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SpeakYourMind.ca is an initiative of Democracy Education Network, one of Canada’s leading civics education organizations.

SpeakYourMind.ca provides free unit and lesson plans – and free ready-to copy materials to download and print – for you to teach your students through an experiential learning process how to:

  1. figure out what is real and true about any issue or problem that concerns them;

  2. make up their mind about what changes they think will help solve whatever problem or concern they have, and;

  3. help them make their voice heard to try to convince Canadian governments and/or businesses to make the changes they want.

The program can be completed in one semester or spread out through the school year.

No matter what course you teach, SpeakYourMind.ca has free unit and lesson plans that you can use. SpeakYourMind.ca materials can be used in:

  • civics;

  • social studies;

  • political science;

  • economics;

  • history, and;

  • even science, arts and physical education courses.

Students choose an issue or problem that concerns them, and then they will learn how to speak out effectively on that issue, including undertaking whichever real civics participation exercise they choose (for example, writing a submission to government; organizing an event or debate; meeting with their local politician to talk about the issue; developing and gathering signatures on a petition; conducting a survey; volunteering with an organization that addresses the issue or problem, etc.).

The unit sets out 8 weeks of skills lessons, each with 1-2 page “how-to” handouts” to help you teach the students on how to research an issue, develop your position on an issue, and make your voice heard.

SpeakYourMind.ca also gives you access to a directory of organizations that are active on a wide variety of issues and problems so you can easily find and contact them to invite guest speakers who have experience researching public policy issues and participating in government and business decision-making processes.

In most of these courses, the issue or problem students choose to learn and speak out about (individually or in groups) will relate to the course material. If you want, you can also limit students to choosing an issue or problem from a specific area (for example, science-related policy issues for a science course; or health-related issues for a physical education course).

To help get students get started on researching whatever issue they choose, SpeakYourMind.ca has online resource pages:

  • facts and figures about the issue;

  • organizations that students can connect to that research and speak out on the issue, and;

  • ongoing government and business policy-making processes for students to participate in.

In addition to learning about the issue or problem that concerns them, students will learn the following key civics and life skills and knowledge:

  • How to organize themselves to participate in community problem-solving;

  • How to research and find out what’s real and true about an issue or problem that concerns them;

  • How government actually works;

  • How to work with others to plan an effective civics participation strategy;

  • How to plan an event or debate;

  • How to have an effective meeting with a politician;

  • How to work effectively with the media and social media;

  • etc.

Register to access the free SpeakYourMind.ca unit and lesson plan materials by clicking here.

NOTE: We ask you to register only so that we can keep you updated on developments with the SpeakYourMind.ca program, and ask for your feedback to improve the program, and so we know how many schools, teachers and students are participating in the program.

We won’t sell, rent, trade or share your email address or personal information with anyone or any organization.

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