CITIZENSHIP STUDIES 30-LEVEL: CITIZENS CONNECTED TO SELF, COMMUNITY, AND PLACE
Part A
Broad Area of Citizenship: Social Studies/History/Native Studies
“Diversity is a fundamental aspect of human interaction. Living together as members of society requires understanding and appreciation of human diversity and diverse perspectives.” (Social Studies 9 (2009) Ministry of Education)
Citizens connected to Self, Community, and Place value and demonstrate a commitment to understanding the connections between people, the societies they create, and the environment in which they live. They strive to right inequities of social injustice.
Students begin by examining causes of injustice and the considerations that must occur when trying to redress wrongs (10). They move to understanding the implications of injustice at the international level (20) and consider the additional complications of working with many countries with differing ideologies and political structures. In the final year of study (30) students continue to examine the historical and contemporary issues that arise from injustice and the structures, societal, and political that perpetuate ongoing inequities, including accepting the status quo.
Overview and Desired Results of Citizenship Study
Students have been exploring the attributes of engaged citizenship and the importance and purpose of community stewardship. They extend their study of social justice issues to explore the implications of engagement and non-engagement in citizenship; examine the causes of marginalization and the means by which society has tried to achieve inclusion; and, consider the factors that inhibit societal equality. Students will reflect on how society and its institutions support or impede citizenship and the ability of citizens to redress injustices.
30
- Social Studies students will consider the causes of marginalization and approaches to support and achieve inclusion and social justice.
- Historical Studies students will consider the evolution of and the effectiveness of approaches of society in addressing social justice issues. (gender equity, racism, economic inequality)
- Native Studies students will consider the causes of marginalization and approaches to support and achieve inclusion and social justice.
Enduring Understandings of Citizenship Study
Students will use this information to understand that:
- Injustices of today have roots in the past.
- Canadian society is challenged to manage the co-existence of diverse worldviews.
- Canadian citizens work to achieve a balance between rights and responsibilities through learning and action.
- Canadian society has inequities and elimination of these is beneficial for all Canadians.
- For each individual, becoming aware of racism in Canadian society is an evolutionary process and a precursor to change.
- As citizens of local, national, and global communities, Canadians are conscious, self-reflective, and critical of their own beliefs and actions and seek to make positive change.
- Citizens show flexibility of mind.
- Enduring understandings and questions stimulate thinking, guide the inquiry and are linked to outcomes.
- These questions point to the “big ideas’ in the area of inquiry and should be considered and reconsidered as the inquiry progresses.
- Deliberation of these understandings forms the evidence of learning at the end of study.
Knowledge and Skill Development
Students will know the:
- Criteria to identify Social Justice Issues
- Strategies to affect change
- Systemic elements of injustice
Students will be able to:
- Identify and analyze social justice issues
- Compare and contrast strategies to address those issues
- Investigate the underlying causes of social injustice
Essential Questions
- What is social justice?
- Why do injustices exist?
- What responsibility do individuals have to address injustices in society? How could this be accomplished?
- What responsibilities do governments have to address injustices in society? How can this be accomplished?
Essential Questions are open-ended questions that are continually revisited, encompass concepts that students will explore throughout the unit of study, form the evidence of understanding and frame the assessment at the end of the study.
Saskatchewan Curriculum Concept Connections
This section connects teachers and students to the concepts explored through Social Sciences Studies: Social Studies, History, and Native Studies. General outcomes/objectives are identified. It is the opinion of the development committee that the outcomes incorporate the three perspectives of Social Sciences through exploration of historical and contemporary issues, which in Canada’s case must include Indigenous perspectives. Teachers may choose, however, to explore these outcomes/citizenship considerations specifically through the lens of their respective social science areas.
Students will:
- examine the importance and purpose of community stewardship and take action at provincial, national, and global levels;
- explore the reasons for and implications of engagement and non-engagement as citizens;
- examine the extent to which different sectors of the population feel that their interests and well-being are being enhanced and secured within the existing political structure and examine the factors that are creating the rich/poor divide;
- examine the challenges of creating equity in society where socio-economic differences are increasing and reflect on the processes required to achieve change; and,
- examine the role of government in addressing societal well-being.
Students will develop and apply the principles of dialectical thinking, dialectical examination and moral testing through exploration of local, regional, national, and global interdependence matters.
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