Respecting Voices

Suggested Activities

Students demonstrate an understanding of how three associations contribute to giving voice to people and to helping people exercise their rights by identifying the two most effective approaches or practices of each association that impact decision making.

Use numbered heads strategy to research organizations
Use a numbered heads strategy to form three research groups by assigning number one, two or three to each student. Inform students that number ones will research the First Nations Authorities; number twos will gather information on the Métis Nation of Alberta Association; and, number threes will research the Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta. Consider also including other associations or groups that are representative of your community.

Student research should focus on these questions:

• How do the associations give voice to the people they represent?
• How do the associations help the people they represent to exercise their rights?

The authorized student resources for the course are a good place for students to begin gathering information on their assigned organization. Ask students to contact the associations or use Internet or library resources to gather more information about each association.

You may want to provide students with information from Assessing Website Credibility (Modelling the Tools).

Remind students to use their own words to prepare notes that are concise, accurate and relevant to the issue. You may also want to provide them with a graphic organizer to assist them in organizing their information and drawing conclusions. Here is a sample organizer:

Name of Association:

Encourage students to work collaboratively with others who have been assigned to research the same association.

As an alternative to research, provide students with prepared briefing sheets.

Form new groups to share research
Ask students to form new groups comprised of one student from each of the three research groups. Direct each student to share the important practices his or her original group identified and to explain how each practice impacts on decision making, gives voice to the people and ensures that rights are exercised.

Determine criteria for important policies or practices
Invite students to consider what would make a practice effective for giving voice to the people. Suggest the following criteria:

• allows all views to be shared
• removes barriers that may prevent people from benefiting from their rights
• ensures decisions are respectful of the values and needs of the people.

Select the two most effective practices
Assist students in selecting the two most effective practices for each of the three groups.

You may want to follow the steps suggested in Developing Effective Arguments (Support Material).

Ask students to share their decisions with a small group. Encourage them to provide productive and respectful feedback on the argument presented. Students should assess the degree to which the argument presented is convincing, well supported and clearly explained. Encourage students to make revisions to their arguments based on the feedback they received.

Create portfolios for each organization
Collate researched information and arguments to create a portfolio for each organization.