Workbook 1

Activity 1: My Citizenship and Identity

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The fact that no two fingerprints are alike makes each of us different and unique. The fact that Canada is a very young country built on a diverse history of many cultures including Aboriginal peoples, Francophones, and Anglophones defines who we are as Canadians.

Each Canadian is unique. Characteristics, values, experiences, and personal interests define a person's individual identity. In addition to having an individual identity, a person may be also part of a larger group.

individual identity: the way a person sees himself or herself based on a set of characteristics and values

collective identity: a common or shared identity within a group of people, including such factors as common language, culture, and history

image©Thinkstock

image©Thinkstock

As Canadians, individuals share similarities such as language, culture, and history with other Canadians. These similarities define the groups to which Canadian citizens belong. Within these groups, individuals share collective identities. Both individual and collective identities influence the choices and decisions each Canadian makes as a citizen.

In this activity, you will begin to examine this question:

How does being a Canadian influence and affect my individual and collective identities?

Several items of work in this section are not evaluated by your teacher, but they are required to support your inquiry. Some items of work are required to complete the assignments in the section.

You should have created an Activities folder, but if you did not do so, create a folder on your computer or external device. Label the folder Social Studies Activities.

Store your completed items of work in your Activities folder.

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