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Grade 9 student guides
Student Information: Grade 9 Social Studies
Much like grade eight, as grade nine students, you are asked to become responsible and active citizens in a Canadian context. By exploring the past and the present, you will be asked to critically assess and analyze the society we live in today. Grade nine is a more analytical and challenging level of learning than grade eight. Because of this, it is important that your parents are actively engaged in your learning and education. First off, it is immensely important that you, as students, are positive and encouraging towards your own learning, and what is new in your education. The main point of this is to not only maintain a positive self-image and self-esteem, but also not become frustrated and give up on your learning. Everything you learn this year will be different from the last, it is important to know that if you struggle, to not give up. This is not failure, its change. Next, make sure you discuss with your parents, every day, about your schoolwork and what you have learned. Furthermore, it is proven that students learn more and the knowledge is engrained more thoroughly when the information learned in school is connected with everyday life. If you ask your parents stories about what you learn in class, and become actively engaged in your education, you will prosper academically. However, probably one of the most important things you can do as a student new to the grade nine classroom is to keep an open mind. Everything you will learn is new, and connected with the real world. Keeping an open mind towards Social Studies will not only benefit you in everyday life, but also prepare you for what is in high school, and after school.
In grade nine, your understanding and appreciation of the relationships among governance, economics, quality of life, and citizenship and identity, will be broadened and improved. As students, you will be asked to focus on two main subjects respectfully; issues of Canadians, and issues for the United States. Firstly, you will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how Canada’s political processes impacts citizenship and identity in an attempts to meet the needs of all Canadians. Next, as students, you will be asked to assess how the economic decisions of Canada and the United states impact the quality of life of people, as well as citizenship and identity. Moreover, you will analyze daily life, what you buy and consumerism, and your role as responsible and active citizens in a more real context than any grade prior. In grade 9, you will be taught to analyze and break down the government process piece by piece in order to get closer to reaching the Alberta Education Social Studies goal of becoming engaged and active citizens in everyday society. The Social Studies program of studies has distinct expectations for you to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine the validity and reliability of information based on context, bias (person viewpoint), source, and evidence to broaden understanding. Furthermore, there are expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; you are taught how to become social participants in the democratic process. Grade nine focuses on the government processes of Canada, how a regular society is ran, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today. As grade nine students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom.
Some resources that may be of help to Students include:
Alberta Program of Studies- http://www.learnalberta.ca/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423#999963
Student Transitions: grade 8-9 (parent information)
grade 7 student guide
Student Information: Grade 7 Social Studies
Much like grade six, when you are in grade seven, you are asked to become responsible and active citizens in a Canadian context. By exploring the past and the present, you, as students, will be asked to critically assess and analyze the society we live in today. Grade seven is a more analytical and challenging level of learning than grade six. Because of this, it is important that your parents are actively engaged in your learning and education. Moreover, make sure you talk with your parents, every day, about your schoolwork and what you have learned. It is proven that people learn more and knowledge is engrained more thoroughly when the information learned in school is connected with everyday life. So ask your parents to tell stories from their life about the things you have learned in class and become actively engaged in education. You will definitely benefit from this. Finally, make sure your parents keep in touch with your teacher about everything. This includes your in-class accomplishments and positive transitions in the classroom! As students, it is immensely important to be positive towards your learning and open to all of the new and different ways of exploring the Canadian context. Moreover, knowing that this is a new way you are expected to learn, don’t be afraid to ask questions and understand that you may struggle at first. This is not failure, its change. It is important to maintain a positive self-image to want to continue learning and be up to new experiences and learning opportunities!
In grade seven, the overview of the curriculum is on the events before and after Canada becoming a country in 1867. These heritage based lessons focus on how Canada was formed, and how it became the bilingual, pluralistic, and multicultural society it is today. As a student, you will be asked to gain an understanding, and appreciation, of the distinct roles of the aboriginal, francophone, and Anglophone people in the foundations of Canada. One of the main differences between grade six and seven is that you are asked to critically assess and analyze, compare and contrast, societies, economies, and social structures of both before, and after, the confederation of Canada. The grade seven program of studies has distinct expectations for the you to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine how reliable information is based on context, bias (a personal viewpoint), source, and evidence to broaden understanding. Furthermore, there are expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; to be able to become social participants in the Canadian democratic process. Grade seven focuses on the heritage of Canada, how it was formed, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today. As grade seven students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom.
Useful links:
Grade 8 Student Guide
Student Information: Grade 8 Social Studies
As you leave grade 7 and enter into grade 8, the most important thing to do is begin making a greater effort to become responsible and active citizens. Grade eight focuses on issues related to contact and interactions between societies with different world views. Furthermore, as students, you will be asked to analyze the lives of citizens living in different times and different places. Through this, you will be asked to reflect on your own worldviews and assess how these views might have influenced the past and present. The grade eight curriculum focuses on three different cultures throughout history. Firstly, on Japan, which FACTSnet Alberta is striving to integrate more thoroughly into Alberta schools. The Alberta Program of studies asks/expects thorough understanding of nine different questions dealing with Japanese culture, isolationism, and ideological beliefs of the Meiji era. Influences from Japanese culture are everywhere in our society. Therefore, FACTSnet strives to make more engaging and active integration of Japanese knowledge in your classrooms, and push away from the Eurocentric style of teaching that has often been taught in school. By examining Japan, you as a student will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of different life values, knowledge and beliefs, and worldviews, adding to your roles as responsible and active citizens. Moreover, you will learn to appreciate these values and world views to understand Japans isolation and adaptation in that time period.
After Japan, the Alberta Social Studies curriculum will focus on Renaissance Europe. Here, you, as a student, will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the exchange of ideas and knowledge attributed to shaping the worldview of the western world. After Renaissance Europe, your classrooms will explore the Spanish and Aztec societies. Here, you will be asked to explore and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how intercultural contact and conflict can affect the worldview of societies in a present context. Moreover, in the Spanish and Aztec section of the curriculum, you will explore how cultural differences can insight conflict and intercultural disputes. Overall, the overview of the grade eight Social Studies curriculum is to analyze how contact between societies leads to significant change, conflict, and alters society’s worldview.
The grade eight program of studies has distinct expectations for the you to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine the validity and reliability of information based on context. This means that you should be able to analyze the information you are given, and argue why it is true or false. Next, you will be asked to understand bias, source, objectivity, and evidence to broaden understanding. From this, the program of study expects you as students to understand what you read in the textbook, or from the internet, or stories from people, may be particular to that source, and therefore one point of view of the information. It is important in every grade forward, to use these ‘dimensions of thinking’ to broaden your understanding, as well as become responsible and active citizens. On top of these ‘dimensions of thinking’, there are expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; to be able to become social participants in the democratic process and conflict resolution. Grade eight focuses on the context of differing worldviews, how these views are expressed in different times and different places, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today.
As grade eight students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom
Useful Links:
Grade 10 Student Guide
Student Information: Grade 10 Social Studies
As you leave middle school, and enter into the ‘senior High School’ system, it is important to make a dedicated effort to find yourself, and who you want to be as a citizen in today’s world. The purpose of Social studies, now more than ever before, is to promote a sense of belonging and understanding of both yourself and the world around you. Social studies promotes the creation of active and responsible citizens on every level. At the heart of Alberta’s grade 10 Social Studies program is the creation of the Canadian Identity on a global context. Therefore, when entering grade 10, it is important to focus on the multiple perspectives of those around you, as well as how your voice in this world can make a definite impact. When entering into Social Studies in grade 10, you should have made a decision about what ‘stream’ of classes you would like to take, and had your previous teacher approve the choice. You can either be enrolled into 10-1, 10-2, or 10-4. Between these streams of Social Studies, there is a difference between the level of analysis and exploration of the same topic matters. Depending on deep thinking, on your ability to critically analyze situations, you will choose and flourish in any of the streams you choose.
The main purpose of grade 10 Social Studies is an exploration on different perspectives of Globalization. Moreover, you, as a grade 10 student will analyze the origins of globalization and the local, national, and international impacts of globalization on lands, cultures, economies, human rights and quality of life. On top of this, there will be an focus on Aboriginal, francophone and multicultural perspectives, as the Alberta Program of studies dictates. Furthermore, the grade 10 Social Studies is broken down into 4 distinctive but interrelated key concepts. First, you as a student will explore the impact of globalization on your own life by analyzing your personal belief of the following question: to what extent should globalization shape identity? Next, by exploring the historical legacies of globalization, you will be asked to assess the impacts of historical globalization on Indigenous and Non- Indigenous peoples. Afterwards, the economic, environmental and contemporary impacts of globalization will be critically analyzed by your grade 10 class, answering the question: To what extent does globalization contribute to sustainable prosperity for all people? This question is pivotal to your understanding of responsible citizenship and responsible global partnerships. It is important to see these concepts as a map for you to be positive impacts on the world we live in. From this, you as a student will assess your own roles and responsibilities in globalization and as a citizen in general.
All and all, you as a student will be on a path to assess and understand your role as a citizen, as a student, and as a future member of the economy. Moreover, you gain new skills of research, of understanding, and of exploration, that can only better you as a student, and as a responsible citizen.
Useful links:
and for parents, please refer to:
Student Transitions: grade 9-10
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