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SOCIAL STUDIES
With a focus on inquiry-based learning, the Social Studies department aims to empower students to develop a genuine desire for global stewardship and social justice. Social Studies courses will explore our personal and social histories and see how they intersect with our present cultural and social narratives. We will provide opportunities for real-world action and celebrate when students choose to take risks and act. We will work to critique the impact of colonization and hegemonic structures, both past and present, while honouring Indigenous culture and history. Exploring a variety of worldviews, we will equip students to engage in respectful discourse to help bring God’s kingdom closer to reality.
Graduation Requirements Statement
To graduate, students need to take Social Studies 10 and a Social Studies course at the Grade 11 or 12 level.
GENERAL
Humanities 9
Humanities 9 is a double block to allow for interdisciplinary learning between Social Studies 9 and English 9. The curriculum is integrated to better allow students to make connections between the world they are in and themselves. They will be challenged to think critically, as they engage with a variety of texts and stories to experience collaborative learning and how to exchange ideas in meaningful ways. Students will work towards increasingly sophisticated methods of communication in order to effectively articulate ideas to achieve our purpose as writers. Students learn how historical forces – have had an impact on the world. In particular, they will study the Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution, and modern-day revolutionary movements. In addition, we will study the formation of Canada as a nation, the development of democracy, and persisting societal inequalities. Students will explore themes of immigration, First Nations history and culture, geography, and politics.
Social Studies 10
Prerequisite: Social Studies 9
Graduation Requirement: Social Studies 10
Description:
Social Studies 10 is an essential course for students to become active, informed and responsible citizens. Throughout the year, we will investigate the complexity of defining Canada’s identity and strive to learn from the knowledge systems of Indigenous Canadians. In the first term we will delve into the study of Canadian government and Canada’s roll in the First and Second World Wars. In the second term we will study important issues such as social equality, living standards around the globe and how humans impact the environment. As we are studying these topics, we will also compare and contrast differing worldviews and perspectives so that we may not only become citizens of the world, but also Christ’s ambassadors into the world.
SENIOR
BC First Peoples 12
Prerequisite: Social Studies 10 and Grade 11 Standing
Graduation Requirement: Social Studies 11 or 12
Description:
This course will focus on learning about the knowledge systems of B.C. First Peoples. By looking at the rich cultural expressions of B.C. First Peoples throughout time and critically examining the colonization of Canada, students will increase their understanding of concepts of allyship and reconciliation as Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians strive to restore relationships and build a more equitable future.
Big Ideas
- The identities, world views, and languages of B.C. First Peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
- The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of B.C. First Peoples.
- Cultural expressions convey the richness, diversity, and resiliency of B.C. First Peoples.
- Through self-governance, leadership, and self-determination, B.C. First Peoples challenge and resist Canada’s ongoing colonialism.
Law Studies 12
Prerequisite: Social Studies 10 and Grade 11 Standing
Graduation Requirement: Social Studies 11 or 12
Description:
Laws touch every aspect of our lives. How we conduct ourselves in society is, in part, shaped by the laws that our society has chosen to adhere to. The objective of Law 12 is not only to teach students about the content and application of the law, but also discover how we engage with the law as Christians under God’s grace. The students will encounter and critically reflect on legal, social and ethical issues as they relate to the law and society. Laws touch every aspect of our lives. How we conduct ourselves in society is, in part, shaped by the laws that our society has chosen to adhere to. The objective of Law 12 is not only to teach students about the content and application of the law, but also discover how we engage with the law as Christians under God’s grace. The students will encounter and critically reflect on legal, social and ethical issues as they relate to the law and society. As part of the course, students will also develop their written and oral skills through essays, presentations and debates.
Social Justice 12
Prerequisite: Social Studies 10 and Grade 11 Standing
Graduation Requirement: Social Studies 11 or 12
Description:
Social Justice 12 is a course designed to develop our ability to critically examine and reflect on what it means to live in a just society. Secular definitions of justice pales in comparison to the richness of what God has intended for his creation. It is this pursuit of Kingdom living and Kingdom building that will set the standards for Social Justice 12. Students will be provided case studies and problem-based learning opportunities to explore issues in ethics, human rights and privilege. Through these activities, students will be able to recognize and understand the causes of injustice within a Canadian and global context. Successful students in this course believe that all life has dignity and value because we have been created in God’s image and will commit to exploring their capacity to offer an alternative way of life that points towards Kingdom living. Social Justice 12 has no final exam; however, students will be given a variety of action projects that involve group work and be expected to participate in volunteer opportunities in various settings.
20th Century World History 12
Prerequisite: Social Studies 10 and Grade 11 Standing
Graduation Requirement: Social Studies 11 or 12
Description:
The 20th century is a history of conflicting ideologies, of crisis and of destruction on a more massive scale than at any other point in history. It is also a history of hope, redemption and evidence of God’s faithfulness. This course will let you examine the 20th century history of the world, with an aim to understand the forces that shaped our place in the contemporary world and the impact of history on political, economic, and social life. The theme and impact of nationalism and the rapid development of technology will continue throughout the course. In the first term, we will look at the aftermath of the Great War and the conditions that led to the most devastating human conflict in history- World War II. Then we will examine the events of the Second World War with an emphasis on the experiences of a broad variety of countries during the war. In the second term, we will learn about the issues during the Cold War era and examine the fight for equality around the world.
AP Psychology
Prerequisite: Most recent Science course (min. 86%) at RCS and most recent English Language Arts course (min. 86%) at RCS
Graduation Requirement: Elective
Description:
This course is intended to prepare students to take the College Board AP Psychology exam, the successful completion of which may grant, depending on their score and post-secondary institution, a number of first year psychology credits. It will introduce students, in a fair degree of depth, to various concepts throughout the discipline of Psychology, allowing them to better understand the behaviour and mental functioning of human beings. Students will be expected to not only know and understand various concepts and theories associated with this area of discourse, but be able to apply their knowledge to case studies, the media, and their own education and life. Through increasing our knowledge of the workings of the human brain, we not only appreciate more the intricacy of God’s creation, but understand how he has constructed us to respond to it and to respond to each other, furthering our ability to engage with His creation and other individuals within it in the way that He intended.
Recommendations:
Students show be able to quickly and efficiently process information delivered in written form and in significant quantities.
Additional Information:
This course has an optional College Board AP Examination, usually written in May.