Lesson Plan – Social Programs and the Election

Teacher Name Vanessa Pavan Date April 9, 2019

Subject Area Socials Grade 9
Topic Social Programs Time 12:25-1:05

Essential How is the provincial government responding to social programs.

Question/Statement
Learning Objectives: Students will analyze political party platforms on social programs.
(SMART: Specific, Students will compare political party platforms to the economic spectrum.
Measurable, Attainable,
Realistic, Timely)
GLOs and SLOs 9.2.4 compare and contrast the principles and practices of market and mixed economies
by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues.
• What societal values underlie social programs in Canada and the United States?
2013 Ministerial (b) think critically: conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate to construct
Order (a-j) knowledge.
Assessment
Formative Observations and discussion

Summative N/A

Pre-Class
Materials Consulted: • Ballot
(any props, resources, • Ballot box
links, etc.) • Large Paper
• Markers
• Party platform statements
• PowerPoint
Pre-Class Set Up Google Classroom
• PowerPoint
In class
• Print out statements/large paper
• Slips of scrap for party voting
• Remember markers*
Introduction Time
Agenda 1. Introduction/Housekeeping
2. Voting
3. Graffiti Wall
4. Placing on the economic spectrum
Introduction HOUSEKEEPING 5 min.
Remind students of the following
• On the board I have written down peoples names who are still
missing this assignment
• I will have your study guide to you on Wednesday for the quiz that
is happening on Monday on key components of the material we
have learned this far.
• Please remember to hand in your boycotting assignment or you will
be coming in a flex tomorrow*

INTRODUCTION 5 min.
Alright yesterday we discussed more about ways in which the United States
and Canada are similar and different from each other when it comes to social
programs. What were some things that were similar?
• Healthcare
• Pensions

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 • Welfare States
Ok, so today we are going to take a closer look at what is going on in your
provincial election in Alberta as it pertains to social programs. Remember
yesterday who is in charge of implementing federal programs?
• The federal and provincial governments are in charge.
So, in light of this, we are going to look at what are some proposed changed
by the parties who are running for office when it comes to social programs.
Body Notes Time
Activity ELECTION VOTE #1 5 min.
Ok, on your desk I have handed out a small piece of paper
for you. I have listed the political parties that currently have
a strong standing in the provincial election thus far on the
board in no random order. What I want you to do is on your
piece of paper write one political party who you want to win
the election.
• Have students case their votes.
Now that we have cast our votes based on what you know
now, we are going to discuss where these political parties fit
on the economic spectrum and why.
• Using the slide show project, the economic
spectrum for students.
• One the spectrum asks students to place where they
think the following partners should go
o NDP
o Alberta Party
o United Conservative Party (UCP)
• Explain why the Alberta liberal party doesn’t have
much of a contending base – historically the
liberals have not fared well in Alberta thanks to
Pierre Trudeau and some of his economic policies
during the boom of the oil industry. As a result,
Albertans have an adverse taste towards the Alberta
liberals.
Count the election vote about the parties and write on 5 min.
SmartBoard the results.

So to understand what kinds of policies these parties may

put into place to reflect their ideals on social programs we
are going to do a graffiti wall activity.

GRAFFITI WALL 15 min.

Around the classroom I have posted statements or
propositions as part of the three major party-political
platforms. On these statements I have not indicated what
party they belong to, that is up to you to decide. Here is how
this activity will work:
• You are going to go around with a marker and write
two things on the poster…1. You initial reaction to
the poster 2. What political party you think would
have such a policy.
• While you are at the poster you can write
comments on other people’s comments or put a
check mark if you agree with someone’s comments.
• You can also write questions you may have about
the statement on the paper around it.

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 During this activity it is important to be respectful of other
classmates’ opinions and thoughts regarding these
statements. We are going to spend about 3-5 minutes going
around the room write and commenting on these posters,
then we will come back together as a class and discuss what
you have written on them.

Once everyone has commented and returned to their seats

have a discussion as a class on the following statements. Use
the following questions as prompts
• What was surprising about some of the statements?
• Did you match the correct party to the statement?
Why or why not?
• Are some parties in favour of more or less social
programs? Does that reflect where their party is on
the economic spectrum?
Assessment N/A N/A
Differentiation
Conclusion Notes Time
Conclusion Once the class discussion is wrapping up invite students to 5 min.
add to the closure of the lesson.
• Ok today we have look at what is happening in
Alberta regarding social programs in the election.
• Does the economic spectrum and social program
platforms match the parties putting them in place?
Conclude with…although there are some differences
amongst parties there are similarity in the sense that all
parties want to maintain the social programs that exist to an
extent, and as we talk about it prior; social programs and the
welfare state is a deep Canadian value. In light of maybe
what you have learned about the different provincial parties,
we are going to have a re-election tomorrow in class to see if
anyone’s opinions have changed on the political party?
Formative Observations and discussion. N/A
Assessment
Reflection

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