Grade 6 Social Studies
12 units matched to the Ontario Curriculum.
Overall expectations
- A1 Application: Diversity, Inclusiveness, and Canadian Identities: Assess contributions to Canadian identities made by various groups and communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, and by various features of Canadian communities and regions (FOCUS ON: Cause and Consequence; Patterns and Trends)
- A2 Inquiry: The Perspectives of Diverse Communities: Use the social studies inquiry process to investigate different perspectives on the historical and/or contemporary experiences of a few distinct communities, including First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit communities, in Canada (FOCUS ON: Perspective)
- A3 Understanding Context: The Development of Communities in Canada: Demonstrate an understanding of significant experiences of, and major changes and aspects of life in, various historical and contemporary communities, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, in Canada (FOCUS ON: Significance; Continuity and Change)
- B1 Application: Canada and International Cooperation: Explain the importance of international cooperation in addressing global issues, and evaluate the effectiveness of selected actions by Canada and Canadian citizens in the international arena (FOCUS ON: Interrelationships; Perspective)
- B2 Inquiry: Responses to Global Issues: Use the social studies inquiry process to investigate some global issues of political, social, economic, and/or environmental importance, their impact on the global community, and responses to the issues (FOCUS ON: Cause and Consequence)
- B3 Understanding Context: Canada's Global Interactions: Describe significant aspects of the involvement of Canada and Canadians in some regions around the world, including the impact of this involvement (FOCUS ON: Significance; Patterns and Trends)
Units
Unit 1
What Makes Canada, Canada?
Official languages, parliamentary democracy and the constitutional monarchy, multiculturalism, the Charter, built and physical features, and groups working for inclusion.
Expectation: A1.1, A1.4, A3.4, A3.11 · features and values that shape Canadian identities, and efforts toward inclusiveness
Unit 2
Indigenous Contributions
Contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to art, place names, food, sport and inventions, and why Indigenous communities are diverse and living. Needs review with Indigenous partners.
Expectation: A1.2, A3.1, A3.4 · contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, and Indigenous place names and territories
Unit 3
Coming to Canada
Push and pull factors, several waves of newcomers (Irish, Ukrainian, Chinese, Loyalist, Black freedom seekers, Vietnamese, Syrian and more), and how newcomer communities contributed.
Expectation: A1.3, A3.2–A3.4 · why different peoples migrated to Canada, and how newcomer communities shaped the country
Unit 4
Hard Chapters, Honest History
A factual, age-appropriate look at the Expulsion of the Acadians, the Plains of Abraham, the Chinese head tax, the Komagata Maru, the internment of Japanese Canadians and Africville, with a focus on apologies and redress. No graphic detail.
Expectation: A3.6, A3.8 · significant events in the history of settler and newcomer communities, including discrimination and apologies
Unit 5
Indigenous Histories
Well-documented events: the Royal Proclamation, the Indian Act, residential schools and the apology, the Red River Resistance, the creation of Nunavut, and reconciliation. Needs review with First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners before launch.
Expectation: A3.5, A3.8 · significant events in the histories of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
Unit 6
Canada in the World
What the UN, NATO, WHO, UNICEF, the Commonwealth and La Francophonie do, how NGOs differ from governments, peacekeeping, and why countries sign accords.
Expectation: B1.1, B3.1–B3.3 · how Canada interacts with other nations, international organizations and NGOs
Unit 7
Helping Around the World
How governments, NGOs and citizens respond to disasters and global issues, the Montreal Protocol and Paris Agreement, refugees, and a factual look at Canada's response to the MS St. Louis in 1939.
Expectation: B1.2, B1.3, B3.4, B3.5, B3.10 · responses of Canada and Canadians to disasters, refugees and environmental issues
Unit 8
Map Skills
Reading latitude and longitude on a grid and in a table, telling which hemispheres a place is in, and knowing the continents, oceans and key lines like the equator and prime meridian.
Expectation: B3.7 · locating countries and regions using latitude, longitude and hemispheres
Unit 9
Canada's Partners
Locating countries and cities that matter to Canada, using hemispheres and the equator and prime meridian, and how trade affects workers and the economy.
Expectation: B3.7–B3.9 · countries and regions Canada interacts with, locating them with latitude and longitude, and the economic effects of trade
Unit 10
Global Challenges
Poverty and inequality, global environmental problems, and how individuals, governments, NGOs and the UN work together, including the Montreal Protocol as a cooperation success story.
Expectation: B1.2, B1.3, B3.3 · how Canadians, governments and organizations respond to global issues, and why some issues need worldwide cooperation
Unit 11
Trade & Globalization
Imports and exports, market, command, traditional and mixed economies, supply and demand, tariffs and trade disputes, and the benefits and costs of globalization, presented from several points of view.
Expectation: B3.8, B3.9 · Canada's trade relationships and their economic effects
Unit 12
Investigate It
Primary and secondary sources, fact versus opinion, perspective, reading thematic maps and drawing conclusions from evidence.
Expectation: A2.2–A2.5, A2.6, B2.2–B2.5, B2.6 · gathering and evaluating information, perspectives, maps and vocabulary
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