Long Range Plan Grade 7 Social Studies – Rationale

Taylor MacLeod

Outside of the general themes of citizenship and identity present in all of Alberta’s social studies curriculums, the Grade 7 Program of

Studies (POS) also promotes a key understanding of Canada’s Indigenous societies and colonial origins. Students will demonstrate an

understanding of pluralism and how Canada’s history has contributed to the multi-culturalism of modern Canada. Much of Canada’s history has

been up for debate in the more recent years, but studying controversial issues is part of the social sciences. These units will take the form of

“perspective-based” teaching where students will be presented with the events as they happened, free of personal bias. It will be up to them as

critical thinkers to reason logically and make their own conclusions- it is up to the instructors to provide students with the required information

and avenues to pursue critical inquiry.

In the Grade 7 POS, students focus on the six strands of social studies through the lens of Canadian history, in a pre/post Confederation

context. Together students will study cultural development, Indigenous ways of knowing, and colonialism throughout Canadian history. Outside

of introducing a foundational knowledge of Canadian social, economic, and political systems, this POS does so through the lens of the core

concepts of identity and citizenship. Students will ask to empathize, critique, and relate to the history presented and how it connects to their

own understanding of the world. Finally, this POS reflects the interdisciplinary nature of social studies by presenting learning outcomes that

inspire critical inquiry, engagement, meaningful dialogue, and an understanding of the importance of social participation. Lastly, students will be

provided a Weebly website that outlines the course, scheduling, and assessment pieces: https://teachingsocial7.weebly.com/
 Long Range Plan Grade 7 Outline

Timeline Curricular Outcomes Focus Resources and Materials Assessment

OVERALL UNIT CONCEPTS: History of

September Earth, Bering Strait Bridge Theory, - Indigenous Societies Ongoing Formative
(Unit 1: Indigenous Groups, Comparing - The French in North - Voices and Assessments
Toward Indigenous Groups Across Canada, America Visions: A Story of Summative Project
Confederation Exploration to Canada, Fur Trade, French - Weekly Current Events Canada. Oxford
) Settlement & Society, British Settlement Focus University Press.
& Society, Struggle for the Continent, (2006).
War of 1812, Upper and Lower Canada, - Google Classroom
Rebellions, Confederation - Google Slides
- Google Maps
GLO 7.1 - Google Earth
- SLO 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3 - Film Board of
Local & Current Affairs Canada
- PBS
- YouTube
October - The French in North - Weebly Ongoing Formative
(Unit 1: GLO 7.1 America - NativeLand.ca Assessments
Toward - SLO 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3, 7.1.5 - The British in North Summative Project
Confederation Local & Current Affairs America
) - Exploration
- Weekly Current Events
Focus

November - The British in North Ongoing Formative

(Unit 1: GLO 7.1 America Assessments
 Toward - SLO 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.3, 7.1.4 - Competition for Trade
Confederation Local & Current Affairs - Exploration
) - Weekly Current Events
Focus

December GLO 7.1 - Competition for Trade Ongoing Formative

(Unit 1: - SLO 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 7.1.5, - War and Peace Assessments
Toward 7.1.6 - Weekly Current Events Summative Unit Test
Confederation Local & Current Affairs Focus + Related Project
)

January GLO 7.1 - Becoming Canada Ongoing Formative

(Unit 1: - SLO 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.5, 7.1.6 - Creating a New Country Assessments
Toward Local & Current Affairs - Weekly Current Events
Confederation Focus
)

OVERALL UNIT CONCEPTS:

February Confederation, Red River Settlement, The - The Metis Ongoing Formative
(Unit 2: Metis Rebellions, The Great Migration, - Weekly Current Events Assessments
Confederation The National Policy, The Canadian Pacific Focus
Onward) Railway, Northwest Mounted Police,
WWI, Contemporary Issues

GLO 7.2
- 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.4
Local & Current Affairs

March GLO 7.2 - Growth in the West Ongoing Formative

(Unit 2: - 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.4, 7.2.5 - Expanding Assessments
Confederation Local & Current Affairs Confederation Summative Project
 Onward) - Weekly Current Events

April - Expanding Ongoing Formative

(Unit 2: GLO 7.2 Confederation Assessments
Confederation - 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.5 - Encouraging
Onward) Local & Current Affairs Immigration
- Weekly Current Events

May - Encouraging Ongoing Formative

(Unit 2: GLO 7.2 Immigration Assessments
Confederation - 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.5, 7.2.6 - Changing Societies in
Onward) Local & Current Affairs the West
- Weekly Current Events

June - A New Canada Ongoing Formative

(Unit 2: GLO 7.2 - Canada Today Assessments
Confederation - 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.3, 7.2.7 - Weekly Current Events Summative Unit Test
Onward) Local & Current Affairs + Related Project