Local Government Unit-Lethbridge 

This unit was framed by the following KSAs: KSA #3, KSA #6, and KSA #9. 

The activities in this unit were directly tied (KSA #3) to the following outcomes in the Program of Studies: 6.1.1 recognize how individuals and governments interact and bring about change within their local and national communities
-value citizens’ participation in a democratic society
-value the contributions of elected representatives in the democratic process
6.1.2- demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles of democracy by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues: 
-what are the rights and responsibilities of citizens living in a representative democracy? 
 6.1.4- Analyze the structure and functions of local governments in Alberta by exploring and reflecting upon the followingquestions and issues: 
 -What are the responsibilities of local governments? 

Due to the time constraints of this practicum, these were the key outcomes that were assessed during the duration of this unit. 

The students were eager to learn in this unit, because their was a multitude of opportunities for them to make personal connections to subject matter. We explored the city of Lethbridge website to learn about the following: property taxes, local government services, and bylaws. Therefore, students were able to make connections to subject mater and be more engaged in the material.  This unit required extensive "short, medium, and long range planning" (KSA #6) which was evidenced in both lesson plans and rubric construction for this unit. Students completed a range of activities throughout the unit, which adhered to KSA #9 ideology which states that "...there are many approaches to teaching and learning." 

One of the most poignant examples of students making connections to subject matter and taking learning into their own hands, was in the "create your own bylaw" assignment. Although we did study Lethbridge bylaws in detail, this assignment offered students the opportunity to really prove that they knew the function of a bylaw (to help the community run smoothly) and they were able to identify areas in the school/classroom that could use improvement. Consequently, I have chosen to feature this assignment on my portfolio.