by https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1 en-us 2015-09-24 02:26:56 UTC 2026-01-21 04:17:03 UTC hello@padlet.com Citizenship & Identity In A Canadian Context  gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71852668 2015-09-24 02:29:33 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71852668 Engaging Youth To Become Active Participants And Model Citizens gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853066 2015-09-24 02:35:24 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853066 This is a picture of my girlfriend's son, Nathan. In this photograph he is enthusiastically picking up litter around the park with a stick he found. We like to go for walks at the off-leash dog park, Eliston park - located in the NE corner of Calgary. Many times we will pick up recyclable containers, and the odd time we will pick up large pieces of garbage, as seen in this picture. Nathan loves sticks, and by using that I was able to engage him by playing a sort of game - picking up garbage with it and throwing it as far as he could towards the garbage bin, until we arrive there and put the trash where it belongs. I took this picture because our course readings have been discussing citizenship in a Canadian context, and I feel that this speaks to that topic. I felt this visual metaphor could be a great way to start a discussion/lesson in grade one: my world: home, school, community. Or from another perspective, grade four: waste and our world.   In regards to citizenship, I believe that it is up to the individual to help shape the society we live in. Being a good citizen means picking up after yourself, but you can also extend that to picking up after others - as Gandhi would say  "be the change you wish to see in the world". If your community is dirty, it does not take much time or effort to pick up a bit of liter here and there. If everyone picked up one piece of garbage throughout the day we would have a much cleaner community. Living in a country that relies on its natural resources and is largely unpopulated, we need to maintain a clean environment - both at the rural and urban level. As model citizens we need to take ownership, responsibility, and stewardship for the communities we live in. Too often we think of citizens as adults, and the youth is seen as a subclass of citizen. This is one of the reasons why many young people feel so disconnected with their government - they feel as though they cannot make a difference. By showing them at  young age that they can make big impacts in their communities, I believe they may be more engaged and willing to participate in society when they get older. We need to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a citizen, it is more than the working, taxpaying person who can vote - children will eventually turn into these people, as teachers we must engage them so they do not turn into the ancient Athenian "Idiot" (Sears 2004).  gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853129 2015-09-24 02:36:27 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853129 From the Atlantic, past the great lakes, across the vast parries, through snowcapped mountains, to the Pacific, the CPR leaves little untouched - save the true north.  gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853332 2015-09-24 02:39:43 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853332 This is a photo of railroad tracks spanning east to west near 68th street in NE Calgary. I have not personally seen the tracks used for a very long time, however, train horns can be heard often in the night. Today they serve a dual purpose - dividing two communities, while connecting the two coasts of Canada.  Nothing is happening in this picture, save the beautiful serenity and tranquility of the prairies. While nothing is currently happening, these tracks have a rich history that is worth sharing - both told and untold.  I took this picture because one of our readings touched on the CPR  and the type of dimensions there are to teaching social studies. While at first I aligned myself with "social initiation", I quickly realized that I wanted to be a teacher who taught "social reform" instead. While Canadian history can be rich - it is often the untold side of history that provides vital learning by disturbing what the learner already knows. After all, history is written by the winners, we do not often get to hear from the side that looses. I think this visual metaphor could be used in a grade 5 context, Canada: land, history, and stories.   I feel that today in our globally interconnected world, we tend to forget that things were not always this way. Long before the airplane or motor vehicle, the world relied on trains for transportation of goods and services. In regards to identity I believe in the saying "you are what you eat", and that is reflected in what we take in as consumers. Today almost all the goods we consume come via tractor-trailer. I think it is a good idea to get students to think critically about where goods are coming from that they consume, from both an economic and environmental stand. This can be a great way to introduce students to the importance of "buying local".   Some Canadians have difficulties explaining  what it means to be Canadian or to have a Canadian identity. We are told that we live in a multicultural mosaic; however social studies has been traditionally taught from a Eurocentric point of view that focuses on the glory of colonialism. In my personal experience much of the Canadian history I was taught came from a French/British perspective, leaving out vital perspectives essential to the story. The perspectives of the aboriginal people who had to give up their land to make way for the railroad, or the Chinese immigrants who gave their lives working in substandard conditions on the railroad are lost. By introducing these perspectives to students at a young age they can more effectively partake in creating a more just society that acknowledges contributions from more than just one or two social groups.   gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853670 2015-09-24 02:45:23 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853670 A Traditional Christian Church gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853871 2015-09-24 02:49:29 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853871 This is a picture of a church located in the NE community of Abbeydale, at the easternmost edge of Memorial Drive. The church had originally backed onto farmers fields, but now the hustle and bustle of Stoney Trail can be heard in the distance. Nothing extraordinary is happening in this picture, there are a few cars in the parking lot but there is no service being held - at least not to my knowledge. It is a Tuesday afternoon around 3 and there is a calming presence. I took this picture because I feel that it speaks to our fundamental  right as Canadian citizens to religious freedom. Individual identity is also directly impacted by religion and the religion of others. I went through the Catholic school system, so I have a personal connection, albeit that connection has somewhat diminished since I have finished high school. As a visual metaphor I think this photograph can be used at any grade level, but can be further explored in grade 6 in terms of our democratic society. Canada is unique in the sense that you do not have to give up your identity when you move here, however, many Canadians are having an issue with that today. Many feel that newcomers are "pushing" their values, and that because they do not have to assimilate, their beliefs/traditions can supersede what is already established. However, belonging to a certain religion does not make you any more or any less a citizen - unless the identity you invoke causes you to be indifferent to your fellow Canadian. I believe that the notions of identity, citizenship, and religion are all interrelated and as teachers we must help our students find a healthy balance of all three. I think any religious picture can initiate positive dialogue between people - if done the right way. Hatred is often the product of misunderstanding and learning about each other's religious beliefs can help dissolve stereotypes and prejudice. The same can be said of cultural and racial differences. As teachers we should embrace diversity and engage students in activities and lessons that allow them to express themselves and learn more about their fellow classmates. Doing this at the elementary level could be very rewarding in the long run, as we strive towards a more just society we must instill understanding and appreciation in our students.   gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853948 2015-09-24 02:51:00 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71853948 Conservative election sign, campaigning for the upcoming federal election in Canada gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71854060 2015-09-24 02:53:04 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71854060 This is a photograph for the conservative MP Deepak Obhrai and his bid for re-election in the Calgary East riding. In contrast to his contenders, his sign is very large, and aside from the liberal and NDP members, he does not have his personal profile added to the sign. The sign displays the traditional blue color of the conservative party, and the last name is emphasized - as is the case with most government officials. The sign also has contact information for any questions or concerns regarding the party. As a result of the 42nd Canadian general election, MPs are campaigning on behalf of their party and party leaders all across Canada. The conservatives are currently in power with Steven Harper leading them, and they also been elected to represent the Calgary East riding. This has turned out to be one of the most interesting elections in recent memory as Canadians are quite divided on who will lead the country with the conservatives, liberals and NDP all fairly even in the polls thus far.I took this picture because I feel that it directly speaks to living in a democratic society and being an active citizen. Living in a democracy we have the ability to decide who we want in power, with several different options to choose from. As such, as a visual metaphor, this can be a great way to introduce grade 6 students into the democratic process - exploring he various parties and what they stand for, as well as how the system works (ie "first past the post"). Although we live in a democracy, sometimes I feel as though it is more of an oligarchy - with a few powerful individuals making big decisions for the entire country. However, as I reflect on my own situation I feel I may be the victim of democratic apathy. I must confess that I am one of those youth who feel disconnected from the government - and this could be the result of poor social studies education. Although my specialization is social studies, I find it strange that the subject never engaged me as a youth. My teachers employed the textbook/question method unanimously, and citizenship was never addressed. As teachers we need to foster an understanding of citizenship so our students can have more confidence in their government.  I found this sign to be interesting because I feel like it reflects modern Canada, its diversity and the inevitability of change. Traditionally the Canadian citizen has been characterized by francophone, Anglophone, and aboriginal heritage - but that notion is dramatically changing as Canada opens it boarders to refugees and immigrants alike. In fact, only the liberal MP running in my riding has a "traditional" name that would reflect the hegemony of white males  - Cam Stuart. I feel that having people in power who do not reflect the traditional hegemonies of government are a key indicator that change is good, and that change is inevitable. We only need to look government today - Naheed Nenshi, Racheal Notley, Barrack Obama - these are all individuals who would not likely be in the positions they are in if we were to only go back 50 years. With Canadian multiculturalism on the rise, those with European heritage should become familiar with the notion they are the future minority and should embrace this.  gklein91 https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71854095 2015-09-24 02:53:53 UTC https://padlet.com/gklein91/r7peesz2opa1/wish/71854095