The Ontario Co-operative Association and its members work with all levels of the Ontario education system to create awareness of co-operative enterprise and educate young people regarding their career choices. On Co-op has developed projects, materials, and curricula to encourage young people to consider co-ops and credit unions in their career planning and job searches.

ALL 4 EACH

The Ontario Co-operative Association has launched a ground-breaking program called “All 4 Each: A unit to inspire a co-operative conscience.”  Educators and school administrators are extremely impressed with the program . All 4 Each is exploding into Canadian classrooms; the first time standardized co-operative teachings have taken place in high schools for many years.

• All 4 Each is a series of five lessons, suitable for high school civics, business and world studies classes, which present co-op philosophies and introduce the co-operative business enterprise model in an intriguing and informal setting. And it works!!
• The lessons are laid out in a brightly-coloured illustrated booklet, and culminate in an assignment in which students are asked to develop their own ideas for a co-operative enterprise.
• The course packs include everything a teacher requires to present the lessons, including background material, handouts and discussion topics. Material is relevant to co-ops and communities across the country, and the lessons can be easily presented in any classroom in Canada.

A WAY TO LINK CO-OPS, CREDIT UNIONS AND SCHOOLS. Credit Unions in Ontario have expressed an interest in partnering with On Co-op to get the All 4 Each lessons in the hands of teachers in their local schools. Already, a handful of credit unions have been working with On Co-op to co-brand some of the materials with their logos, and are arming their staff with the information.  This is a perfect way to link YOUR credit union or co-op with the schools in YOUR community.  Talk to Kerr Smith to find out more about how YOUR organization can be part of this incredible co-op phenomenon.

SEE WHAT THE LESSONS LOOK LIKE: Download the basic lesson plans from the 'Related Documents' section at the top right of this page.  The series of five lessons, plus co-op links and other curriculum resources can be downloaded in PDF format. Hard copy and CD versions can be ordered by contacting Kerr Smith, and sponsorship packages are available for your review.

• Supporting graphics for the lessons, all created by Kerr Smith, Education Manager at On Co-op, feature caricatures of famous co-operators including Tommy Douglas, Agnes Macphail, Moses Coady, Alphonse and Dorimène Desjardins, Robert Owen and Ghandi. The images, many of which have been made into collectible keychains and other tinkets, all uniquely incorporate the word “co-op” superimposed over a large red heart.
• All 4 Each has generated a huge amount of interest nationally. Co-operatives and educators alike are embracing the easy-to-understand lessons and the depth of the content. The project created a great buzz at the 2011 Canadian Co-operative Association national congress in Halifax where it was featured, as well as other conferences across Canada.
•  Every province has expressed interest in presenting the lessons, and On Co-op has also received international inquiries. Talks are underway to have the material translated into French. The project benefitted from the input and support of Canada’s provincial co-operative associations, the Canadian Co-operative Association, Arctic Co-operatives Limited and the Social Economy Centre of the University of Toronto.

Complementing IYC 2012, and given that the other provincial associations all contributed to the creation of this unit, we’re excited that “All 4 Each” will explode into classrooms across Canada

 

 

OTHER MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATORS

• Workshops on co-operative concept & enterprise 
• Workshops on co-operative careers 
• Facilitate interactive co-op activities during general assemblies 
• Participate in on-site career days
• Provide speakers or panelists on various aspects of the co-operative sector including: an overview of the movement;  economic and social impact; the diversity of the co-op sector
• Co-operative resources & marketing materials highlighting co-operative information & opportunities

Better Together and Working Together -  two great teacher resources, developed a few years ago by On Co-op in partnership with Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc., can be found in the 'Related Documents' area. These documents, and many others, can also be found on the OAFE website.

On Co-op can bring the co-operative model into your classroom.