Witnessing Our Catholic Faith – Social Science Links
Celebrating the third year of the “Word, Worship, Witness” faith program at TCDSB
Welcome to the curricular links page highlighting resources that you can use to celebrate
the theme of “Witness” in Social Science courses. The links and resources are
categorized by issues and themes. We trust that educators will know best how to fit an
activity into their lesson planning to meet the diverse needs of students.
You may wish to describe the Ontario Catholic Graduate School Expectations (OCGSE) to
students. They can become aware of the important distinction highlighting what is
expected in addition to the normal provincial requirements to graduate. You can find the
OCGSE at:
Take a moment to also describe the three year faith program, “Word, Worship, Witness”
culminating in its final year so that students appreciate the purpose of activities outlined
below.
http://www.tcdsb.org/nurturingourcatholiccommunity.htm
Activity: Doing What’s Right Despite Authority and Peer Pressure
In history, sometimes people have faced a difficult decision whether to follow the
instructions of a figure of authority (e.g. state, religious leader, employer, etc). The
Holocaust is perhaps one of the most dramatic examples of this scenario. For both civics
and careers, one could discuss the importance of speaking out against what is unjust, as
well as not conforming to the majority if you know they’re wrong. Two video clips of
famous science experiments can spur your discussion:
The Milgram Experiment (Re-enactment) – Examining obedience (6.5 min)
This classic experiment tested the willingness of subjects to obey an authority figure even if
the instructions were against their conscience.
ATTACH VIDEO FILE (Milgram Xpt v1.mp4)
ATTACH VIDEO FILE (Milgram Xpt v2.mp4)
If you wish to see a useful commentary about the results and its significance please visit
the video site and look at the notes below the screen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpIzju84v24&feature=related
The Asch Line Experiment – Examining conformity (4 min)
This is an excellent summary of the classic experiment that showed the influence of peer
pressure on subjects to conform.
ATTACH VIDEO FILE HERE (Asch Xpt.mp4)
Activity: “Food Force” Video Game – United Nations World Food Programme
This resource might be of interest to senior Geography teachers.
Since its release in 2005, the UN WFP video game to teach children about the logistical
challenges of delivering food aid in a major humanitarian crisis has been downloaded over
6 million times, and has an estimated network of 10 million players worldwide!
Set on a fictitious island called Sheylan riven by drought and war, Food Force invites
children to complete six virtual missions that reflect real-life obstacles faced by WFP in its
emergency responses both to the tsunami and other hunger crises around the world.
With tens of thousands of Sheylan’s residents displaced and in urgent need of food aid,
players are required to pilot helicopters on reconnaissance missions, airdrop high energy
biscuits to internally displaced person (IDP) camps, negotiate with armed rebels on a food
convoy run and use food aid to help rebuild villages.
To underline the game’s main objectives of teaching children about global hunger and
WFP’s efforts to fight it, each mission begins with a briefing on the task ahead by a
member of the Food Force team of virtual aid workers.
It is followed by feedback on the player’s performance and an educational video filmed on
the frontlines of WFP’s work in the field.
The Food Force site also includes more information about WFP and features a special
section for teachers with downloadable lesson plans on what hunger is, why it exists and
how to end it. A How to Help section provides ideas on fundraising and school involvement.
“Food Force is a game that parents will encourage their children to play at home and that
teachers will find stimulating to use in the classroom,” said Gallagher.
"So many parents complain about the blood and gratuitous violence that kids are so
frequently exposed to in video games, this is a fun and action packed alternative."
To download and read more about the game, visit:
http://www.wfp.org/how-to-help/individuals/food-force
Activity – Millenium Development Goals
In light of the Catholic Social Teachings and Ontario Catholic Graduate School
Expectations, students can explore the role they can play in promoting social justice at a
global level. Learning about and promoting the United Nations Millenium Development
Goals (MDGs) are a vision worth sharing with their peers to make a difference.
The United Nations Millenium Development Goals calls governments around the world to
make poverty history. Citizens from all faith traditions are called to demand their
governments to re-commit to the goals. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get
involved on a global project. For an economics class you could ask students to research
how much funding Canada gives towards achieving MDGs and debate whether this is
satisfactory.
Here are some videos about the MDGs worth showing (and captivating to watch):
UN Millenium Campaign – a brief funky introduction to the MDGs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JnIJypPL-Q&feature=related
1 minute
UN MDG Campaign – You can make a difference!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciOK8yp28Q&feature=related
1 minute
MDG at World Cup – There are no spectators – we’re all players!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJwNJSbhjao&feature=related
Facts about poverty and then an introduction to MDGs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQwPr9PRkws&feature=related
Make Poverty History – Bono
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eih_ybKdVXU&feature=related
2:24
Activity – “Be More” Campaign from Caritas Australia
There is an inspiring set of posters that challenge transformation in one’s personal life,
family, community, country, and world. That’s what building a civil society is all about!
Created by Caritas Australia, it’s colourful images, quotes, and suggested action make for
ideal use in the classroom:
“Be More” Poster Set ADD LINK TO ATTACHMENT HERE
You can divide the class into groups and ask them to think of specific examples of
transformation they could take on with each poster.
“Be More” Slideshow
An excellent brief presentation to empower students with a message of how they can “Be
More”
ADD LINK TO ATTACHED FILE
Activity – Short Reverse-Message Video of Empowerment
This YouTube clip has youth reading a message that starts off sounding cynical and
hopeless, but then the message is read in reverse giving a final message of empowerment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWSYPDh7O5Q&feature=related
If you want the simple text version of the video to focus on the words, use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRG4ySdi_aE&feature=related
Activity – Catholic Non-violence in Fighting Oppression
Two case studies enable students to see the role of church figures in empowering the poor
to rise up against oppressive leaders in a non-violent way.
a) Oscar Romero: Fighting Oppression in El Salvador
For secondary lesson plans on the life of Oscar Romero:
http://www.bemore.org.au/resources-educational
For a brief biography about Oscar Romero with reflection questions:
ADD LINK TO FILE ATTACHMENT HERE
For an excellent Powerpoint highlighting the Romero prayer:
http://www.bemore.org.au/resources-multimedia
b) Cardinal Sin: Fighting Oppression in the Philippines
To explore the non-violent People Power (EDSA) revolution in the Philippines when the
dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, was overthrown, check out a website designed by students on
the ORACLE ThinkQuest Education Foundation:
http://library.thinkquest.org/15816/thepeople.article1.html
For a biography and reflection about Cardinal Jaime Sin regarding his key role in the EDSA
revolution:
ADD LINK TO FILE ATTACHMENT HERE
Activity – Biographies and Profiles of Witnesses
The following biographies or profiles exemplify Catholic witnesses who have experienced a
transformation and call others to do the same. They ultimately challenge one to reflect on
and revisit their values and lifestyle, and in so doing, help those who are less fortunate.
Each biography or profile includes a set of reflection questions.
a) Ryan Hreljak Profile – founder of Ryan’s Well Foundation, shares his story of becoming
active and aware as a 6-year old student to begin a campaign to bring clean water to a
village in Uganda.
USE HIS NAME FOR ATTACHMENT LINK
b) Marc and Craig Kielburger share their experiences, thoughts, and journey through ten
years of Free the Children.
USE NAME FOR ATTACHMENT LINK
Activity – Simulation Games
There are a variety of simulation games or activities available for students to experience, in
a small way, what life is like for the underprivileged and the need for social justice. The
process enables students to explore the structures, causes, and dynamics of oppression
and poverty. It allows them to understand the political and economic structures that exist
which promote a widening gap between the rich and the poor. While you may require more
time and effort to prepare than average, students tend to appreciate the issues better after
walking in the shoes of others.
Development and Peace offers several simulation games for downloading on their website:
 Shoes
 Land Game
 Peanut Game
 Water for Profit
 AMANZI
http://youth.devp.org/thinkfast/social-justice-activities/simulation-games/
There is also the Bead Game, developed by Oxfam:
ADD FILE ATTACHMENT TO NAME
You can also download the Coffee Chain Game
(ADD FILE ATTACHMENT TO NAME)
Activity – Get Involved in the Board’s Banning Bottled Water Campaign
The Toronto Catholic District School Board has approved a motion to develop a BottledWater Free Policy. Use the following activity to explore the issue further and how
students can become active in the campaign.
Social Justice Through the Arts (ADD LINK TO ATTACHMENT)
Why Ban Bottled Water (ADD LINK TO ATTACHMENT)
You can also make use of subvertisements in creating a campaign to promote awareness
about this or any other issue. See the next activity.
Activity – Critique of Media Using Subvertisements
Subvertising refers to the practice of making spoofs or parodies of corporate and political
advertisements in order to make a statement. This can take the form of a new image, or an
alteration to an existing image. A subvertisement can also be referred to as meme hack
and can be a part of social hacking or culture jamming.
According to AdBusters, a Canadian magazine and a leading proponent of counter-culture
and subvertising, "A well produced 'subvert' mimics the look and feel of the targeted ad,
promoting the classic 'double-take' as viewers suddenly realize they have been duped.
Subverts create cognitive dissonance. It cuts through the hype and glitz of our mediated
reality and, momentarily, reveals a deeper truth within."
Examples of subvertisements:
For the Hummer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWzpDWW-vhw&NR=1
For the iPod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqCKmWjX9Y&feature=related
For the “Take Back the Filter” Brita water:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV6ztwmLsco
How to create a subvertisement using Movie-Maker or iMovie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QmTDIs1qVw
While the following video clip is not a subvertisement, it gives a message warning us about
the effects of media in distorting our image of beauty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
(Created by the Dove Self-Esteem Fund)