Invite a master’s or PhD student to your classroom!

Our workshops highlight the many disciplines that make up the social sciences. By taking part in these interactive workshops grade 11 or grade 12 students will engage in enriching interactions and exchange ideas with outstanding graduate students.

The workshops have been designed with the Ontario high school curriculum in mind. Please consult our complete topic offering below. If you are an educator within the Quebec curriculum, please contact us. We will be able to ensure the workshops meet your needs!

All our workshops are free and may be delivered in your classroom (in person), via distance education (online), or on campus. Interested in a topic that is not listed? Let us know. Our facilitators are able to tailor workshops to additional topics.

5 workshops to choose from:

  1. Gender and the quest for a “healthy” body: gendered perspectives on dietary health and body image

  2. Foreign aid and the fight against poverty

  3. Youth and the Criminal Justice System (available in English only)

  4. The Use of Social Media in Feminist Movements (available in French only)

  5. Can the world unite to save the Planet? (available in English only)

Book a workshop using our registration form!

Workshops

Gender and the quest for a “healthy” body: gendered perspectives on dietary health and body image

Feminism has a lot to say about what lands on our dinner plates: why do men and women eat differently? How is masculinity linked to barbecuing? Why are women more affected by eating disorders? Why are women encouraged to lose weight while men are pressured to become strong and muscular? And why is it that more women than men are vegetarian? This workshop will address these issues as we examine the links between sexism and food from a feminist and sociological perspective. At the end of this workshop, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how gender norms affect what we eat and how we view our own bodies. 

Curriculum learning objectives: 

  • Evaluate the complexity of concepts surrounding gender and sexual roles as social constructs, as well as the attitudes and behaviours associated with them. 
  • Analyze sexism and power relations as they relate to sex and gender in various contexts. 
  • Analyze the effects of how beauty, fashion, and male and female bodies are portrayed in media and popular culture.  
  • Explain the mechanisms by which identity is socially constructed and internalized, as well as the consequences of stereotypes and social norms on the individual.  
  • Evaluate the influence of media and popular culture on issues related to equity and social justice.  
  • Analyze the effects of biases, stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination and oppression on the individuals and groups who are affected by them.  
  • Explain how certain factors influence food choices at different stages of life.  
  • Explain the influence of various sociological factors on social behaviour and identity development.

Related Courses 

  • General Social Sciences: HSG3M, HSP3U, HSB4U
  • Equity Studies: HSE4M, HSC4M
  • Family Studies: HFA4U
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: IDC3O, IDP3O, IDC4U, IDP4U
Art image of three women with fruit and vegetables on their head

Foreign aid and the fight against poverty

This workshop will investigate the global fight against poverty through the lens of Western foreign aid. By examining societal misconceptions around global development, mainstream anti-poverty movements, unequal power relations and neo-colonialism, the workshop will give students the opportunity to learn more about the world of global philanthropy and will encourage them to question the role of foreign aid in alleviating or perpetuating extreme poverty in developing countries. 

Curriculum learning objectives: 

  • Explain how various socioeconomic conditions (e.g., international competition, prejudice, unfavourable economic conditions, military occupation/rule) and structures (e.g., the welfare system, public health and education, non-profit social service organizations) operate to increase, entrench or alleviate poverty. 
  • Explain how individual and systemic factors (e.g., fear, greed, isolation, pressure to conform, poverty, individual and systemic discrimination) can cause or perpetuate inequity and social justice. 
  • Analyze how social and cultural belief systems can affect perspectives and decisions on equity and social justice issues (e.g., one’s position on land development/resource exploitation versus the preservation of sites sacred to Indigenous people; Islamic law [Sharia], Jewish law [Halakhah] versus a single system of family law in Canada; individual responsibility versus social responsibility). 
  • Analyze stereotypes found in media and popular culture, and assess their effects. 
  • Understand the various ways in which media and popular culture can be used to raise awareness of equity and social justice issues (e.g., how popular music, feature films, documentaries, photographs and the Internet can raise social awareness). 
  • Explain how power and privilege operate in various Canadian social, economic and political contexts (e.g., in the arts, education, publishing, community organizations, professional sports, financial institutions, the labour market, the media, government). 
  • Describe how various social groups have created effective coalitions to achieve significant equity and social justice objectives (e.g., the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice, the World Social Forum, the Equal Pay Coalition, the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions).

Related Courses:

  • General Social Sciences: HSP3U, HSB4U
  • Equity Studies: HSE4M, HSC4M
  • Politics: CPW4U
  • Law: CLN4U
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: IDC3O, IDP3O, IDC4U, IDP4U
UN aid workers forming a line to unload the helicopter aid cargo.

Youth and the Criminal Justice System (available in English only)

If you enjoy watching crime shows, movies, and documentaries, you may be familiar with certain aspects of the criminal justice system in Canada. But did you know that youth aged 12 to 17 are dealt with differently than adults? This workshop will cover the principles of how the criminal justice system deals with young people who come into conflict with the law, media representations of youth crime, how the justice system impacts young lives, and how you can play a role in addressing social injustices in your community. Please be advised that this workshop may cover sensitive topics.

Learning objectives: 

  • Discuss the fundamental principles of justice in Canada and their significance in the legal system 
  • Gain an understanding of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and responses to youth crime 
  • Explain how individual and systemic factors can cause, or perpetuate, inequity and social injustice 
  • Explore alternatives to the criminal justice system for dealing with youth crime 
  • Discuss media representations of youth crime and how these can perpetuate inequity and social injustice 
  • Analyze ways in which social and cultural belief systems can affect perspectives and decisions that relate to equity and social justice issues  
  • Analyze how legislation, the courts, and public policy approach equity and social justice issues, and how these approaches affect people’s perceptions of these issues   
  • Power relations: analyze, in historical and contemporary contexts, the dynamics of power relations and privilege, as well as various factors that contribute to power or marginalization  
  • Analyze the dynamics of power relations and privilege in various social settings, both historical and contemporary  
  • Analyze the effects of bias, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and oppression on individuals and groups 

Related Courses:

  • General Social Sciences: HSP3U, HSB4U
  • Equity Studies: HSE4M, HSC4M
  • Law: CLU3M, CLN4U
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: IDC3O, IDP3O, IDC4U, IDP4U
Image of hands grasping metal gate

How Feminist Movements use Social Networks (available in French only)

In your opinion, what role do social networks play in the struggle for women’s rights? Are you aware of any major feminist causes promoted through social media? How have these causes fared? How do you feel about the idea of feminist influencers? Do feminist accounts on social media encounter obstacles? 

This workshop will feature interactive activities that will help you understand the important role that social networks play in mobilizing feminists. Using recent, specific examples, we will evaluate the contribution of social networks to feminism. We will also explore the difficulties and challenges of online feminism and suggest possible solutions. 

Curriculum learning objectives: 

  • Understand online feminism and the work of feminist influencers. 
  • Analyze the power relations between feminists and anti-feminists online. 
  • Evaluate the impact of social media on issues related to equality between men and women. 
  • Analyze the position of advertisers on the use of platforms to advance issues related to women’s rights.

Related Courses 

  • General Social Sciences: HSG3M, HSP3U, HSB4U
  • Equity Studies: HSE4M, HSC4M
  • Media Studies: EMS3O
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: IDC3O, IDP3O, IDC4U, IDP4U
Art image of 15 firsts held high

Can the World Unite to Save the Planet? (available in English only)

Ever wondered who suffers most when a global crisis occurs and how we can help them? Are developed countries obligated to assist developing countries in facing global catastrophes? It comes naturally to think that all countries should work together to address the world’s most pressing challenges. But can such collaboration ever be achieved? This workshop will explore the climate crisis, its far-reaching impacts, and the global dialogues it ignites. We will learn about bilateral and multilateral aid around global environmental issues, participate in the ongoing debates and controversies, and become part of the solution to build a greener, more sustainable world.  

Curriculum Learning Objectives 

  • Identify the key concepts, challenges and debates related to international development and global climate change. Demonstrate the ability to formulate different types of questions to guide investigations into climate change issues. 
  • Use the concepts of political thinking to critically analyze and evaluate climate change data and evidence. 
  • Explore different types of bilateral and multilateral aid 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the objectives of various NGOs in addressing climate change and assess the importance of their contributions to the national and global community.  
  • Analyze how environmental and cultural factors influence politics and relations between various countries. Formulate conclusions or make informed judgments about global climate change issues, events, and policy recommendations. 

Related Courses:

  • General Social Sciences: HSP3U, HSB4U
  • Equity Studies: HSE4M, HSC4M
  • Politics: CPC3O, CPW4U, 
  • Law: CLN4U
  • Interdisciplinary Studies: IDC3O, IDP3O, IDC4U, IDP4U
Image of a sunset sky in the background with factories and smoke

Registration form

Interested? 

Fill out the registration form and we will reach out.

Questions?

Contact [email protected]

Virtual workshops

We offer virtual workshops for schools outside of the capital region.

Fill out the registration form and add « Virtual » in the comment section.