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Building Blocks for a Good Life

Elementary, Middle, Secondary

Description

The resource "Building Blocks for a Good Life" explores concepts related to poverty. Through a simulation students consider poverty in terms of a "lack of opportunities" rather than a "lack of basic needs" .  This helps students develop empathy and reduce judgement.

Students rank the building blocks for a good life using Lego blocks labelled with terms such as exercise, access to a phone, access to medicine, and other factors in order of importance. The activity continues with class discussions based on focused questions to challenge the students' thoughts and understanding of the issue of poverty.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This activity is a good fit for the social studies classroom to address the concepts of poverty, resources, wealth and citizenship. It could also be used to develop the students understanding of poverty prior to beginning a community service project to help the underprivileged.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 3
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Active citizenship contributes to the vitality of communities that can promote pluralism among diverse people in a democratic society
        • Developing and affirming identity contributes to well-being and understandings of self and one another
        • Exploring connections strengthens our understandings of relationships to help us make meaning of the world
    • Grade 4
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Active citizenship contributes to the vitality of communities that can promote pluralism among diverse people in a democratic society.
        • Developing and affirming identity contributes to well-being and understandings of self and one another.
        • Exploring connections strengthens our understandings of relationships to help us make meaning of the world
    • Grade 9
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      • Social Studies
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        • Issues for Canadians: Economic Systems in Canada and the United
  • British Columbia
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        • Canadian Issues and Governance: Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies
    • Grade 6
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      • Social Studies
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        • Global Issues and Governance: Economic self-interest can be a significant cause of conflict among peoples and governments.
  • Manitoba
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    • Grade 7
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • People & Places in the World: Global Quality of Life
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      • Social Studies
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        • Canada in the Contemporary World: Opportunities and Challenges
  • New Brunswick
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        • Cultures
        • Empowerment: Economics
        • Atlantic Canada and the World:
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        • Cultures
        • Empowerment: Economics
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        • Canadian Identities: Civics
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        • Socities: Social Structure
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        • Economic Empowerment
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        • Canadian Identity: Canada’s Changing Identity : Creating a Preferred Future
  • Northwest Territories
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        • Canadian Issues and Governance: Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies
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      • Social Studies
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        • Global Issues and Governance: Economic self-interest can be a significant cause of conflict among peoples and governments.
    • Grade 9
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Issues for Canadians: Economic Systems in Canada and the United
  • Nova Scotia
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        • Social Studies 3: Citizenship
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        • Social Studies 6: World Issues
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        • Social Studies 7 - Many Cultures: One Shared History: Opportunities and Challenges
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        • Social Studies 8 - A Changing Canadian Society: Advocacy and Action
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        • Citizenship 9: Engaged Citizenship
        • Citizenship 9: Financial Citizenship
  • Nunavut
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        • Connecting With the World: Citizenship
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        • Issues for Canadians: Economic Systems in Canada and the United
  • Prince Edward Island
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        • Provincial Identity: Citizenship
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        • Investigating Past Societies: My Society
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        • World Issues
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        • Economic Empowerment
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        • Interdependence: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Citizenship in the Global Community
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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    • Grade 3
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        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Community Comparisons: Interactions and Interdependence

Themes Addressed

Economics (1)

  • Poverty Reduction

Human Health & Environment (1)

  • Quality of Life

Human Rights (1)

  • Poverty