Social Studies Curriculum and Strands
"Social studies...does not merely have students repeat information that they have heard or read; rather, it engages them in thinking about ideas, concepts, people, places, events and, yes, even facts."
- Mike Yell, “Thinking and Social Studies” (2009)
Social Studies develops students` understanding of who they are, where they come from, where they belong, and how they contribute to the society in which they live. By exploring their identity within the contexts in which they participate, analyzing connections between the past and present, investigating various spaces - physical, social, cultural - in which they live, and developing attributes needed to be responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to their communities. students gain a deeper understanding of the interconnections between social, political, economic, and environmental ideas and issues.
The Ontario Grades 1-6 Social Studies Curriculum is organized into two strands: A. Heritage and Identity: exploring connections between the past and present and the interactions within and between diverse communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and students` own communities; determining the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship; developing an understanding of personal, cultural, and national identities B. People and Environments: exploring geographic, social, political, economic, and environmental issues in the context of local, regional, national, and global communities |
General Resources
Canada
World
- Canada.ca - visit the official website of the Government of Canada
- A Kids' Guide to Canada - written by kids, for kids
- The Canadian Encyclopedia - Look up anything Canadian!
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography - Learn about famous Canadian historical figures.
- Historica Canada - Devoted to enhancing awareness of Canadian history and citizenship, this organization has also produced the popular "Heritage Minutes" videos.
- Canada Facts - learn all sorts of cool facts about Canada!
- Canadian Geographic - published by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society, this magazine celebrates Canada through stories about Canadian people, places, frontiers and issues (past and present)
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario - experience Ontario's government in action
- Parliament of Canada - find out how the federal government of Canada works through
- House of Commons and Senate - Examine the processes, players, and conventions involved in making Canada's parliamentary system work. See below for specific resources on Parliament:
- Our Country, Our Parliament for interactive puzzles, trivia, videos, and images.
World
- Kids World Travel Guide - a unique collection of travel facts about different countries around the world
- Social Studies: Ancient Cultures BrainPOP - learn about the ancient world with various activities
- History for Kids - created by Stephen at age 12, this website has games, videos, worksheets on many historical events
- National Geographic Kids: Countries - explore different countries from your own home!
- World Geography Games - test your knowledge of places around the world