Social Science: Provincial Level
Geography – Generic Topic Outline
The focus is on Physical and Human Geography.
I. Demography:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to:
- Distribution and density
- Explain factors which influence population distribution and density
- Explain the relevance and limits of methods used to measure the distribution and growth of human populations.
- Population growth and control
- Describe how population growth, the standard of living of a country or region, and the rate of consumption of resources are all related.
- Discuss the various predictions for population growth and the various ideas for limiting the rate of population growth.
- Food consumption and Distribution; Analyze factors that determine food consumption and distribution.
- Migration
- Describe the movements and the motives for the movement away from migrants’ original locations.
- Evaluate the impact of emigration on the country or region of origin and immigration on the new country or region.
- Describe current migration patterns and the reasons for this migration
II. Meteorology & Climatologic:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to
- Earth and sun relationships
- Describe the relationships between the earth and the sun.
- Describe how the energy from the sun and from within the Earth is distributed and changed by Earth’s systems.
- Atmosphere, structure and composition
- Explain how the Earth’s atmosphere evolved and its relationship to the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere.
- Describe the structure and function of the atmosphere and explain why the temperature of the atmosphere increases and decreases as you go through the various layers.
- Insolation and temperature
- Describe the relationship between insolation, topography and the temperature of various parts of the Earth’s surface.
- Explain how energy is transferred and transformed as it moves through the Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
- Atmospheric pressure and winds
- Describe the major atmospheric circulation patterns in the upper and lower atmosphere and explain the differences between surface and upper atmospheric winds.
- Explain how surface winds affect the ocean currents and how the oceans affect air pressure and therefore wind direction and velocity.
- Moisture, humidity and precipitation
- Explain the relationship between moisture, humidity and precipitation.
- Describe the various forms and patterns of precipitation and the geographic conditions that determine what type and pattern of precipitation occurs.
- Weather Systems and Hazards
- Be able to map weather and be able to interpret a weather map.
- Describe the Earth’s major weather systems and the various mechanisms that drive these systems.
- Describe and explain major weather events such as El Nino, cyclonic storms and monsoons.
- Identify the possible impacts of weather especially storms on humans.
- List the precautions to take to prevent loss of life or damage to property from storms.
- Climate and Climate Change
- Differentiate between climate and weather.
- Describe the numerous geographic factors that determine the climate of various regions of the Earth including geomorphology and ecology.
III. Geomorphology:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to
- Rocks:
- Describe the formation of various igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and classify common rocks based on their mineralogy and texture.
- Tectonic forces
- Explain the evidence for the Plate Tectonic theory and how it explains many of Earth’s major processes such as volcanism and earthquakes.
- Describe the tectonic forces and the resultant landforms.
- Weathering and Gradational forces
- Explain the physical and chemical processes that break rock down into sediments and soils.
- Identify and describe landforms caused by erosive forces such as moving water, glaciers and wind and describe how each is formed.
- Identify and describe landforms caused by deposition by moving water, glaciers and wind and describe how each is formed.
- Describe the changes to the land surfaces of the Northern Hemisphere during and after the last Ice Age.
- Geophysical hazards
- Relate the location, depth and intensity of earthquakes to plate margins.
- Discuss the factors that determine the amount of destruction caused by an earthquake and the other geologic processes that may result from an earthquake including tsunamis.
- Describe the conditions that lead to a flood and how humans can be protected from erosion by water including flood events
- Describe how human activity often causes or contributes to geophysical hazards such as landslides and increases their effects.
- List the steps that people in high-risk areas should take to minimize the impact of geophysical hazards on their person and property.
IV. Cartography:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to
- Types of maps: Explain the various types of maps and the strengths and weaknesses of each type.
- Scale
- Explain the scale on a map and use the scale to calculate distances.
- Define and describe the uses of small and large scale maps.
- Grids
- Discuss the purpose of map grids.
- Use latitude and longitude and UTM coordinates to describe the location of various features.
V. Resources:
By the end of this unit the student will be able to
- Renewable/non renewable
- Explain the difference between renewable and non renewable resources.
- Give examples of renewable and non renewable resources.
- Describe the environmental, economic and social aspects of resource management and use.
- State the importance of an integrated and sustainable approach to resource management.
- Energy types
- Analyze the relationship between increased energy use and the economic development of some countries.
- Evaluate the impacts on the environment and the limits of non-renewable energy resource development.
- Describe the benefits and costs of using alternate energy resources.
- Describe the benefits of energy conservation and reduced consumption to the economy and the environment.
- Evaluate how you can play your part in sustaining energy resources.
History – Generic Topic Outline
The focus is on world history since 1900.
General Outcomes for Provincial Level History
- Interpret and evaluate information from artifacts, oral tradition, original documents and other primary sources.
- Explain Canada’s role and place during each period of world history.
The World at the Beginning of the Century
- Explain the role of nationalism and imperialism leading up to Great War.
- Discuss the role of technological change leading up to and during the course of World War I.
- Discuss the importance and results of the Russian Revolution and civil war.
The World after World War I
- Describe Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations and explain their importance.
- What was the impact of war reparations on Germany?
- Discuss rise of Japanese imperialism.
- Discuss Indian nationalism and the problems of China in the context of imperialism.
- What were the economic and social changes in Europe and North America in the 20s.
The World in the 30s: Depression & Dictatorship
- Discuss the Great Depression including its causes and consequences.
- Explain the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party out of the Weimar Republic in Germany.
- Discuss Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal.
- Trace Stalin’s rise to power and modernization of Russia.
World War II
- What were the origins and causes of World War II?
- Discuss the events and results of World War II.
The Cold War and Reconstruction
- Discuss the origins and major events of the Cold War.
- What was the Iron Curtain?
- Trace Western Europe’s move towards the European Union.
- Discuss the rise of the Asian economies.
The Third World and China
- Discuss the rise of the Peoples’ Republic of China.
- Discuss the end of the European empires and its impact on Africa and southern Asia.
- Explain the advent of globalization.
- Discuss the events leading to the current situation in the Middle East.
Contemporary Issues
- Discuss the rise of fundamentalism in world religions.
- Discuss current events in a historical context.
Economics – Generic Topic Outline
The focus is on providing an introduction to some of the basic concepts of economics.
General Outcomes for Provincial Level History.
I. Introduction
- Origins and history of economics
- Terminology
- Definitions of economic terms
- Scarcity
- Modern economic systems and their evolution – communism, socialism, capitalism, fascism
II. Production
- Explanation of production
- Factors of production (land, labour, capital, entrepreneur)
- Organizations of production (single ownership, partnership, corporation, state ownership, cooperatives)
- Large-scale production – advantages and disadvantages
- Monopoly – an assessment of its various forms (pool, holding company, merger) and its growth
III. Exchange
- The price system
- Money
- Credit and banking
- Marketing and transportation
- International trade and foreign exchange
IV. Distribution
- Elements of distribution, such as:
- National income
- Wage determination
- Interest and savings
- Interest rates
- Profits
- The Labour Movement (history and development)
- Labour problems
- Labour legislation
- Collective bargaining
- Contracts
- The right to strike
- Strike alternatives, labour laws
V. Consumption of Goods
- Principles of consumption
- Saving and investing
VI. The Role of Government
- Federal, provincial and municipal expenditures
- Increasing public expenditures
- Social services
- National defense
- Crown corporations
- Debts – national and provincial
- Sources of government revenue
- Advantages and disadvantages of various types of taxation
- Federal taxation
- Provincial taxation
- Municipal taxation
VII. Economics and Business
- The balance sheet (assets and liabilities)
- Costs and cost control
- Reasons for business failure
VIII.Current Events
- Domestic issues (issues of local and national concern)
- International issues
Psychology Core Learning Outcomes
Provincial Level Psychology
I. Introduction to Psychology
- Explore the history of psychology
- Define psychology, and list and explain its goals
- Describe and compare quantitative and qualitative research strategies
- Explain how statistics are used in psychological research
- Describe ethical issues in psychological research
- Discuss the development of psychology as an empirical science
II. Biological basis of behaviour and mental processes
- Describe the structure, function and organization of the nervous system
- Describe the structure and function of the major regions of the brain
- Evaluate scientific advances that have been developed to analyze brain behaviour and disease
- Describe the relationship between the endocrine glands and the nervous system
- Compare the effects of genetics, evolution and environment on behaviour
III. Thinking, Language and Intelligence
- Explain how thinking involves the manipulation and understanding of information.
- Recognize that information is classified into categories, containing similar properties known as concepts.
- Compare the different strategies and obstacles involved in problem solving and decision-making.
- Discuss theories of intelligence.
- Explain how intelligence and personality may be influenced by heredity and environment.
- Provide examples of how intelligence is measured.
IV. Learning and Memory
- Define learning from a psychological perspective.
- Describe classical and operant conditioning.
- Explain observational and cognitive learning approaches.
- Discuss the roles of biology and culture in learning.
- Describe encoding.
- Describe sensory, short-term, and long-term memory systems.
- Describe retrieval.
- Investigate strategies for improving memory.
V. Social and Cultural Psychology
- Discuss the influence of cultural beliefs, values and attitudes on adjustment and personal growth.
- Discuss predominant sociological theories.
- Identify the various types of schemas and explain how they influence our perceptions of others.
- Monitor changes in thinking, understanding, and attitudes about yourself and others around you.
- Identify factors that help human beings adjust effectively to life’s challenges.
- Explain how ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status affect people and their behaviour.
- Distinguish between perception, attraction, social judgment, and attitude formation.
- Identify basic social and cultural categories and discuss how these affect behaviour.
- Explain the effects of the presence of others on individual behaviour.
- Describe how social structure can affect intergroup relations.
- Discuss the nature and effects of bias and discrimination toward groups such as indigenous peoples, immigrants, and refugees.
- Discuss the circumstances under which conformity, compliance, and obedience are likely to occur.
VI. Theories of Personality
- Define personality.
- Explain the characteristics of the psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic and trait approaches.
- Compare and contrast various forms of personality assessment.
VII. Motivation and Emotion
- Describe the theories of motivation.
- Apply motivational concepts to the behaviour of humans and other animals.
- Investigate the role of biology and learning in motivation and emotion.
- Describe theories of emotion.
- Discuss cultural factors in emotions and motivations.
VIII. Stress, Health and Healing
- Identify the sources of stress, and explain the psychological and physiological reactions to stress.
- Evaluate physiological, psychological and social aspects of stress.
- Identify and explain cognitive and behavioural strategies to deal with stress and promote health.
- Investigate different holistic approaches to deal with stress and promote health.
- Explain factors, prevention strategies and treatments related to the development of substance abuse or addictive behaviour.
IX. Psychological Disorders and Treatment
- Define psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, somatoform disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders and identify the various criteria used to determine the diagnosis.
- Explain schizophrenia and describe the three subtypes.
- Discuss psychodynamic, humanistic-existential, behaviour, cognitive, and biomedical therapies.
- Describe the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
Law – Core Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course the learner will be able to explain basic features and demonstrate an understanding of the Canadian legal system through the following learning outcomes
I. Assess the history and purpose of law in Canadian Society by explaining and differentiating among the following terms
- Differentiate between laws and rules
- Explain the need for laws
- Differentiate between law and justice
- Differentiate between law and morality
- Identify the divisions of law
- Examine the historical influences on and development of Canadian law: early British law, the feudal system, common law, legal reforms, and aboriginal law
II. Analyze the evolution of human rights and how this relates to the Canadian Constitution through the following
- Discuss the BNA Act, the Statute of Westminster, and the Bill of Rights as it relates to the evolution of human rights
- Identify the various sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (CCORAF), including the reasonable limits clause and notwithstanding clauses
- Compare and contrast the federal and provincial divisions of power
- Describe the methods of enforcing rights and freedoms and explain how this relates to rights guaranteed by the CCORAF and human rights legislation and grounds for discrimination
III. Examine how the federal government is structured and relate it to how new laws are made
- Explain what roles the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government each have in the formation of law
- Describe the steps as to how a federal law is passed
- Identify the various levels within the Canadian federal and provincial court systems
- Analyze the role of individuals and interest groups in creating new laws
IV. Classify the various types of Canadian law
- Identify and explain sources of Canadian law: common, statute, and constitutional
- Identify the categories of law: international, domestic, substantive, procedural, public, and private
V. Examine the nature of crime
- Summarize key aspects of the Criminal Code
- Classify “summary, indictable, and hybrid” offences
- Differentiate the elements of a criminal offense: actus reus and mens rea
- Identify “parties” to an offence
- Explain the criminal court system
VI. Examine the process of police investigation, arrest, and bringing the accused to trial
- Discriminate the levels of police: federal, provincial, municipal, aboriginal
- Explain key features of a police investigation and the identification and collection of evidence including the following steps
- arrest and detention procedures
- legal rights and bail procedures
VII. Differentiate among the following Criminal Offences
- offences against the person and property
- other offences, including drug, gambling, fraud, and mischief, driving, and prostitution
Classify and examine the following criminal defences
- mental state defences
- justification defences
- other defences, including mistake of law and fact, double jeopardy, alibi, and entrapment
VIII. Examine the various roles of the following in trial procedure
- courtroom participants and their roles
- the role of juries and jury selection
- presentation of evidence and types of evidence
- charges to the jury
- reaching a verdict
IX. Demonstrate an awareness of the process and objectives of the following in the Correctional system
- sentencing
- appeals and the types of traditional sentences
- restorative justice and victims of crime
- the provincial and federal correctional system
- parole and pardons
X. Recognize and differentiate key features of the youth criminal justice system through the following documents and procedures
- the current youth justice act
- the legal rights of youths
- youth trial procedures
- youth sentencing options
XI. Explain and differentiate civil law disputes and resolution through the following processes
- crime and torts
- private law procedures
- civil courts and trial procedures
- civil remedies and sentencing
- alternative dispute resolutions
XII. Differentiate and explain negligence and unintentional torts through the following legal terminologies
- negligence, duty of care, standard of care, and causation
- types of liability
- the defences to negligence
- intentional interference with the person and with property
- the defences to intentional interference
- defamation to character and defences to defamation to character
XIII. Examine marriage, divorce, and the family in a legal framework as they relate to the following terms
- the changing family structure
- the essential and formal legal requirements for marriage
- annulment, separation, access, and divorce
- the division of family property and asset
- spousal and child support
- domestic contracts and common law contracts
XIV. Distinguish contract law from other types of law as they relate to the following legal terms
- the types of contracts
- the elements of a contract
- invalidating factors
- carrying out the contract
- the sale of goods
- consumer protectionism
- landlord and tenant law
- employment law
Law – Non-Core Outcomes
I. Identify and explain key legal features of wills, including the following
- the requirements for preparing a will
- who can make, change, and revoke a will
- the terms and duties associated with a will
- provisions in a will
- death without a will
- contesting a will
II. Explain how Canadian law relates to First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples (Aboriginal) in the following areas
- Identify the purpose and provisions of the current act pertaining to aboriginals
- Examine the history of treaty making
- Examine the arguments for and against recognition of aboriginal title
- Discuss the process of negotiating land claim agreements
- Describe the relationship of the present Constitution to aboriginal and treaty rights.
III. Explain Canadian emigration and immigration law including the following events and issues
- the main events in the history of immigration and immigration policy and law
- the main provisions of the current act pertaining to immigrants
- the terms associated with immigration and emigration
- the ‘points system’ for selecting immigrants
- how refugee claims are made and decided upon
- the appeals procedures
- Identify key issues in Canadian immigration law
IV. Discuss current law as it relates to the environment with consideration of
- major legal, social, and economic issues related to protecting the environment
- how tort law is applicable to protecting the environmental
- Canada’s current environmental protection act
- Canada’s law as it relates to parks and endangered species
- the need for international cooperation and laws
- the effect of globalization on Canadian law
V. Directions to Future Submitters of Courses under the Social Science Section
Please submit course proposals to the chair of the committee at least one month prior to the annual meeting. If this is not possible, contact the chair. Please ensure that the course proposals reflect the goal statements, competencies and generic skills as outlined in the Articulation Handbook.
Provincial Level Social Justice
Students will be able to:
I. Defining Social Justice
- Use Social Studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret, and analyze ideas and communicate findings and decisions.
- Examine definitions, frameworks, and interpretations of social justice
- definitions of social justice in local contexts
- equity and equality
- values, morality, ethics
- social service, social responsibility
- justice
- Define and describe social injustices in Canada and the world affecting individuals, groups, and society
- individual ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions
- group ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions
- Identify governmental and non-governmental issues of social justice and injustice
- discriminatory legislation
- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- human rights codes
- Assess various approaches individuals, groups, and institutions use to promote social justice
- activism, advocacy, and ally-building
- dispute and conflict resolution processes and practices
II. Recognizing and Analyzing Social Injustice
- Assess and compare the significance of people, places, events or developments at particular times and places, and determine what is revealed about issues of social justice in the past and present.
- Use criteria to rank the most important people, places, events, or developments in the current unit of study.
- Compare how different groups assess the significance of people, places, events, or developments.
- Assess the justification for competing accounts after investigating points of contention, reliability of sources, and adequacy of evidence, including data.
- Compare and contrast multiple accounts of the same event and evaluate their usefulness as historical sources.
- Examine what sources are available and what sources are missing and evaluate how the available evidence shapes your perspective on the people, places,
- Compare and contrast continuities and changes for different groups and individuals at different times and places.
- Compare how different groups benefited or suffered as a result of a particular change.
- Determine and assess the long- and short-term causes and consequences, and the intended and unintended consequences, of an event, legislative and judicial decision, development, policy, or movement.
- Assess whether the results of a particular action were intended or unintended consequences.
- Evaluate the most important causes or consequences of various events, decisions, or developments.
- Explain different perspectives on past and present people, places, issues, and events, and distinguish between worldviews of the past or present.
- Explain how the beliefs of people on different sides of the same issue influence their opinions.
- Make reasoned ethical judgments about controversial actions in the past or present after considering the context and standards of right and wrong.
- Evaluate social system dynamics
- privilege and power
- diverse belief systems and worldviews
- traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples
- inclusive and non-inclusive language
- investigate the connection between access to resources and social injustice.
- Explore social justice issues.
- race, poverty, LGTBQ2+ rights, status of women, Indigenous peoples, disabilities and other marginalized groups.
III. Social Justice Non-Core Outcomes
- Explore social injustices around the world.
- equality for women
- ethnic and religious minorities
- political rights and freedoms
- Evaluate social justice issues related to globalism and globalization.
- Investigate controversial actions in environmental and ecological justice.
- Conduct a self-assessment of one’s own attitudes and behaviors as related to social justice.