decide who the person is and write the answer secretly on their board or slate
• Award points to each team that correctly answers the question in an allotted period of time [10 points for each correct answer]. Subtract points for teams who shout out the answer [2 points for each outburst]
• Team with the most points at the end of the game will be awarded the team prize or incentive

• Active class participation [Note: Because this is a fun team-building activity, individual should be evaluated only on the active participation and the contribution they make to the group rather than on their individual answers]