SOCIAL STUDIES

The Social Studies Department requires students in grades 9 to 11 to complete specific exercises to develop information literacy skills.

In Grade 9, students learn how to:

Locate and use a variety of resources, both print and media
Evaluate internet sites
Use strategies such as two column note taking and summarizing to read effectively
Record bibliographic information accurately in different styles and formats
Produce reports or representations to demonstrate learning

In Grade 10, students reinforce the skills they learned in grade 9 and learn how to:

Quote, paraphrase and cite their references
Use strategies such as two column notes, quote notes, summarization, and marking text to read effectively
Write an in-class research essay that includes an introduction, body and conclusion; thesis development; and quotes with citations
Produce reports or presentations to demonstrate learning

In Grade 11, students reinforce the skills they learned in grades 9 and 10 and learn how to:

Write a formal research essay with an introduction, body and conclusion; thesis development; and quotes with citations
Produce reports or representations to demonstrate learning
Find, select, and use primary and secondary sources

Social Studies 9

One Social Studies 9 class is required for graduation.

Social Studies 9 (18th-19th Century)

The Growth of Nations - Grade 9 Social Studies builds on the ideas developed in grades 7 and 8 that distinctive cultures are developed in response to a variety of influences. A Canadian strand is introduced, including the geographic setting of North America prior to exploration and significant historical developments, both in Canada and Europe, up to 1919.

Pursuant to the new curriculum, Socials 9 students will learn about:

political, social, economic, and technological revolutions,
the continuing effects of imperialism and colonialism on indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world,
global demographic shifts, including patterns of migration and population growth, nationalism and the development of modern nation-states, including Canada,
local, regional, and global conflicts,
discriminatory policies, attitudes, and historical wrongs, and
physiographic features of Canada and geological processes.

Social Studies 10

One Social Studies 10 class is required for graduation.

Social Studies 10 (20th Century)

Canada and the World: Social Studies 10 will focus on the time period from 1919 to present day in both Canada and the world. Students will learn how global and regional conflicts have been a powerful force in shaping our contemporary world and identities. They will also examine how the development of political institutions is influenced by economic, social, ideological, and geographic factors. Students will use inquiry processes and skills to learn about worldviews and how they can lead to different perspectives and ideas about developments in Canadian society as well as be able to communicate those findings. Social Studies 10 is meant to prepare students for the future as thoughtful, responsible, and active citizens of Canada.

Social Studies 11

One Social Studies 11 or 12 class is required for graduation.

Explorations in Social Studies 11 (20th Century)

Contemporary Canada and World Affairs: The overall theme of Social Studies 11 is one of developing responsible citizenship. Students will study a variety of different topics including: identity, cultural expressions, world history, politics, current events, social justice, and global development from a number of different backgrounds. Students will submerge themselves in a number of subjects using inquiry processes and skills to ask questions; gather, interpret, and analyze ideas; and communicate findings and decisions. They will be asked to think critically on how and why events, people, cultures, laws and politics of the world matter, and how they can become a more informed citizen by understanding their absolute importance to the Canadian ideal.

Social Studies 12

One Social Studies 11 or 12 class is required for graduation.

These courses provide students with an academic grade 12 credit and fulfils the Social Studies 11 requirement for graduation. They can be taken instead of Explorations in Social Studies 11 for this purpose.

BC First Peoples 12

The BC First Peoples 12 course has been designed as a provincially prescribed elective course suitable for all students. The course is primarily BC-focused. The aim of this course is to enable all learners to understand and respect the traditions, values and beliefs of First Nations peoples within historical, contemporary and future contexts, as well as to appreciate the importance of First Nations languages.

Students will have opportunities to develop an understanding of, and an appreciation for, First Nations values and beliefs, communication, customs and traditions, social, economic, and governance systems, as well as exploring First Nations art as a total cultural expression. Students will also develop co-operative decision-making skills through the exploration of historical and contemporary events or issues, and through consideration of future possibilities.

This class will satisfy BC's Indigenous-focused graduation requirement.

Comparative Cultures 12

This course examines cultures and societies from around the world. The course emphasizes cultural rather than political history and in it, students will also study various aspects of cultures including the origin of modern humans, belief systems and art, marriage and family, and economic organizations and politics. Students will learn that understanding the complexity of one culture enhances our understanding of others. During this course, students will be expected to demonstrate the following:

definitions of culture and how these have changed over time
the belief systems, social organization, languages and artistic expressions of cultures
how geographic and environmental factors influenced the development of cultures
how value systems and beliefs systems shape cultures
the system or power, authority, and governance of various cultures
conflicts within and between cultures

Contemporary Indigenous Studies 12 - NEW COURSE!

This course will integrate place-based and experiential learning opportunities. Core units throughout this course will be grounded by local W̱SÁNEĆ knowledges and ways of being.

Students will learn how the identities, worldviews, and language of Indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through connections to the land. As students work through the course, we will examine the factors that sustain and challenge the identities and worldviews of Indigenous peoples and alternatively, the resilience and survival of Indigenous peoples in the face of colonialism.

An ongoing theme in this course will be for students to consider restoring balance through truth, healing, and reconciliation in Canada and around the world.

History 12 (may be combined with IB History)

This course examines major 20th century issues and events which include the Russian and Chinese Revolutions, the two World Wars, the Cold War, the Vietnam and Korean wars, the Middle East, and the evolution of human rights in the 20th century. This course is designed to provide opportunities to develop skills which increase student understanding of contemporary life as global citizens and prepares students for further study in history, the social sciences and humanities. History 12 builds on the foundation of knowledge, skills and understanding acquired in earlier Social Studies courses.

The curriculum introduces students to the discipline of history as part of a broader education and provides opportunities to apply the methods of historical inquiry and problem solving for further use when critically evaluating major 20th and 21st century issues.

This is an interesting and relevant course for students who are interested in learning about the issues that shape the world in which they live through discussion, debate, reading, and media.

Human Geography 12 (may be combined with IB Geography)

This course examines cultures and societies from around the world. The course emphasizes cultural rather than political history and in it, students will also study various aspects of cultures including painting, sculpture, architecture, music and dance. Students will learn that understanding the complexity of one culture enhances our understanding of outhers. During this course, students will be expected to demonstrate the following:

definitions of culture and how these have changed over time
the belief systems, social organization, languages and artistic expressions of cultures
how geographic and environmental factors influenced the development of cultures
how value systems and beliefs systems shape cultures
the system or power, authority, and governance of various cultures
conflicts within and between cultures

Law Studies 12

This course is designed to be an informative and applicable approach to the legal system in Canada. Classes are made up of various topics of interest to students and are delivered through lectures, informal discussion, video presentations, and guest speakers. One of the highlights of the course is the observation of court cases at the Victoria Provincial Law Courts.

Topics include an introduction to law, criminal law and process (including Young Offenders law), legal rights, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Human Rights, and civil law (property, negligence, contracts, employment, family, etc.).

This is a general interest course which will be valuable to all students in their future professional and personal lives as law affects everyone in many different ways throughout their lives.

Social Justice 12

This course focuses on a wide variety of social justice issues. It will move students through three stages of social engagement. Initially, awareness of social justice issues is developed as students begin to explore issues from various perspectives. Next, students analyze issues to gain a more thorough understanding of them. Finally, students pick specific issues to focus on and develop their own personal action plans for making change in an area they feel passionate about. In this way, they progress from awareness to analysis and action on a social justice topic of their choice.

Students will develop ethical reasoning skills as they explore issues of oppression and injustice in a Canadian and Global context. They will be asked to define personal and social responsibility when examining oppression based on ability, age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, marital and family status and the intersectionality between these. Students will analyze both the causes and consequences of injustice and explore viable solutions by understanding how social change has occurred in the past.

This is a case study and research based course. There is no final exam, but a final action project will by required of all students. The course is an excellent opportunity for students to become agents of change regarding relevant social justice issues that affect their lives and communities.

IB Social Studies - Grade 11/12

See the International Baccalaureate section for more information about this program

IB Geography (HL)

Geography (HL) integrates both physical and human geography and is unique in its ability to examine the world from both scientific and socio-economic perspectives. This multidisciplinary approach helps students develop an appreciation of, and a respect for, alternative approaches, viewpoints and ideas.

The geography course embodies global and international awareness in several distinct ways. It examines key global issues, such as poverty, sustainability and climate change. It considers examples and detailed case studies on a variety of scales, from local to regional, national and international. Examples include the connections between food security, freshwater and global health, the effect of climate change on coastlines, and how world tourism and sport affects local communities in developing nations.

The aims of the geography course are to enable students to:

develop an understanding of the interrelationships between people, places, spaces and the environment
develop a concern for human welfare and the quality of the environment, and an understanding of the need for planning and sustainable management
appreciate the relevance of geography in analyzing contemporary issues and challenges, and develop a global perspective of diversity and change.

To view an interconnected map of the course topics linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, please click here. Depending on the result in the course, students can receive first year university credit at some post-secondary institutions.

Please note that there is a tuition fee for all IB level courses

IB History (HL)

The History (HL) course allows students the opportunity to take an in-depth analysis of the 20th century. As an HL course, the curriculum requires three semesters of study and students can receive first year university credit for a number of post-secondary institutions.

The first semester will cover the Interwar period in Europe and Asia, including the rise of nationalism and totalitarianism in several countries and the build-up to World War Two. Students will also look at World War Two and its impact on the Americas. The second semester will primarily focus on authoritarian regimes in the Soviet Union, Germany and China. Students will also study the early Cold War and the impact of American interventionism. The final semester will allow students to complete their historical investigation on a topic of their choosing and will finish with a unit on civil rights.

Please note that there is a tuition fee for all IB level courses

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