What Students Need to Know about Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (Grade 10) - Lesson Lesson Plan

Level: Grade 10

Overview

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has created three guides for teachers that help increase the understanding of open government and personal privacy. What Students Need to Know About Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy has been created to provide an opportunity for teachers and their students to discuss why access to government-held information and personal privacy are important public values and how these values are reflected in our relationships with governments.

The Grade 10 guide contains the following sections:

  • Resource Overview (explains the intended course and grade and essential skills addressed)
  • Activity Overviews (summaries of each activity in the unit)
  • Curriculum Expectations (explains how the unit meets the curricular requirements for the Grade 10 Civics course in Ontario)
  • Activity: Freedom of Information Matters (students learn to identify and explain the role of freedom of information laws and demonstrate how they reflect the value of open government to ensure government accountability)
  • Activity: Privacy Matters (students become aware of the risks involved in giving out one’s personal information)
  • Activity: Online Privacy, Why Does It Matter? (students become aware of the potential privacy implications of posting personal information online, and especially on social networking sites)
  • Culminating Activity: Get Active! Get Writing! (students write a letter to the editor in order to raise the school community’s awareness about freedom of information laws and the importance of privacy protection)

For further information on these lessons and information on Ontario legislation covering the release of students' personal information visit the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario Web site at: http://www.ipc.on.ca.

Source: Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario

Lesson Kit