Lesson Name: Current Events
Category: Canadian History
Course Code: CHC 2D/2P
Created By: Mark Melnyk, Adrienne Chong and David Butler
School: Markville Secondary School
Level: Grade 10
Time: Ongoing throughout course
Rationale:
Students explore current ideas and opinions on a weekly basis regarding various topics
related to Canada. The process will help students to understand the continuity, changes
and challenges that exist in Canadian History and develop critical thinking skills about
Media Bias and Awareness.
This exercise helps students with identifying the thesis and main arguments useful for
essay writing. It helps students understand the importance of formulating arguments that
are supported with solid evidence (useful for essays and oral debates, trials and
presentations).
Expectations:
Overall Expectations
 demonstrate an understanding of the elements of Canadian identity;
 demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which outside forces and events have shaped
Canada’s policies;
Methods of Historical Inquiry
 ask questions, identify problems, and effectively use historical research methods to investigate
topics and issues in history;
 use a variety of information sources effectively when researching historical topics or issues,
accurately record relevant information, and then organize this information in a meaningful way;
 analyse and evaluate information when researching historical topics or issues;
 demonstrate an ability to apply insights from history to other situations.
Analysing and Evaluating Information
 identify different viewpoints and explicit biases when evaluating information for a research report
or participating in a discussion;
 distinguish between primary and secondary sources of information, and demonstrate an
understanding of how to use each appropriately in historical research;
 distinguish between fact and inference in primary and secondary sources (e.g., artifacts, visuals,
articles);
 use relevant and adequate supporting evidence to draw conclusions.
Instructions:
1. The primary goals are to facilitate a greater understanding of the role of the media in
society, help students to develop connections between current events and Canadian
historical development, and develop critical thinking and analysis skills that should
become a regular part of students daily life.
2. Three Part Activity (One, Two or All parts can be used)
a) Weekly current events sessions in class
b) Develop a Current Events Journal
c) **Enrichment** Develop a weekly newsletter or monthly magazine that allows
students to develop their writing, reading and thinking skills.
Part A. Weekly Current Events Sessions
- The teacher can start by providing students with the first few articles: we post ours on
our website for all students to print
http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/canbinder.html
- Guide students through the process of active reading;
-
read with a pencil & highlighter in hand
identify the thesis
establish the author’s purpose
identify the main arguments
highlight interesting points
importance to Canada’s development
develop 5 questions about the issues and the article
generate relevant personal comments.
- We use the first 30-40 minutes of every Friday class as the “current events” session,
reading through the article, analysing and questioning along the way. Teachers may want
to copy articles to an overhead the first few times to help students identify critical points.
- Encourage students to identify links within the articles to events that are being studied
in the course, and to issues that are relevant to them as young Canadians. Ask students
how the issues in the articles relate to the continuum of social, economic, or political
thought and consciousness in Canadian development.
- Students will then be encouraged to take leadership in bringing in articles for analysis.
Part B. Develop a Current Events Journal
All articles will be kept in a specific section of their binder, as there will be a current
events test at the end of the term. Be sure to refer to the various articles during current
events sections to make the links and connections relevant for students.
Part C. **Enrichment** Develop a weekly newsletter or monthly magazine that allows
students to develop their writing, reading and thinking skills.
The purpose of this portion is to allow students to play the role of journalists, historians,
writers and publishers. Organization is crucial if students are working in groups. Assiging
specific roles insures balance, equality and a professional product. Some of the basic
roles that can be used are:
Editor, Assistant Editor, Publisher, Layout, Researcher, Reporters, Creative Design
(images and artwork), Writers and Reporters.
The Editor ensures that all members of the group are taking responsibility for their work.
Students can use their finished product as a study tool.
Specific Assignments for Section 3:
Historical Newspaper: http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/cannewspaperv2.html
The Post: http://www.yrbe.edu.on.ca/~mkvlss/history/cannews.html
Historical Review: http://www.everyteacher.com/cgilocal/lessons/pm.cgi?action=display&login=Historical_Review_History_Magazine
Materials:
1. Most articles that are used at Markville come from the following media:
Maclean’s Online: http://www.macleans.ca
The Economist Online: http://www.economist.com
The Toronto Star Online: http://www.thestar.com
The Globe and Mail: http://www.globeandmail.com
The Atlantic Monthly: http://www.theatlantic.com
Traditional Newspapers and Magazines are useful, but articles can be difficult to
photocopy.
Assessment & Evaluation:
1. Observation during current events sessions can identify students with strong
verbal communication and critical thinking skills. Encouraging the “quiet”
students to get involved, and making them feel comfortable participating will
assist all students.
2. After the first few sessions, ask to collect students articles checking their “Active
Reading” skills. Make comments and identify where students can improve.
3. Develop a current events test at the end of the term covering all the articles that
were used during the year.
** Some media programs such as the Macleans one listed below has other evaluation and
assessment tools.**
Note:
Some newpapers or magazines offer current events programs, such as
http://www.macleans.ca that can assist with media awareness and article analysis.
Most articles that are used at Markville come from the following media:
Maclean’s Online: http://www.macleans.ca
The Economist Online: http://www.economist.com
The Toronto Star Online: http://www.thestar.com
The Globe and Mail: http://www.globeandmail.com
The Atlantic Monthly: http://www.theatlantic.com