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Complete

Chapter One

The System of Things

Part One

Lesson Media
  • Watch video (overview of concepts in this chapter)
  • Learn why we use nature as our metaphor
  • Reflect (activities and discussions)

Part Two

Activities
  • Break down concepts and definitions
  • Test your comprehension
  • Apply your knowledge

Part Three

Inquiry Media
  • Watch video that relates concepts to the real world
  • Reflect and discuss

Part One

Why does politics matter? You can't escape politics, so you might as well learn more.

Update June 8th, 2026:

Canada has a new Governor General! Today, former Supreme Court justice and human rights advocate Louise Arbour was installed as Canada’s 31st Governor General, succeeding Mary Simon. As the King’s representative in Canada, the Governor General plays an important role in our democracy, helping uphold Canada’s constitutional system and bringing Canadians together. Arbour brings decades of experience in law, justice, and international human rights to the position.

Why Nature?

We use nature as a metaphor to help explain your class lesson. Why?

Find out!

Read Story Instead

Prefer reading instead? Here's the text version of your lesson.

Go!

Questions & Activities

Reflect on your lesson with short activities, or by exploring referenced articles, featured podcasts, term definitions, and more!

Go!

Featured Hot Take

Are the big, complex systems in our society important? Can they evolve? Absolutely! Just ask Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, Canada’s first – and so far only – female prime minister.

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

Reflection

  • Do you agree that our democracy is fragile? And, if it is, how can we contribute to its health?
  • Should more of us consider running for office, or is it fair to say that politics – and party politics specifically – isn’t for everyone?
  • Is voting during an election all that's required to be a good citizen, or is more required of us?
  • Are too many of us ceding important decisions to a small group of political power brokers?
  • How can we each help advance good policy?
  • If you could propose one new policy, what would it be and how would you build support for your idea?
More on Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

Truth vs Lie

What do you know? Try to trick your classmates in a friendly game of two truths and a lie.

Begin the trickery

Know the Terms

What terms and concepts will you discover in this unit? Learn and practice, and practice again!

Start

Jeopardy!

The classic game, with a twist. Apply what you have learned so far and compete to win!

What is...

Pinteresting!

Create a Pinterest board where you can post ideas and questions that come up during the course. It's like note-taking, but fun!

Pin it!

Discuss

Have a conversation with your classmates to help each other better understand what you'll be learning in this class. * Recommended

Converse

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Canada at a Crossroads

This five-part story is featured across each of the first five chapters and will ask students to explore the question of how Canada can protect our economy and sovereignty while still addressing the other challenges of our time.

Go!

Alternate Inquiry Media

Looking to explore another topic for student inquiry? Choose from 5 other themes.

Go!
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Unit completion
Digital Ecosystem
Chapter Two