Social Studies 11 with Mr Stipp: Course Outline 2013

Whats the Point of Social Studies? You can only understand the world around you if you understand the past that helped create it. This is as true for understanding why Canada is at war in Afghanistan as it is for understanding why my Dad has a minor fit every time a light bulb is burning in an empty room. To be able to make sense of the here and now, you need to piece together the whole story that led us to this place. Thats what well do when we look at 20th century Canadian history, Canadian government and world issues in social studies 11. We wont just study what happened in the past, but well look at what that means to us in the present. Well answer real, complex questions that affect your daily lives whether you know it or not. Questions like: Why are some countries so rich and others so poor? What can we do to save our environment? What does the government do with all of our tax dollars? Is Canadas system of government effective? Should our government have apologized to Aboriginal people? Are women equal in Canadian society? Should Canada be proud of its military history? The process of answering these questions will require you to think deeply, logically and critically. You will learn tools to think this way more effectively and hopefully acquire habits that will see you use this kind of thinking in your everyday life (where it will make a big difference). Unit A Canada and the world in the 20th Century Are Canadas international contributions in the 20th Century worth celebrating? Youll find out about Canadas role in two world wars and numerous international conflicts later in the Century. Youll learn how Canada grew up into a fully autonomous (independent) nation.

Essential tasks:
Unit challenge 1. Prepare and deliver a speech for a United Nations committee choosing a country for the job of UN advisor on maintaining responsible international involvement. Your speech should persuade the committee members either that Canada should get the job or that Canada shouldnt get the job. Unit Test 2. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of Canadas growing autonomy and Canadas involvement in world affairs from 1914-2000. Unit B Canadian politics and government Is Canadas democracy working? You will find out what different types of government philosophies exist, what your government philosophy is, how Canadian government works, how you can access and influence Canadian government. Essential tasks: Unit challenge 3. Write a report card assessing the health of Canadas democracy. Unit Test 4. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of Canadas system of government.

Unit C Social justice in Canada How much progress has Canada made towards becoming a caring nation? Youll find out how women, Aboriginal people, recent immigrants, French Canadians and disadvantaged people have struggled to improve their rights in Canada. Youll learn about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and what rights it gives you and why this is a big deal. Essential tasks: Unit challenge 5. Assess to what extent Canada has become a caring nation. Unit Test 6. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding the his/herstories of Canadian women, Aboriginal people, immigrants, French Canadians and disadvantaged people in the 20th Century. Demonstrate you knowledge and understanding of Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Unit D Global Issues How can major problems such as developing world poverty, population growth and global climate change be solved? Youll learn about current world issues including the environment, population growth and developing world poverty. We will look at each issue and explore why it exists and how it can be improved. Essential tasks: Unit challenge 7. In a briefing to the director of CIDA, outline how you would spend 100,000,000 dollars to help a developing country address its environmental, population and poverty issues. Unit Test 8. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of major issues facing humanity. Evaluation All eight essential tasks must be completed satisfactorily to get a grade in the course and they will count for a big chunk of your overall grade. Other miscellaneous assignments will also count. Your provincial exam is worth 20% of your overall mark.