Building the Canada We Want

Active learning works well here because students need to move beyond abstract ideas and engage with the real-world consequences of their choices. This topic demands creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, which are best developed through hands-on, discussion-based activities where students can test their ideas against peers and real-world constraints.

• Grade 12
• Canadian & World Studies
• 3 activities
• 25 min–90 min

Learning Objectives

1. Synthesize course learning to create a comprehensive vision for Canada's social, economic, and environmental future in 25 years.
2. Evaluate the relative importance of key issues facing Canada, prioritizing those most critical for the next generation.
3. Design a multi-faceted plan outlining specific individual and collective actions to achieve the envisioned future for Canada.
4. Critique current Canadian policies and societal trends in relation to their alignment with a desired future vision.

Simulation Game

⏱ 90 min·Small Groups

Simulation Game: Canada 2050, A Visioning Session

In small groups, students act as a 'Future Council.' They must identify the three most important goals for Canada to achieve by 2050 and create a 'Roadmap for Change' that outlines the specific steps needed to get there.

Prepare & details

Design a vision for the kind of country Canada should be in 25 years.

Facilitation Tip: In the 'Canada 2050, A Visioning Session' simulation, assign roles that reflect diverse perspectives (e.g., youth activists, policymakers, Indigenous leaders) to ensure the discussion mirrors real societal dynamics.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Gallery Walk

⏱ 60 min·Whole Class

Gallery Walk: The Canada We Want

Students create visual representations (posters, digital collages) of their vision for a specific aspect of Canada's future (e.g., the environment, the economy, or social justice). They move through the gallery to provide feedback and identify common themes.

Prepare & details

Prioritize the most important issues your generation must address for Canada's future.

Facilitation Tip: For the 'Gallery Walk: The Canada We Want,' provide clear guidelines for constructive feedback on sticky notes, such as using 'I wonder...' or 'This made me think...' to focus on ideas rather than personal opinions.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: What is Your Personal Contribution?

Students reflect on their own skills and interests. They discuss with a partner one specific thing they can do in their personal or professional life to help build the Canada they want to see.

Prepare & details

Explain how individuals can contribute to building the Canada they envision.

Facilitation Tip: During 'Think-Pair-Share: What is Your Personal Contribution?,' model how to turn vague statements into specific commitments by prompting students to name an action, a timeline, and a potential partner or group.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by balancing visionary thinking with grounded realism. They avoid letting the activity devolve into abstract wish lists by grounding discussions in course content and current events. They also ensure that students understand the importance of conflict in democratic societies, teaching them to navigate disagreements with respect and evidence rather than avoiding tough conversations.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently articulating their vision for Canada’s future, grounding their ideas in evidence from the course, and demonstrating how their proposals address complex, interconnected challenges. They should show openness to revising their views based on feedback and evidence from others.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the 'Canada 2050, A Visioning Session' simulation, watch for students who suggest the future is predetermined or that their generation cannot influence it.

What to Teach Instead

Use the simulation’s role cards to highlight youth-led movements (e.g., climate strikes, Idle No More) and ask students to brainstorm how their assigned roles could scale these efforts to address the challenges they’re discussing in 2050.

Common Misconception

During the 'Gallery Walk: The Canada We Want,' watch for students who assume everyone shares the same vision of a 'better' Canada.

What to Teach Instead

Have students examine the sticky notes on the gallery walk and categorize them by theme (e.g., environmental, economic, social) to reveal points of agreement and conflict. Use this as a springboard to discuss the importance of dialogue and compromise in a diverse society.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the 'Canada 2050, A Visioning Session' simulation, facilitate a Town Hall-style discussion where students pose the question: 'If you could change one thing about Canada's trajectory today to ensure a better future, what would it be and why?' Encourage them to reference specific course concepts and justify their priorities.

Quick Check

After the 'Gallery Walk: The Canada We Want,' provide students with a short case study of a current Canadian challenge (e.g., housing affordability, Indigenous water rights). Ask them to write 2-3 sentences identifying one key issue and one concrete action their generation could take to address it.

Peer Assessment

During the 'Think-Pair-Share: What is Your Personal Contribution?,' have students share their initial vision statements for Canada. In pairs, they use a rubric to assess their partner's vision on clarity, comprehensiveness (social, economic, environmental aspects), and feasibility. Partners provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to research a successful youth-led movement in Canada and prepare a 2-minute presentation on how that group’s strategies could apply to their own vision for Canada.
• For students who struggle, provide sentence starters like 'One issue Canada must address is... because...' and 'One action my generation could take is... which would lead to...' to scaffold their thinking.
• Deeper exploration: Have students interview a community leader or local politician about their vision for Canada’s future, then compare it to their own vision in a written reflection.

Key Vocabulary

Sustainable Development	Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations.
Intergenerational Equity	The concept that future generations should have the same or greater opportunities and resources as the current generation.
Reconciliation	The process of establishing and maintaining a respectful relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada, addressing historical injustices and building a shared future.
Social Cohesion	The degree to which members of a society feel connected to and trust each other, and are willing to work together for the common good.
Economic Diversification	The process of shifting an economy away from relying on a single or a few industries towards a wider range of sectors.