Based on the story Canada at a Crossroads: Chapter 4
Grade Level: 9–12
Time Required: 80-120 minutes
Big Idea: Indecision has consequences. In a democracy, making fair, timely, and inclusive decisions requires courage, compromise, and creativity.
Essential Questions:
Who benefits and who bears the cost when decisions are delayed?
Why is indecision sometimes more damaging than making a controversial choice?
How can societies balance urgency, inclusion, and long-term thinking?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Explain how indecision affects democracy, the economy, and nature
- Identify trade-offs in complex policy decisions
- Analyze multiple perspectives respectfully
- Propose thoughtful, realistic paths forward for complex issues
Introduction
Discuss the question, first with a partner, then as a class: Is it better to make a flawed decision, or no decision at all? Why?
Story Exploration
Students read or listen to Canada at a Crossroads: Chapter 4, focusing on these key ideas:
- Indecision vs. decisive action
- False binaries (economy vs. environment)
- Trade-offs and winners vs. losers
- Democracy, consensus, and responsibility
- Reimagining solutions (turning the kaleidoscope)
Define and explain these ideas. Give examples if you can!
Group Discussion
Break the class into four groups total. Each group tackles one question:
- Why do democracies struggle with hard decisions?
- Why do people resist change, even when they know it’s needed?
- How does polarization make decision-making harder?
- What happens when people feel unheard or left behind?
Each group can share key insights with the class and discuss any additional ideas relating to those four questions.
Whole-Class Synthesis
Create a shared board with three columns:
- Problem
- Why It’s Hard
- What Moving Forward Could Look Like
–> There are no perfect solutions. And remember the importance of courage, dialogue, and accountability. <–
Reflection
Students write a paragraph responding to one prompt:
- What idea from today challenged your thinking most?
- What responsibility do citizens, especially young people, have in moments like this?
- What is one issue where not deciding has caused harm?
Extensions
Science
Focus: Environment, systems, evidence-based decision-making
Activities:
- Analyze a real environmental issue (climate change, biodiversity loss, water security) and identify how delay worsens outcomes.
- Model ecosystem services and discuss what happens when they’re undervalued.
- Debate: Should nature be treated as an economic asset?
Skills: Systems thinking, data interpretation, cause-and-effect reasoning
Social Studies
Focus: Democracy, governance, power, trade-offs
Activities:
- Case study analysis: a Canadian policy delayed by controversy (pipelines, housing, climate policy).
- Role-play a decision-making process with multiple stakeholders.
- Compare decisive vs. indecisive governments historically.
Skills: Civic literacy, perspective-taking, policy analysis
English
Focus: Argument, voice, rhetoric, narrative
Activities:
- Write a persuasive speech calling for decisive action on an issue.
- Analyze how metaphor (crossroads, kaleidoscope, trains) shapes understanding.
- Personal essay: A moment when indecision mattered in my life.
Skills: Critical reading, persuasive writing, voice development
Art/Visual Storytelling
Focus: Creativity, reframing, emotional insight
Activities:
- Visualize a ‘crossroads’ decision using mixed media.
- Create a kaleidoscope-style artwork showing multiple perspectives of one issue.
- Design a poster communicating urgency without fear or blame.
Skills: Visual communication, symbolism, creative problem-solving
Careers
Focus: Responsibility, leadership, adaptability
Activities:
- Research careers involved in complex decision-making (policy, science, law, planning).
- Interview a professional about making hard choices under uncertainty.
- Reflect: What kind of decision-maker do I want to be?
Skills: Self-awareness, future planning, ethical reasoning