Summary of Grade 6 Critical Challenges

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Grade 6– Overarching Critical Inquiry – Exploring the Forms of Democracy This overarching critical inquiry addresses the following question: What are the essential attributes of an effective democracy?
Critical Challenge	Description
Is Canada a Good Model of a Democracy? Considering the four principles of democracy, decide if Canada is a good model for other countries to follow.	Explore democratic and nondemocratic decision-making processes and use the four fundamental principles of democracy as considerations to decide if Canada is a good model of democracy for other countries to follow.
Creating an Effective Democracy Prepare a list of recommendations that will assist a fictional country in reforming its political system so that it becomes a more effective democracy.	Prepare a list of recommendations on how to reform the political system of a fictitious country so that it becomes a more effective democracy.
The Merits of Direct and Representative Democracies Assess the merits of direct and representative democracies and write a persuasive letter recommending either a direct, representative or a blended system.	Consider the merits of direct and representative democracies by deciding which would be most effective in a given situation and write a persuasive letter to the school principal to recommend which decision-making process to use to make a fair and equitable school decision.
The History of Ensuring Equity and Fairness in Canada Write two textbook captions that relate to the significance of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Treaty of La Grande Paix de Montréal in ensuring equity and fairness in Canada.	Examine the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Treaty of La Grande Paix de Montréal to determine their importance in the protection of collective and individual rights, and then write accurate and informative captions for a textbook illustration.
Understanding Our Rights and Responsibilities Prepare a guide to responsible citizenship that informs Canadians about their Charter rights	Consider the relationship between citizen rights and responsibilities in an effective democratic system by preparing a guide to responsible citizenship designed to ensure that all Canadians appreciate the rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Assessment support provided by the Alberta Assessment Consortium (AAC).
The Justice System and Me Prepare a summary of how the justice system helps protect citizen’s rights supported with local and current examples.	Examine the role of the justice system by writing an accurate and concise description of the ways the justice system protects our rights and then document examples that reflect important ways the justice system helps, and may be asked for help, to safeguard the rights of Canadians.
Designing Utopia Prepare a set of recommendations that could be used to create an ideal democratic system.	Demonstrate an understanding of the main principles in effective democracies by preparing a set of recommendations for a fictitious country on how to set up a democratic system that will best meet the country's needs.

Grade 6 — Overarching Critical Inquiry — How Local and Provincial Democracies Work This overarching critical inquiry addresses the following: What are the most significant differences between local and provincial governments?
Critical Challenges	Description
Understanding Political Offices in Alberta Create icons that accurately reflect the most important roles or responsibilities of political offices in Alberta's government.	Consider the responsibilities of political offices in Alberta's democracy by designing icons that accurately reflect the most important roles of the offices in the structure and function of Alberta's government.
Finding the Balance Write a persuasive paragraph recommending how responsibilities should be shared between the provincial and local governments.	Analyze the responsibilities of Alberta's provincial and local governments by writing a persuasive paragraph arguing in favour of or against changing the existing division of provincial and local government responsibilities.
Rural and Urban Governments: What's the Difference? Compare and contrast urban and rural municipal governments and decide whether or not a growing rural community would benefit from changing to an urban municipal government.	Analyze the structure and function of local governments by comparing and contrasting rural and urban governments and by deciding whether or not growing rural communities would benefit from changing the structure of local government.
Awarding Certificates of Merit Design a certificate of merit to be awarded to those local and provincial politicians who demonstrate exemplary accountability.	Recognize the characteristics of exemplary politicians who model accountability by designing a certificate of merit to be awarded to those who meet clearly established criteria.
Respecting Voices Identify the two most effective practices in various organizations that contribute to giving voice to people and helping people exercise their rights.	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.
Local Government Makeover Identify the three most significant changes an urban municipality would have to make to its government to become a provincial government.	Identify significant differences between local and provincial governments by identifying the three most significant changes a municipal government would have to undergo to become a provincial government and by creating advertisements informing the citizens about the changes.

Grade 6 — Overarching Critical Inquiry — A Reflection on Ancient Athens and the Iroquois Confederacy as Model Democracies This overarching critical inquiry addresses the following: To what degree did the Athenian democracy and the Iroquois Confederacy embody the principles of an effective democracy?
Critical Challenges	Description
Stepping into the Picture Bring a picture to life by scripting a plausible conversation between ancient Athenians or members of the Iroquois Confederacy that accurately reflects the relationship between their values and their model of government.	Identify the relationship between societal values and government structures by bringing a picture to life through the scripting of a conversation between ancient Athenians or members of the Iroquois Confederacy.
How Democratic Were Ancient Athens and the Iroquois Confederacy? Prepare a report card on the political system of either ancient Athens or the Iroquois Confederacy.	Examine the decision-making structures of ancient Athens and the Iroquois Confederacy and consider the degree to which they reflected the democratic ideals of equity, protection for freedoms, representation and fairness by preparing a report card on one of the models of democracy.
Symbolism and Collective Identity Explain how Wampum belts provide insights into the collective identities of the Iroquois and develop a symbol that accurately reflects a collective identity that students may have as members of a group. ��	Examine the role of the Wampum Belt in Iroquois society to develop an understanding of how visual images can represent collective identities and create a symbol that accurately reflects a collective identity resulting from their feelings of belonging to a group.
Lessons from the Past Create a powerful metaphor that represents significant elements of democracy in the ancient Athens or the Iroquois Confederacy.	Create a powerful metaphor that represents essential elements of the democratic system of ancient Athens or the Iroquois Confederacy and identify the three most important lessons for Canadians on effective democratic systems.

Grade 6 — Overarching Critical Inquiry — The Alberta Government and Me This overarching critical inquiry addresses the following: What is the relationship between citizens and governments as they engage the democratic process?
Critical Challenges	Description
Sticks and Stones: Symbolism in the Alberta Legislature Determine the three most powerful symbols of democracy in the Alberta Legislature.	Determine the most powerful symbols of democracy in the Alberta Legislature by first exploring the meaning of symbolism and then locating and photographing symbols found in the Alberta Legislature. In selecting the three most powerful symbols, students employ one or more of three democratic methods of decision making—direct vote, consensus, representation.
Introducing the Lieutenant Governor Prepare an effective introduction of the Lieutenant Governor that identifies the most important category of duty—legal, ceremonial, social—included in the role of the office.	Learn about the various responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor and determine the most important category of duty included in the role of the office through an examination of video and text information online.
I’m Your MLA—Here’s My Card! Design a visual representation, such as a business card, that represents the key duties (roles and responsibilities) of a Member of the Legislative Assembly (either an MLA, a cabinet minister or the Leader of the Opposition) by analyzing the information in the references provided (on MLAs’ business cards and in videotaped interviews with current MLAs).	Investigate the roles and responsibilities of Members of the Legislative Assembly and their accountability to the citizens of Alberta through an in-depth examination of the information provided on their business cards, in interviews and in online resources.
Citizenship and the Right to Vote After comparing the legal requirements to vote and to drive in Alberta, create a letter to convince Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to retain, lower or raise the voting age in Alberta.	Explore similarities and differences in the legal requirements for voting and driving in order to learn more about their rights and responsibilities as citizens under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and create a persuasive letter to petition MLAs to retain, lower or raise the voting age in Alberta.
Refereeing Fairness: The Role of the Ombudsman Assess whether or not the role of the Ombudsman is an effective way to ensure that the provincial government treats citizens fairly.	Learn about the role of the Ombudsman through an examination of video and text information online.

Last updated: July 1, 2014 | (Revision History)

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