Social Studies

The Canadian and World Studies program offers courses in History and Geography in Grades 9 and 10. The Geography of Canada course is compulsory in Grade 9, and Canadian History Since World War I is compulsory in Grade 10. These courses are offered in two types: academic and applied. Students in Grades 9 and 10 make the choice between academic and applied courses primarily on the basis of their strengths, interests, and needs. The two course types are defined as follows:
* Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills through the study of theory and abstract problems. These courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject and explore related concepts as well. They incorporate practical applications as appropriate.
* Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of a subject, and develop students’ knowledge and skills through practical applications and concrete examples. Familiar situations are used to illustrate ideas, and students are given more opportunities to experience hands-on applications of the concepts and theories they study.

The Canadian and World Studies program also includes a compulsory Grade 10 half-credit course in Civics. Civics is offered as an open course, that is a course designed to be appropriate for all students.

To proceed to any Grade 11 Geography course, students must successfully complete either the academic or the applied Grade 9 Geography course; to proceed to any Grade 11 course in Economics, History, Law, or Politics, students must successfully complete either the academic or the applied Grade 10 History course.

The discipline of Social Sciences and Humanities in the Ontario secondary school curriculum encompasses four subject areas: Family Studies, general Social Science, Philosophy, and World Religions. Although these subjects differ widely in topic and approach, they all explore some aspect of human society, thought, and culture.

Both Social Science and Humanities courses teach students a variety of fundamental skills, such as formulating appropriate questions, collecting and analysing data, differentiating between evidence and opinion, recognizing bias, and organizing and communicating results effectively. Students gain experience in researching information from a variety of sources, thinking critically about the ideas and facts they gather, and using that information to solve problems through both independent effort and collaborative work.