Social Studies Courses

Planning to get married? Witness to a crime? Called for jury duty? Landlord-tenancy problem? Having trouble with a neighbour? Want to see a trial in action? Law is an essential part of Canada’s cultures; without it, we could not function effectively in our daily lives. 

This personal law course provides an opportunity to develop a broad knowledge and understanding of Law. Topics include: how laws are made, how the courts work, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, criminal law, family law, contract law, tort law and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. As well, we will discuss issues such as capital punishment, parole, and women in the law. 

The course offers a variety of activities including case studies, simulations, debates, guest speakers and field trips.

Explorations in Social Studies 11 is a flexible curriculum in which students and their teacher collaborate to create a program of study that is based on a selection of “big ideas” that are made available to the students, as well as the students’ interests.  

The“big ideas” that will be made available will delve into issues related to industrialization, cultural expressions, physical geography, political decision-making, communication technology, indigenous peoples, religion, economics, law, philosophy, social justice and urban geography.

What is genocide and how does it happen? What conditions must exist for a group of humans to try to eliminate another? Students will examine the psychology behind genocide, as well as why genocide continues to exist even though, after every genocide since the Holocaust, the world declares, "Never again." 

Students will look at a handful of genocides that have occurred since the 20th century, as well as the political or social forces that resulted in those genocides. 

While this course can be taken as a grade 11 credit, it is strongly recommended that students have taken courses that have included events such as the World Wars, as well as political ideologies. 

Students will be expected to read academic articles pertaining to genocide, to write essay style responses throughout the course, and to complete a significant research project on one genocide of their choice.  

How can citizens make a difference in Kamloops?  In B.C.?  In Canada or the World?  How can teenagers make a difference? Students who choose to take Political Studies will learn how political action occurs locally and around the world.  They will examine contemporary and historical examples of political power and explore how ideologies, systems of government, political institutions, culture, and other factors lead to a huge range of political, economic, and social outcomes. 

Ultimately, students will become informed and engaged citizens, will empower themselves, and will learn how to influence change in their own community.  Many political views will be discussed together and explored individually, including a broad range of Indigenous, local, regional, national, and global perspectives and forms of government.

This course seeks to place our world in context. While learning the historical process of research and analysis, we seek to explore the turmoil, tragedy and triumph of the 20th Century. 

Big ideas include nationalist movements that unite people or lead to intense conflict, rapid development of technology that led to profound social, economic and political changes, and the breakdown of longstanding empires which created new economic and political systems. We explore the rise and rule of authoritarian regimes, civil wars, independence movements, and revolutions, as well as global conflicts, including WWII, and the Cold War. 

Some themes emerge from this era including differences between capitalism vs. communism, and democracy vs. dictatorships. 

This course will provide students with learning opportunities to gain understanding of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. 

Students will come to understand and appreciate the historical relationship and stewardship BC First peoples have had with the land, how contact and colonialism have impacted and continue to impact BC First peoples, how cultural expressions show the diversity and resilience of BC First peoples and how governance and self-determination continue to be a challenge in contemporary Canada. 

A variety of teaching methods will be employed and both historical and contemporary issues will be discussed.

** This course meets the indigenous focused graduation requirement

Want to understand how the world works and how human activities have changed our planet? Want to be part of solving world problems? How much responsibility do you feel towards our planet’s environment? Intend to travel and want to learn about different locations? 

This course is all about helping you to gain a greater understanding of our planet and the challenges that we have in living on Earth. Through exploring topics in physical geography such as weather, climate, tectonics, natural disasters, natural resources used and global citizenship, students will examine environmental issues like climate change, protection of ecosystems, and resource management. 

The big ideas in this course include:

• The identities, worldviews, and languages of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land. 

• Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism. 

• Indigenous peoples continue to advocate and assert rights to self-determination. 

• Reconciliation requires all colonial societies to work together to foster healing and address injustices. 

The big ideas in this course include:

• Philosophy is a discipline that examines the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.  

• Philosophy provides  tools for investigating meaning and fostering understanding of different ways of thinking. 

• Examining questions  in philosophy allows people  to question their assumptions and better understand  their own beliefs. 

• While philosophical questions often examine issues with no definitive answers, logic and reasoned arguments can show which answers have more or less value.