Social studies

Children explore tradition, history, culture and language as they:

• develop a sense of self in relation to their community and others
• examine needs and wants, belonging and working together
• understand rules, expectations and civic responsibility

Content covered in kindergarten includes:

• places in communities
• culture and traditions
• needs and wants
• leaders in communities
• civic responsibilities

Students explore traditions and cultures in their local community as they:

• develop understanding of themselves and those around them to appreciate the ways in which people work together
• understand roles and responsibilities in the community

Content covered in Grade 1 includes:

• key features of our physical world, including landmarks
• First Nations, Métis, Inuit and francophone communities
• goods and services, buying and selling
• respecting diverse cultures
• supporting cultural understanding and collaboration
• Canada’s official symbols

Students develop an understanding of Canada and build an appreciation of the diversity of people and places as they:

• explore Canada’s Indigenous communities
• build an understanding of Canada’s political structure and decision-making process, and engage in democratic discussions

Content covered in Grade 2 includes:

• Canada’s physical regions, provinces and territories
• leaders in Canada, including the prime minister, the premiers, the King, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders
• traditions and heritages across Canada, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit
• forming opinions and distinguishing facts from opinions
• basic economic concepts of buying and selling and exchanging goods to meet needs and wants in communities

Students explore the people and places in Alberta and Western Canada as they:

• develop understanding of the contributions and perspectives of diverse Albertans over time
• learn stories of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, francophone and immigrant communities
• recognize Alberta’s unique geographic features, official symbols and government structure

Content covered in Grade 3 includes:

• physical geography of Alberta
• First Nations and Métis contributions to Alberta
• francophone settlement and contributions to Alberta
• discrimination and racism in Alberta
• provincial and municipal governments
• Alberta’s official symbols
• Alberta’s natural resources
• voting, charitable giving and volunteerism

Students explore the arrival of French explorers and traders and investigate the transition from French to British rule and events leading up to Confederation as they:

• develop an understanding of the establishment of Canada
• explore how the French and British interacted with First Nations

Content covered in Grade 4 includes:

• Jacques Cartier and early settlements
• Samuel de Champlain and the establishment of Quebec City and New France
• the Treaty of Paris and the transfer of Canada to the British
• United Empire Loyalists
• the Rebellions of 1837, responsible government and Confederation
• the fur trade and Canada’s natural resources
• citizenship rights and responsibilities

Students explore the enduring legacies of civilizations as they:

• develop an appreciation of ancient societies and their contributions to contemporary life
• investigate the systems and structures of civilizations and empires
• examine major innovations and discoveries of the past and their influence on modern society

Content covered in Grade 5 includes:

• ancient civilizations (China, Greece, India, Rome, Persia and Arab)
• trade networks, farming, agriculture and the importance of rivers
• authoritarian governments, social structures
• ways ancient civilizations and empires influence society today
• the origins of taxes and their use by government

Students explore the principles of democracy, including history and development, as they:

• explore the history, principles and operation of democracy
• investigate the historical evolution of democracy
• examine the importance of active and responsible civic participation as the foundation of a democratic society
• compare select democratic decision-making models used today

Content covered in Grade 6 includes:

• Athenian democracy, Roman Republic and Haudenosaunee Confederacy
• creation of laws, rights and freedoms 
• discrimination and racism in Canada
• provincial government
• formal and informal civic participation
• direct democracy vs. representative democracy
• economic freedom and personal choice