Social Studies, Grades 1–6
Social studies is designed to develop students’ understanding of who they are, where they come from, where they belong and how they contribute to the society in which they live.
In the Heritage and Identity section of the curriculum, students develop a sense of who they are by exploring their identity within the context of various local, national and global communities in which they participate. In addition, they learn about where they came from by studying past societies, analyzing connections between the past and present and exploring the contributions of past societies to Canada’s heritage.
In the People and Environments section of the curriculum, students learn about the natural and built environments and the connections between the two. Students develop an understanding of the social and environmental responsibilities of citizens and governments as they explore geographic, social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect the local, regional, national and global community.
Here is some of what students will learn in Grades 1 to 6 in social studies.
Grade 1
Our changing roles and responsibilities
Students learn about the various roles, relationships and responsibilities that people have and how they change over time and in different situations. They also explore how their own roles, relationships and responsibilities are connected to their own identity, culture and sense of self. Students will develop their appreciation of the need to treat all people, as well as built features, such as buildings, transportation routes or structures, and the natural environment, responsibly and with respect.
The local community
Students learn about how their local community provides services and has natural and built features that help meet the needs of the people who live and work there. They investigate how the actions of people have an impact on the natural and built features of the community. Students also learn to understand and read the basic elements of maps, so they can create one.
Grade 2
Changing family and community traditions
Students explore a variety of traditions within their families and their local communities, as well as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit and other diverse communities. They investigate how traditions and celebrations may have changed over time. They develop an understanding of how these traditions contribute to and enrich their own community and Canadian society.
Global communities
Students learn about communities around the world, including contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. They explore the relationship between location, climate, physical features and how people live in various communities. They continue to develop their ability to read and construct maps for specific purposes.
Grade 3
Communities in Canada, 1780 to 1850
Students learn about some of the diverse communities, including a few First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, that existed in Canada during this time. They explore what life was like for different groups during this time period and compare the lives of these peoples to present-day Canada. Students will also use primary sources such as journals, letters, maps and paintings to investigate how people in early Canada responded to challenges in their lives.
Living and working in Ontario
Students learn about the about the physical regions, municipal regions, First Nations communities, and/or Métis regions of Ontario. They will also explore the relationship between the natural environment, land use and employment opportunities, and how different uses of land and resources affect the environment. Students continue to develop their spatial skills, as they learn to interpret data and information found on graphs, globes and maps. They use mapping programs to create print and digital maps to help them determine relationships between the environment and land use.
Grade 4
Early societies to 1500 CE
Students develop the skills to study the past as they learn about different societies that existed prior to the year 1500, including First Nations and Inuit societies. They investigate the role that the environment had on daily life in a variety of early societies and make comparisons to present-day Canada, building on what was learned in earlier grades.
Political and physical regions of Canada
Students learn about the provinces and territories that make up Canada as well as the various physical regions, such as landform, vegetation and climate regions. They also conduct an inquiry into balancing human needs/wants and activities with environmental stewardship. They begin to acknowledge and understand the interrelationship between human activity and the environment in Canada. Students also continue to develop their mapping skills and use spatial technologies as they investigate human interactions with the environment.
Grade 5
Interactions of Indigenous Peoples and Europeans prior to 1713, in what would eventually become Canada
Students learn about the key characteristics of various Indigenous nations and European settler communities prior to 1713. They use different sources of information to investigate various perspectives, interactions and relationships between these communities. Students also increase their understanding of the impact of colonialism and how historical events continue to affect present-day Canada.
The role of government and responsible citizenship
Students learn about the levels of government and how they work together in Canada. They also learn about the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. Students investigate a variety of Canadian social and environmental issues from a variety of different perspectives.
Grade 6
Communities in Canada, past and present
Students learn about and explore the experiences and perspectives of diverse communities in historical and contemporary Canada. In addition, students learn about significant developments and events that had a direct impact on those communities. Students examine how the diverse communities have contributed to the development of identities in Canada.
Canada’s interactions with the global community
Students learn about the global community and Canada’s role in it. They investigate current social, political, economic and environmental issues to develop their understanding of the importance of international action and cooperation. Students learn about the responses of the Canadian government to the Holocaust and the development of Canada’s responses to acts of hate and human rights violations. Students also work on their graphing and mapping skills and develop their ability to extract and analyze information from a variety of sources.