Canadian Landmarks Assignment

Due Date: March 3, 2021

1. Choose a Canadian landmark. It can be one we discussed in class or something else you find in your research

2. Input your choice on the Google Form here or email your choice to me at mlcpcivics@outlook.com. Only one person can choose each topic!

3. Create a double-sided poster or brochure using a word-processing program or design program (Microsoft Publisher or Canva, for example) and prepare a 3-5 minute presentation that explains

- Why you chose it
- Its history
- How popular it is (how many tourists, how much the art / tickets sell for, etc)
- Why people should know about / visit / experience it (why is it significant?)
 

Your poster should be eye-catching and brief (think advertisements). Your presentation must include explanations of each of the points listed in #3.

Marking Guide

Presentation

Explanations:
− Why you chose the topic                                                 /1
− History                                                                             /1
− Popularity (with details)                                                  /1
− Why people should experience the topic                        /1
Preparedness to present / evidence of planning                 /2

Poster

− Eye-catching                                                                    /1
− Name of topic                                                                  /1
− Why people should experience the topic                        /2
− Your name                                                                       /1
 

Total                                                                                    /11

Final Civics Project (2021)

 Make Your Own Visitor's Guide

We have covered many Canadian landmarks and tourist areas over the last few weeks as an overview - here is your chance to plan a visitor's guide to one. 

 

Due Date: March 2, 2021

Instructions:

1. Choose a spot in Canada you feel people should visit and know more about. It can be one we covered already or a new one you know about or discovered in your research.
   Note: for some landmarks like the Wawa goose you will need to cover the general area it is located in order to address all the elements I'm asking for.
   
   
2. Submit your chosen topic on the Google Form here. Only one topic can be chosen per person.
   
   
3. Start thinking about the key elements of the location you want visitors to know about and experience. You should be able to note the landmark's:
1. History
2. Location in Canada / address (with a map / directions - remember most brochures tell you how to get there!)
3. Any fees to access it (admission, camping)
4. Hours or months of operation
5. Places to stay overnight
6. Places to eat
7. Fun facts
   
   
4.  Find some pictures of the landmark that illustrate your research. Remember brochures are not just words on paper, they must be eye catching and colourful!
   
   
5. Start putting your brochure together. You can use software like Microsoft Publisher or an online platform like Canva to make a tri-fold style (you will have to save the Canva design to a .pdf format in order to submit/print it) or you can make a double-sided poster style brochure in Microsoft Word.
   Some tips:
1. Use eye-catching colours, photos and phrases but be clear about your message
2. Include enough content to make people want to learn more, but don't tell them everything about the place, otherwise why travel?
3. If you have travel tips (a great restaurant, what to wear or bring, etc.) consider a text box to separate them from the rest of the information. 
4. Don't forget to put your name on the brochure!
   
   Example Brochure:
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Put together a short explanation of your location to present to the class. Do not read your brochure - instead, fill in the details of the area that you researched like a tour guide. Be prepared to answer questions about your chosen location and to offer your opinion of the best (or worst) things to do or experience there
   

Marking Guide:

Brochure                                                                  

History                                                                            /1

Location (with map or directions)                                  /1

Operating times / fees                                                    /1

Visitor information                                                          /3

(places to stay / eat / other things to do in the area)

Fun facts                                                                        /3

 

Presentation

Evidence of planning                                                      /1

Knowledge of material                                                   /3

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at mlcpcivics@outlook.com

Blog Assignment (Senior) - Due June 10

After brainstorming, it is time for you to work on your own report. I will have all your submitted collages posted here along with a list of partners who will be collaborating with you and giving you peer reviews as comments.
 

Scenario: You have been selected by your community to be in charge of a community awareness day. You need to plan a multi-factor approach to entice the public to learn more about your community, the second component being a blog post about your community and how you interact with and think about all it’s aspects, good and bad.

Step 1: Collaboration with your partner
Look at your partner's collage post and in the comments answer the following:

• What are some good things you know / have heard about that community? 
• What are some negative things you know / have heard about that community?
• What are some things you wish you knew about that community?

Step 2: Blog  

1. Use the information you now have from yourself and your partner's  to write a “new post” as a Word document (I will convert each document into it's own post) 
2.  Structure your blog to address at least 3 aspects of community (remember your collage), using headings if necessary for organization. Incorporate your outside research but also include your personal reflections and experiences with these aspects. 
3.  Add a section about the factual “dark side” of your community – negative aspects that exist or have existed (e.g. owning slaves, substance abuse). How do you feel about these darker aspects? Has your community overcome them? What long-lasting consequences have there been because of these negative aspects?
4. Add a section addressing the misconceptions that you heard from your partner during your collaboration (e.g. laziness, greed). Why do you think these exist? What can you do to change these perceptions?  
5.  Find 2-3 other online sources from which you feel readers could gain more insight from (e.g. official community pages, links to celebrations, etc) and hyperlink using an appropriate key word (e.g. a very important celebration to the Metis community is a pow wow)
6. Find 1-2 relevant photos (these can be ones from your collage or new ones – don’t forget to note sources in your bibliography) and attach them to your email along with the Word document. Photos should not detract from your writing, but enhance it by providing examples of your concepts.  
7.  Include a bibliography at the bottom of the word document
   
   • Refer to OWL Purdue for bibliography formatting (APA style)
   • See this example bibliography for extra guidance  
8.  Email your Word document (including bibliography) and pictures to mlcpcivics@outlook.com with your name in the subject line (and on the document) by June 4

Blog Post Brainstorming (Seniors)

Open your personal collages along with any notes you had. Examine them.

Time for a little self-reflection. Jot down on a sheet of paper:

1. What points would you want viewers to know more about? If you can’t think of any, write down captions for the images you used in your collage.
   
2. What negative parts of your community do you feel are important to discuss? Remember, your collages were only positive – now I’m asking you to consider the “other side” (like a history of oppressing others, traditional practices, values that are not considered appropriate for today). Jot them down. If you can’t think of any, try to think of stories you may have heard that weren’t positive but aren’t sure if they are true, which will give you a basis for your research, or use a web search to brainstorm.

Blog Reading & Questions (Seniors)

Read this blog entry:
You're Metis so which of your parents is an indian?

As you read through the post, make note of the following on a sheet of paper:

- What do you notice about how this blog is written?

- What positive aspects of the Metis community does this author note?

- Does this author cover any negative aspects of the Metis community that they participated in, like slavery?

- What are misconceptions? Does this article address any misconceptions from others about the community?

- Why do you think it is important to cover both good and bad things that your community has done as well as misconceptions about your community?
 

Story Assignment (Intermediates Grade 5/6 ) - Due June 11

First Draft:

1. Individually, write a short (2 page, single-spaced) story in a Word document about a day in your life as part of the community you chose for your collage.
   
   • Make sure you incorporate the important activities or practices you (or your parents, if they are “adult” customs) partake in.
   • You could choose a specific event or celebration (e.g. Christmas) or a regular day that has elements which are unique to your community (e.g. Sabbath, daily prayers, special dress)
2. Put events in chronological order: you don’t have to start with “when I wake up” if it’s not important, but do talk about the events leading up to the celebration or main action of the story (such as decorating the house, dressing in a certain way, or other rituals).
3. Write your story as if you are talking to a friend your age, trying to help them understand and become interested in your community. Think of this as a way to help build tolerance and interest in your community.

Final Draft:

1. Re-write your story using a first-person narration as if you were telling me about your day (remember, you will be reading this out loud in your presentation, so make sure it “flows”). 
2. Try to address any common questions the public would have about "why" or "how" you do things:
   
   • E.g. “Right around noon, my family and I roll out our prayer mats facing Mecca. Mecca is a holy site for Muslim s where a shrine called the Kaaba is, and all Muslims are expected to visit there at least once. That pilgrimage is called the Hajj.” Or “Some people think that when Muslim women wear a headscarf and cover their bodies that they are being forced to, but for us it is important to make the choice to be modest in public so that we can be known for our personalities, not our bodies.”

Presentation:

1. June 11 and 18 are presentation days. I will make up a randomized list for the order we will present in. 
2. You will read your story to the class and, time permitting, I will open up the floor for your classmates and I to ask questions at the end of class each period.

Story Assignment Brainstorming (Intermediates Grade 5/6)

Think back on your life as a member of the community you worked on for your collage.

Jot some ideas down about:

What are some unique practices that you do as part of your community? 
Do you do them every day or only on certain days or occasions (for example, going to church on Sundays)

Think of weekly routines that your family may have to do with the community. 
If you can’t think of a “regular” routine unique to your community, think of holidays, events or other celebration days for your community that you could write about.  Remember they don't have to be "holidays", they can be anything special to you, like a big game or a concert.

Why are these practices important to you? To your community? 

Why do you think that others should hear your story? What makes it interesting or important for people to understand?