Grade 6 Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 social studies in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- 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)
Easy ways to practise social studies at home
- Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently.
- Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying.
- Use an atlas or online map to trace a trade or travel route.
- Ask “Whose voice is missing from this story?” when reading about the past.
What each unit covers
What Makes Canada, Canada?
Official languages, parliamentary democracy and the constitutional monarchy, multiculturalism, the Charter, built and physical features, and groups working for inclusion.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Investigate It
Primary and secondary sources, fact versus opinion, perspective, reading thematic maps and drawing conclusions from evidence.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 6 child with social studies?
Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently. Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 6 social studies in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 6 social studies units include what makes canada, canada?, indigenous contributions, coming to canada, hard chapters, honest history, indigenous histories, canada in the world.
Free printable Grade 6 social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.