Social Studies 30
Introduction
The goal of Social Studies 30 is to help students understand the major issues facing Canadians today. The social studies program examines issues such as social change throughout Canadian history, people-land relationships, cross-cultural relationships, the governance of Canadian society, and Canada’s relationship with the global community. The program aims to develop an appreciation for the influence of Aboriginal peoples on the development of Canada. The course will examine historical forces between the Aboriginal people who have always been here and the many different immigrants who came to make a new life for themselves. Canadians have had to deal with issues stemming from the environment and from working out ways of living with each other. The class will examine the current state of these matters and alternative viewpoints for dealing with these issues within Canadian society.Units of Study
Unit One: Culture – Canadian Society was formed out of the Aboriginal peoples and the many different groups who immigrated to Canada. Students will investigate the history of pre-Contact and Contact of Aboriginal people and Europeans. They will understand the issues involved resolving diverse ethnic identities with Canadian sovereignty and the historical roots of these matters.Unit Two: Change – Change has been, and is, a constant reality facing Canadian students. Canada has seen many significant events that have changed its history and society. Students will scrutinize the change process and attitudes toward change. They will study Canada’s history and look at the events that have caused significant changes. They will understand the impact of change on society’s worldview.
Unit Three: Governance – Because Canada is a regional and multicultural nation with many competing interests, it's hard to govern. The history of politics in Canada reflects this tension between federalism and regionalism. Students will study how a constitution establishes the ground rules of governing a political process. They will examine the Canadian Parliamentary system. They will discuss the legitimacy of governments, sovereignty, and the rights of the individual versus the needs of the state.
Unit Four: Economics – There have been significant relationships between the people of Canada, the geography, and their standard of living. Students will learn that the environment and society act as systems to meet the needs of the people in the community. Students will examine how models are developed to understand and control these systems. Moreover, these models can and should be evaluated and changed as needed.
Evaluation
Students will be assessed in four ways:Assignments… 30% – Each unit will have three types of tasks. They will have assignments, quizzes, and projects. Each unit will have a major project that a student will have to complete. Along with the major project, there will be assignments to help students learning the concept for the unit. Projects will be weighted more than assignments. For example, a project may be out of 100, while an assignment will only be out of 20. Finally, there will small quizzes to check students knowledge as the unit progresses.
Tests… 20% - Each unit will have a test at the end of it.
Dialectical Presentation… 20% - Each student will work with a partner to research major dialectical topics on a current Canadian issue and present it.
Final Exam… 30% - At the end of the course there will be a comprehensive exam for all four units of study.
