Politics in Action: Making Change, Open (CPO30)

The Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 and 12 Canada and World Studies (2015) – Curricular Links to the Holodomor and Ukraine

Curriculum Expectations that Include the Holodomor, Canada’s First Internment Operations or Topics on Ukraine


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Term/Phrase Unit Overall Expectation Specific Expectation Page
Joseph Stalin C. Policy, Politics, and Democratic Change C1. The Influence of Individuals and Groups: Analyze the objectives and strategies, and assess the influence, of individuals and groups in addressing issues of political importance. C1.1: Analyze various political objectives of various heads of government, both historical and current (e.g., Fidel Castro, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin etc.) 521

Curriculum Expectations Where the Holodomor, Canada’s First Internment Operations or Topics on Ukraine May Apply

Unit Overall Expectation Specific Expectation Explanation
A.Political Inquiry and Skills Development A1. Political Inquiry: Use the political inquiry process and the concepts of political thinking when investigating issues of political importance in various communities and ways to address them. A1.5: Use the concepts of political thinking (i.e., political significance, objectives and results, stability and change, and political perspective) when analysing and evaluating evidence, data, and information and formulating conclusions and/or judgements about issues of political importance in various communities and ways to address them. Sample question: “What were Stalin’s political objectives in regards to Ukrainian population during his rule? What were the consequences of these objectives?”
A.Political Inquiry and Skills Development A2. Developing Transferable Skills: Apply in everyday contexts skills developed through investigations related to politics, and identify some careers in which a background in political studies might be an asset. A2.3: Apply the concepts of political thinking when analysing current events relating to issues of political importance at the local, national, and/or global level, in order to enhance their understanding of these issues and their role as informed citizens. November 2014 was the start of the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, during which Ukrainian citizens protested against the authoritarian actions of the Ukrainian government under Victor Yanukowych, under the influence of Russia. The Yanukovych government responded by trying to break up the protests through the use of police force.

Sample question: “How does the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine affect the current Ukraine-Russia conflict in Ukraine?”

Sample question: “What actions did the Ukrainian government under Yanukovych use against its people during the Revolution of Dignity?”
B. Foundations of Political Engagement B1. Factors Affecting Political Engagement: Analyse how various factors can contribute to, and present a barrier to, their own and others’ political engagement. B1.4: Describe personal attributes, attitudes, and skills that enhance an individual’s ability to be a responsible citizen and contribute to the common good. Sample question: “To what extent should a responsible citizen be concerned about genocides and crimes against humanity, and attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice?”
B. Foundations of Political Engagement B2. Issues of Political Importance: Explain the political importance of some current issues and analyse various perspectives associated with these issues. B2.1: Explain the political importance of some current local, nation, and/or global issues. The current Ukraine-Russia conflict has political implications. The people of Ukraine are trying to stand up for democracy and human rights against, at first their authoritarian like government under Victor Yanukovych, and now, from the bullying and aggression of Russia.

Sample question: “What tactics has Russia used in the past and present against Ukraine?”

Sample question: “What are the political implications of the Ukraine-Russia conflict to Ukraine, Russia, and the world?”
C. Policy, Politics, and Democratic Change C1. The Influence of Individuals and Groups: Analyze the objectives and strategies, and asses the influence, of individuals and groups in addressing issues of political importance. C1.4. Analyse the role of the media in influencing political change. During the Holodomor, Walter Duranty, a writer for the New York Times used the media to deny that the Holodomor was happening. As he was a Pulitzer Prize winner, the West believed him and chose to do nothing to help the starving Ukrainian farmers.

Sample question: “How was Walter Duranty able to convince the West that the Ukrainian farmers were not being starving?”
C. Policy, Politics, and Democratic Change C2. Law and Policy in Canada: Analyze the impact of some key changes in Canadian law and policy as well as the process for changing laws in Canada. C2.2: Analyze some key policy changes that have contributed to equity in Canada and the political processes involved in achieving these changes. After Canada’s First Internment Operations, during which over 5000 Ukrainians were sent to labour camps and were declared ‘enemy aliens’, the Canadian government did apologize for their actions, many years later.

Sample question: “What facts led to an apology to the Ukrainian community for Canada’s First Internment Operations of World War I? Was this the right thing to do? Explain your thinking.”
C. Policy, Politics, and Democratic Change C3. Political Change in Democratic Societies: Demonstrate an understanding of factors that facilitate and present challenges to democratic political change. C3.2: Identify various skills and strategies that can be used when seeking political change in democratic societies, and assess their effectiveness. Sample question: “What strategies did Ukrainians in the 2013/2014 Revolution of Dignity use to seek political change in their country?”
C. Policy, Politics, and Democratic Change C3. Political Change in Democratic Societies: demonstrate an understanding of factors that facilitate and present challenges to democratic political change. C3.3: Analyze a current political issue to identify factors that could facilitate or obstruct efforts to reach a solution. Sample question: “How is Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine complicating a solution being found to end the war?”