Social Studies resource encourages students to become active citizens
Ministers talk with Grade 6 students about municipal government
Edmonton... A new learning resource created by the Alberta government encourages students to get personal in making their community a better place. The new resource, which promotes involvement in municipal government, is designed to support the new Grade 6 Social Studies curriculum.Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk and Education Minister Dave Hancock visited a Grade 6 classroom at Westbrook School in Edmonton to introduce the new Social Studies resource, Building Communities Through Local Government, and answer students’ questions about municipal government.
“This resource encourages interest in local affairs and encourages students to contribute opinions, time and energy toward making their municipality a better place to live and work,” said Danyluk. “An awareness of government processes and a motivation to become active citizens is critical for the development of our communities and province.”
“Students learning with the new Social Studies curriculum will develop the character, knowledge and skills necessary to become active and responsible citizens,” said Hancock. “This new resource encourages students to become involved in the democratic process and to effect change in their communities, society and government.”
The resource engages students through learning experiences based on four topics: Get Personal, which introduces the concept of municipal government and revisits understandings of community; A Good Place to Live, which focuses on the processes, structures and functions of municipal governments; Make Connections, which explores opportunities and choices for getting involved with community issues and participating in local government processes; and Participate, which emphasizes action and change.
To explore the resource, log on to www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/edu_grade6.cfm.
First introduced in 2005, the new Social Studies curriculum (K-12) has been phased into Alberta's classrooms and will be taught at every grade level across the province by 2009. For more information on the new Grade 6 curriculum visit www.education.alberta.ca/media/774369/soc6and9.pdf
