Teaching Tools
Four lesson plans have been developed by CIVIX to guide teachers through the 2020 Student Budget Consultation. The lessons are designed to increase knowledge about Canadian government and public finances, encourage political debate and dialogue, foster a sense of civic duty, and develop critical thinking and decision making skills.
These activities are linked to a wide variety of subject areas, including: citizenship education, social studies and government, personal finance, economics, current affairs and media literacy.
Using the suggested activities and teaching tools, teachers are encouraged to spend 2 to 4 classes covering the content and participating in the Student Budget Consultation.
Lesson 1: Introduction
- Lesson 1: Introduction [PDF]
- Activity 1.1: Space Survival – Ranking Chart [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc]
- Handout 1.2: Space Survival – Ranking of Items by Experts [PDF]
Lesson 2: The Federal Government’s Budget
- Lesson 2: The Federal Government’s Budget [PDF]
- Video: ‘Introduction to the 2020 Student Budget Consultation’ [YouTube]
- Videos: ‘Budget Basics’ series [Budget Basics]
- Slide Deck A: Budget Basics [PowerPoint] [Google Slides]
- Slide Deck B: Expenditures [PowerPoint] [Google Slides]
- Slide Deck C: Revenues [PowerPoint] [Google Slides]
- Activity 2.1: The Economy [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
- Handout 2.2: Federal Budget Terminology [PDF]
- Activity 2.3: ‘Budget Basics’ Video Assignments [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
- Handout 2.4: 2020 Fall Economic Update [PDF]
- Activity 2.5: Analyzing Articles about the Fall Economic Statement [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
Lesson 3: The Post-Pandemic Recovery
- Lesson 3: The Post-Pandemic Recovery [PDF]
- Videos: ‘Key Issues’ series [Key Issues]
- Slide Deck D: Economic Downturns [PowerPoint] [Google Slides]
- Handout 3.1: ‘Key Issues’ video summaries [PDF]
- Activity 3.2: Priorities for the Post-Pandemic Recovery [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
Lesson 4: Political Perspectives
- Lesson 4: Political Perspectives [PDF]
- Videos: ‘Party Perspectives’ series [Party Perspectives]
- Slide Deck E: The Political Spectrum [PowerPoint] [Google Slides]
- Activity 4.1: Political Perspectives [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
- Activity 4.2: Reflection Card [PDF] [Word] [Google Doc] [Google Form] [Microsoft Form]
