Canadian & World Studies · Grade 12

Active learning ideas

Canada and the Arctic

Active learning works for this topic because it requires students to engage with complex, contested issues where perspectives vary widely. By simulating negotiations and analyzing real-world cases, students build empathy for different stakeholders and see how Arctic governance depends on collaboration rather than control.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• ON: Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship - Grade 12
• ON: Canada's Role in the International Community - Grade 12

• 25–90 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Simulation Game
• 90 min · Whole Class

Simulation Game: The Arctic Council Meeting

Students represent the eight Arctic nations and the 'Permanent Participants' (Indigenous organizations). They must negotiate a set of rules for shipping and resource extraction in the North, balancing economic gain with environmental and cultural protection.

Analyze how climate change is making the Arctic a geopolitical 'hotspot'.

Facilitation Tip

During the Arctic Council Simulation, assign roles with clear but conflicting objectives to ensure students must negotiate rather than debate unproductively.

What to look for

Facilitate a class debate on the statement: 'Canada's primary focus in the Arctic should be on asserting sovereignty, even if it means prioritizing military presence over environmental protection.' Ask students to cite specific evidence related to resource development, Indigenous rights, and climate change impacts.

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

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 50 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Northwest Passage

Small groups research the competing legal claims over the Northwest Passage (e.g., Canada's claim of 'internal waters' vs. the US claim of an 'international strait'). They create a visual 'Legal Brief' explaining the different positions and the stakes involved.

Evaluate how Canada should assert its sovereignty in the Northwest Passage.

Facilitation Tip

For the Northwest Passage investigation, provide a mix of primary sources (maps, treaties) and secondary interpretations to help students evaluate competing claims.

What to look for

Present students with three short case studies: one on a proposed shipping route through the Northwest Passage, one on an Inuit-led renewable energy project, and one on international claims to Arctic resources. Ask students to identify the primary challenge or opportunity presented in each case and link it to one of the key questions for this topic.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Role of Inuit Knowledge

Students read about how Inuit traditional knowledge is being used to monitor climate change and manage resources in the North. They discuss with a partner why this knowledge is essential for effective Arctic governance and how it can be better integrated into policy.

Explain the crucial role Inuit communities should play in Arctic governance and development.

Facilitation Tip

In the Think-Pair-Share on Inuit Knowledge, give students 2 minutes to write before pairing to ensure quieter voices are heard.

What to look for

On an index card, have students write one specific action Canada could take to balance its assertion of sovereignty in the Arctic with the protection of Indigenous rights and the environment. They should also name one Arctic nation or organization that would likely react to this action and why.

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

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by grounding abstract geopolitical concepts in human experiences. Avoid framing the Arctic as a resource battleground alone; instead, highlight how Inuit communities navigate sovereignty through land-use planning and international bodies. Research shows that students retain these ideas better when they see them through the lens of community-led solutions rather than top-down politics.

Successful learning looks like students recognizing that Arctic sovereignty is multifaceted and rooted in both legal frameworks and lived realities. They should be able to explain why Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship are inseparable from national interests, using evidence from multiple sources.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Arctic Council Simulation, watch for students assuming the Arctic is an 'empty' wilderness that can be claimed by any nation.

  Use the Indigenous Land Use Maps provided during the simulation to redirect discussions to the Arctic as a homeland with existing governance systems, not a blank slate.

• During the Pillars of Sovereignty activity in the Northwest Passage investigation, watch for students equating sovereignty solely with military presence.

  Have students categorize evidence from their case studies into the five pillars (military, scientific, environmental, community, economic) to highlight the breadth of sovereignty.

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Methods used in this brief

• Simulation Game
• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share