Policy 101
“Why do I need to follow this rule?” “Who makes the rules?” “Why don’t I get a say in the rules?”
While these may sometimes seem like rebellious questions from your students, they reveal curious minds that may not know yet that they have a passion for public policy!
Policy shapes everything around us. The rules, yes, and what we eat for breakfast, how frequently the bus comes, what’s taught at school, how good your cellphone reception is, what can or can’t be posted on Tik Tok, etc.
The modules cover the following topics:
- What is public policy?
- Why does public policy matter?
- What’s the difference between public policy and politics?
- How can you influence public policy?
- What does the government do and how does it relate to public policy?
- How does public policy get created?
- Who plays a role in public policy?
- What are careers in public policy?
- What is good policy?
- How does a new government impact policy?
- What makes policymaking hard? – coming soon!
- Why are there different policies in different places? – coming soon!
Case study – How is energy shaped by policy?
Students understanding why policy matters, how it gets created, who plays a role in policymaking, and how they can influence it, among other questions, helps them learn about the world they live in and see how they can shape it.
The Policy 101 series is designed to equip high school students with a comprehensive understanding of public policy and how to engage in it. This bilingual series features young leaders from across the country, who share their insights on public policy, based on their diverse perspectives and experiences. The series includes the following free resources:
- Modules that include videos, podcasts, and teacher guides, with real world examples to illustrate the concepts.
- Comprehensive lesson plans detailing curriculum links, learning goals, and required materials.
- Transcripts, editable appendices, and a certificate of completion to make the series accessible and compelling for teachers and students.
The lesson plans offer teachers a range of options: pre-video activities, post-video activities, extension activities. Teachers can easily adopt the parts that meet their needs, with activities lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to a whole class (or more!). They are a great option to provide a substitute teacher with a comprehensive lesson plan that will be easy to follow and engaging for students!
The materials represent the country in a few ways. The young leaders featured in the videos are from a broad range of backgrounds and footage was filmed across Canada. The teacher guides were designed in consultation with social studies teachers from across the country and they connect with curriculum from each province and territory.
Help your students learn more about public policy and how they can shape it through the free, bilingual, and engaging Policy 101 series.
