Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, Ontario
K2G-1V8
(613)727-4723 ext.5138
Democratic & Authoritarian Regimes
Provided by Ottawa Carleton District School Board
Last updated: July 13, 2007
All pictures, maps and graphics associated with lesson plans are the property of Algonquin
College, unless otherwise noted or linked. Statistical data and background information has been
collected from the CIA World Factbook, public domain reference materials, and (where identified)
external resources.
Curriculum and Lesson Plans have been created by partner School Boards [as identified]. These
lesson plans and associated resources (photo, video, audio, etc.) are free for use to all teachers
within the partner Boards in the delivery of the Ontario K-12 Curriculum. While every effort has
been made to maintain the accuracy of the information provided, Algonquin College is not
responsible for unintentional data entry errors or omissions.
If you would like to report any errors or corrections for lesson plans, or use copyrighted materials
for purposes other than the Ontario Curriculum please contact:
Expedition Africa at (613)727-4723 ext. 5138 or email expeditionafrica@algonquincollege.com
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Table of Contents
Summary of Lesson Plan
Summary of Lesson Plan ................... 2
LESSON OBJECTIVES ....................... 3
MOTIVATION ....................................... 3
MATERIALS ......................................... 4
INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN ..................... 4
Activity #1 Brainstorm ................. 4
Activity #2 Characteristics ........... 5
Activity #3 Film Study ................. 5
Activity #4 Argumentative
Paragraph ................................... 5
Activity #5 Cartoon Assignment .. 5
Activity #6 Connection with South
Africa .......................................... 5
Activity #7 Collage ...................... 5
Feedback Page.................................... 6
Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
This lesson will help students distinguish
between democratic and authoritarian
government regimes. They will use a
variety of activities to identify direct and
indirect democracy, dictatorship, monarchy,
oligarchy: military, religious, police state
regimes.
Activities will include film viewing, writing
assignments, comic strips, and more.
This lesson is supported by several files.
This lesson plan may identify specific
resources to support certain activities.
While the expedition team will attempt to
gather all the required resources, we cannot
guarantee that all photo, audio, video will be
captured as listed.
Page 2 of 6
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Subject Area: Intermediate Social Studies, Grade 10 Civics,
Grade 11 Law, Grade 12 Politics, International Law, World Issues
Unit: Democratic and Authoritarian regimes
Length of Unit: Dependent on how many activities chosen to implement.
Activity Number: 7 activities
LESSON OBJECTIVES (Students will learn)
~ Distinguish between democratic and authoritarian government regimes.
~ Identify direct and indirect democracy, dictatorship, monarchy, oligarchy: military, religious,
police state regimes.
~ Understand Apartheid regime in South Africa through a study of Stephen Biko’s story (Cry
Freedom film).
~ Prepare an argumentative paragraph in which students defend a thesis using a minimum of 5
main distinct arguments supported by examples from film.
~ Use comic strips as a medium to illustrate the distinctions between democratic and
authoritarian regimes.
~ View a live to video feed with interview(s) with students/adults from South Africa.
~ Use a collage assignment to illustrate key aspects of South Africa during and post-Apartheid.
MOTIVATION (Hook)
Listen to York Board pod cast by Lionel Davis about his experiences living in South
Africa as an activist during Apartheid. 45 minutes long.
LESSON TIME
Dependent on which activities teacher decides to implement.
Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
Page 3 of 6
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
MATERIALS (Requirements)
Activity # Activity
Resources needed
Preferred
location
Activity 1
Brainstorm
~ Chalkboard/Whiteboard
~ Resources on
Government regimes
~ Regular classroom
Use learning objects to
review
information/concepts
~Access to computers
~ Computer Lab
~ Textbook, class notes or
Internet
~Regular classroom
or Computer lab
Activity 3
Outline key characteristics
of Democratic and
Authoritarian regimes
Film Study – Cry Freedom
~ Copy of DVD Cry
Freedom, available for
purchase online
~ TV/DVD player
~ Copies of Film study
questionnaire
~ Classroom
Activity 4
Argumentative Paragraph
~Regular classroom
Activity 5
Activity 6
Cartoon assignment
Connections with Africa –
video interviews
~ Chalkboard/Whiteboard
~ Copies of assignment
~ Copies of assignment
~ Multi-media projector &
computer
Activity 7
Collage
~ Paper, magazines,
newspapers, Internet
images
~ Classroom or
library
Activity 2
~ Regular classroom
~ Classroom or
computer lab
INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN
Activity #1 Brainstorm (1-2 periods, homework)
Types of government regimes what types of governments do students know of?
Categorize afterwards under Democratic and Authoritarian regimes. Democratic (direct
and indirect) and Authoritarian (dictatorship, monarchy, oligarchy: military, religious,
police state) regimes. This info is available in Grade 10 Civics textbooks, Grade 12
Politics and on the Internet.
Review concepts: Democratic (direct and indirect) and Authoritarian (dictatorship,
monarchy, oligarchy: military, religious, police state) regimes. *Use the learning objects
created by Algonquin College (2 flash files). One learning object is an association type
exercise to review characteristics of these regimes. The other learning object is a
multiple choice quiz to assess students’ knowledge. *Request made for Algonquin
students to create these 2 learning objects.
Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
Page 4 of 6
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Activity #2 Outline characteristics
Outline characteristics of two main categories of government regimes: Democratic and
Authoritarian. This info is available in Grade 10 Civics textbooks, Grade 12 Politics and
on the Internet.
Activity #3 Film Study – Cry Freedom (3 periods, homework)
In order to help students flush out what Democracy is not – and what Authoritarian
regimes are, view the film Cry Freedom, 1987, Hollywood – 2 hours and 37 minutes.
Available to purchase on DVD through Amazon videos for $ 9.99 – with shipping and
handling comes to $ 20.00. There is a film questionnaire attached.
Activity #4 Argumentative Paragraph (1 period, homework)
Based on the film study Cry Freedom, students will prepare an argumentative paragraph
– they must have 5 distinct arguments which are supported by events from the film.
Assignment and evaluation is attached. Please note, it is very useful to help organize
students by brainstorming on the board together on what are their main arguments and
which specific examples from the film they can use to prove their thesis/opinion.
Students must include a brief comparison to Canadian society.
~ no freedom of expression … examples from film
~ no legal rights …
~ no right to participate in government …
~ police and military terrorism …
~ no mobility rights …
~ no equality rights …
Activity #5 Cartoon Assignment (1 period, homework)
Students prepare two cartoon strips which illustrate the difference between Democratic
and Authoritarian regimes – based on 3 main characteristics of each. See attached
assignment and evaluation.
Activity #6 Connection with South Africa (1 period or homework)
(i) Have access to live to video clip interview(s) done by Ben with South African citizens.
Particularly to find out:
~ what a day in their lives is like,
~ what the near future holds for them (secondary schooling, work, post-secondary
studies)
~ how Apartheid has affected them and/or their families
Activity #7 Collage (1 period, homework)
Have students prepare a collage which illustrates South Africa under Apartheid and
Post-Apartheid (using Photoshop or by hand). See attached assignment and evaluation.
Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
Page 5 of 6
Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa 2006
Feedback Page
Please provide us with your feedback on this lesson and/or its available resources. We
welcome suggestions for improvements, additional methodologies, and/or new
resources you may have found to support the lesson(s).
If you would like to submit your own lesson plan(s) or curriculum idea(s) please contact
your school board representative listed at http://www.algonquincollege.com/africa
Last Name
First Name
M.I.
School Board
Address
Apt./Unit
City
Phone
Province
( )
Postal Code
E-Mail
Lesson Plan Title:
Democratic and Authoritarian Regimes
Page 6 of 6