SOCIAL

ALBERTA EDUCATION STUDIES PROGRAM OF STUDIES

Program Rationale and Philosophy

Essentially, the social studies curriculum aims to provide students with the tools they need to become engaged, active citizens in a democratic society, with an appreciation for diversity, community, and identity.

Program Foundations
The Alberta social studies curriculum has four major foundations including:

Core Concepts of Citizenship and Identity

Which aims to: Teach students about key rights and responsibilities of citizens in Canadian democratic society Develop students appreciation of the diversity, dignity, and equality of all human beings. Help individuals cultivate a sense of their own identity as well as a respect for the identity of others.

Francophone Perspectives and Experiences

Which aims to: Promote to Francophone identity, culture, perspectives, and experiences. Instill a knowledge and respect for the French culture and identity in Canada. Provide a special focus for students attending Francophone schools, in order to strengthen their confidence and self-esteem in their francophone identity

Pluralism: Diversity and Cohesion Aboriginal Perspectives and Experiences

Which aims to: Give students with insight into Aboriginal perspectives, experiences, languages, worldview, and culture. Provide a special focus for Aboriginal students in Alberta classrooms, to promote their cultural identity and develop their confidence and self-esteem in their aboriginal identity. Which aims to: Provide students with an understanding of the role and contributions of various linguistic, cultural, and ethnic groups in Canada. Helps students function in a society that values diversity and cohesion. Emphasize how diversity and difference are positive traits and assets which enrich society. Relate strong diversity to a vibrant, democratic, cohesive society.

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Social Studies Program of Studies

Strands of Social Studies

Time, Continuity and Change
This strand essentially encompasses the historical nature of social studies. It primarily focuses on looking at the past from multiple perspectives, in order to enable students to apply such knowledge to contemporary issues in the present. interdependence and conflicts between individuals, communities, societies, and nations; attempting to broaden students global consciousness and encourage empathy for students across the globe.

The Land: Places and People

This strand looks at the land, places, and physical geography of Canada. It examines the relationship humans have with the land, and the ways it affects the social, political, environmental, and economic organizations in society.

Culture and Community

This strand allows students to critically examine characteristics of their own cultures such as their beliefs, values, languages, and traditions, as well as those of other cultures. In addition, it seeks to develop students sense of identity and citizenship.

Power, Authority and Decision Making

This strand focuses on an examination of the distribution, exercise, and implications of power and authority, and how these concepts affect individuals, communities, and nations. Political, judicial, and governmental structures are examined, as well the individuals own means of influencing decisions in society.

Economics and Resources

This strand is mainly concentrated on developing students understanding of economic systems, the means through which resources are distributed, and the social and environmental implications of economic activity throughout the world.

Global Connections
This strand seeks to broaden students understanding of current issues ranging from local problems in their community, all the way to global ones such as sustainability and universal human rights. It seeks to examine issues of

Social Studies Program of Studies

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Scope and Sequence

The Social Studies curriculum attempts to build on previous knowledge as students progress from grade to grade.
Kindergarten: Being Together Grade 1: Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting Grade 2: Communities in Canada Grade 3: Connecting with the World Grade 4: Alberta: The Land, Histories and Stories Grade 5: Canada: The Land, Histories and Stories Grade 6: Democracy: Action and Participation Grade 7: Canada: Origins, Histories and People Grade 8: Historical Worldviews Examined Grade 9: Canada: Opportunities and Challenges Grade 10: Perspectives on / Understandings of Globalization

Learning Outcomes
Every grade has two to four General Learning Outcomes which directly correlate with the theme of that year. For the Elementary and Jr. High programs, a brief description of the GLO can be found in the scope and sequence, with a more detailed description provided on the overview page, and the heading for every general outcome. In the High School Program, only a key issue is featured in the Scope and Sequence, with the actual GLOs found on the overview page For every General Outcome there are a number of Specific Learning Outcomes which fall under the categories of either: o Values and Attitudes o Knowledge and Understanding. In addition, the social studies curriculum includes a number of Skills and Processes Outcomes for every grade, which fall under the categories of o Dimensions of Thinking o Social Participation as Democratic Practice o Research for Deliberative Inquiry o Communication In the Elementary and Jr. High Programs, Skills and Processes come at the end of the POS. For High School they can be located after the overview

Grade 11: Perspectives on / Understanding of Nationalism Grade 12: Perspectives on / Understanding of Ideologies

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Social Studies Program of Studies

Social Studies POS in Action

Grade 3: Connecting with the World General Learning Outcome: 3.1 Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how geographic, social, cultural and linguistic factors affect quality of life in communities in India, Tunisia, Ukraine and Peru. Specific Learning Outcome: Knowledge and Understanding 3.1.3: Students will examine the geographic characteristics that shape communities in other parts of the world by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions for inquiry o Where, on a globe and/or map, are the communities in relation to Canada?

Skills and Processes Outcome: Dimensions of Thinking: 3.S.3: Students will develop skills of geographic thinking: o o Create and use a simple map to locate communities studied in the world Apply the terms hemisphere, poles, equator

A possible lesson activity which incorporates these outcomes could be:

Show students a world map with stickers over the locations of Canada, India, Tunisia, Ukraine, and Peru. Familiarize students with elements of a map such as the equator, hemispheres, poles, and cardinal directions. Instruct students about different climates, and their relation to the equator. Ask students about where each country is, based on a number of different factors such as: Distance from the equator, poles, or Canada, what hemisphere its in, which country would be the hottest, coldest, which country is furthest North, South etc. Continue activity until all countries are located Have students copy locations on mini map provided

For a longer, more in-depth version of this lesson encompassing multiple outcomes, see the LearnAlberta lesson resource: http://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssoc3/html/whereisthecommunity_cc.html

Additional Resources
LearnAlberta.ca: http://www.learnalberta.com/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423# o Link will bring you directly to the Social Studies Resources. Just choose the grade and Specific Outcome to find resources. Username: lps24 Password: 4095 Access Learning.com: http://www.accesslearning.com/search.cfm?cats=T-684 o Link will bring you to a huge video database with multiple A/V resources which can be used for various elements of the social studies curriculum. Username: currlab Password: currlab Nelson Textbooks: http://www.nelson.com/nelson/school/elementary/socialstudies/default.html o Link will bring you to Nelson textbooks main page. You can access any of their textbooks which are used in the curriculum and find specific resources how to use them. Username: currlab Password: currlab1 2Learn.ca: http://www.2learn.ca/ o Link will bring you to a wide variety of student and teacher resources. Just select the grade level from the left, and then the social studies tab to find resources for a particular unit. No password required o