Course: Canadian History (CHC2D)
Prerequisite: None
This course is a mandatory requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
In 1914, Canada was part of the British Empire. As the 20th century progressed, Canada had to face many difficult tests: two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and numerous political, social, and economic crises. On the world stage, Canada earned a reputation as a strong independent nation. At home, Canada was working on defining its goals and refining its identity.
In this course, you’ll explore the social, economic, and political developments and events that took place in Canada since 1914, and you’ll see how they impacted the lives of different groups in Canada. You’ll look at the role of conflict and cooperation in Canadian society, at Canada’s evolving role within the global community, and you’ll learn about the impact of various individuals, organizations, and events on Canadian identity, citizenship, and heritage.
There’s more to history than knowing when and where certain events occurred, and our course assignments reflect this philosophy. Our assessments are not tests but rather tasks that challenge students to grapple with events like real historians!
- Whose voices and what issues should Canadians care about?
- What are the skills of history and how will I use them?
- Was 1914-1929 a time of progress or decline?
- How did Canadians react to extreme problems between 1930-1945?
- Did Canadians create the country they wanted in 1950-1982?
- Amazing Race Canada
- debates
- case studies
- film studies
- field trips
- guest speakers
When you study history, what knowledge will you gain and what will you be able to do?
Of course you will learn some facts; but you will also learn how to approach and understand history in ways you are probably not yet familiar with. You will learn how to use historical thinking concepts.
What are historical thinking concepts? They are thinking concepts which form the structure of the practice of history and which will help you develop the skills and abilities you need to “think historically.”
Once you learn how to use these concepts, you will be able to
establish historical significance – look at why we care today about certain events, trends, and issues in history
analyze cause and consequence – examine how and why certain conditions and actions led to others
identify continuity and change – describe what has changed and what has remained the same over time
take a variety of historical perspectives – understand the past from the perspective of the past; see the “past as a foreign country” with different social, cultural, intellectual, and emotional contexts that shaped people’s lives and actions.
These historical thinking concepts will expand your approach to the study of history. Instead of accepting or compiling what others have to say about history, you’ll be able to form your own opinions and to assess the claims of others based on evidence.
When you can apply historical thinking concepts to real events, you will become more actively engaged in the study, practice, and interpretation of history. The research, analysis, interpretation, and presentation skills you will develop through this approach will become tools you can extend, develop, and use in all areas of study and in other aspects of your life.
You will develop and strengthen other transferable skills in this course. These pertain to research and communication. You’ll learn how to ask insightful research questions, develop a thesis statement, find reliable sources, gather relevant evidence, use the recommended writing style, document your sources in acceptable formats, and effectively communicate results.
Course: Civics and Citizenship (CHV20)
Prerequisite: None
This course is a mandatory requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Politics is about how societies are governed, how public policy is developed, and how power is distributed. Civics is a branch of politics that focuses on the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship, the role of governments, and how people can get involved in the political process and take action on issues of civic importance. The study of civics supports students in becoming informed, engaged, and active citizens in the various communities to which they belong, whether at the local, national, or global level.
This course provides authentic learning opportunities to help students practice their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Instead of studying about democracy from a textbook, they experience it first-hand with real issues in real-time.
- What are the critical civic issues in the world today?
- How can individuals and interest groups bring about meaningful change?
- What are the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens?
- What are the powers of the federal, provincial and municipal governments and how are elections conducted?
- fake news case studies
- debate
- film studies
- field trip
- social issue awareness campaign
Course: First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada (NAC20)
Prerequisite: None
This course provides students with an overview of the histories of Indigenous peoples in the land now called Canada from prior to 1500 up to the present. It conveys a sense of the dynamic and diverse nature of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, focusing on topics such as interactions among Indigenous communities and between Indigenous communities and newcomers; the impact of social and economic trends and developments and of colonialist political policies; and the struggle for self-determination. By investigating such topics, students learn about the people, events, emotions, struggles, and challenges that have produced the present and that will shape the future. This course enables students to become critically thoughtful and informed citizens who are able to interpret and analyse historical, as well as current, issues, events, and developments, in both Canada and the world. It also helps students develop the knowledge and understanding that can help promote reconciliation in Canada.
- What are the historical and current issues affecting Indigenous peoples such as the legacy of residential schools?
- What is the significance of stories and storytelling in Indigenous society?
- How successful have Indigenous social movements been?
- What role do non-Indigenous people play in the journey toward reconciliation?
- case studies
- guest speakers
- field trip
- social action activities
You are:
- interested in social justice in Canada
- interested in exploring a career pathway connected to law, politics or social justice