With a new semester upon many teachers in Ontario, sometimes figuring out what to do on the first day can be a struggle. I’ve never been a fan of the ice breaker. For me, I find them to be a waste of valuable time that could be better spent starting into the curriculum, especially for a course like Civics where every day counts.
I think it’s important to have students engage with each other in those first few days, as it lets you get a better sense of student personalities and whether a seat change may be necessary. One way that I do this is by first introducing students to what Civics is- a course that looks at the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship in Canada.
Then I provide student breakout groups with a collection of photographs that represent various elements of society. For example, one group would be given images of public transportation. From there the student groups aim to answer the following questions:
- What is the theme of the photographs?
- What right(s) is/are being represented in the photographs?
- What responsibilities do you think Canadians have relative to what is represented in the photographs?
- Determine two opposing perspectives that Canadians might have to what is presented in the photographs.
- What is the role that the government might play in what is presented in the photographs?
- Should the government be involved in what is presented? Why or why not?
I then have the groups present and depending on the time remaining, I might have the students focus on questions 2, 3 and 5.
This is a great way to begin the curriculum, while also letting the students have an opportunity to explore the subject area in an approachable way.
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Christina Iorio is a teacher with the York Catholic District School Board and is a regular contributor to social media platforms regarding all things history and social science. Follow her on Instagram @therealmsiorio
