04/19/23

Social Studies at Social Studies at SutherlandSutherland

Kevin J. Benoy

Social Studies Department

Sutherland Secondary School

The Big Picture - Required Courses 8 - Map Skills & Eurasian History

to the Reformation 9 - Map Skills, European

Exploration & North America to the American Revolution

10- Canada from the American Revolution to 1900, Canadian Regional Geography, & the Pacific Rim

11- Canadian Government, Canadian 20th Century History, Canada & World, Problems in Geography.

Senior Electives in Social Studies

History 12 - The 20th Century World with an emphasis on the Great Powers

Geography 12 - The Physical World & Man’s Interaction With it.

Comparative Civilizations 12 - Cultural History through Art and Architecture.

Law 12 - Criminal and Civil Law in Canada

Where kids have trouble Background knowledge may

be weak. Have they experience with maps? Do they follow the news? Do they read for recreation?

Low frustration thresholds cause them to avoid work instead of fixing problems.

Work is missed or lost due to disorganization.

Obsessive and perfectionist students may invest hours in tasks intended to take minutes.

How you can help Keep on top of their work, ensuring it is

being done. Check with their teacher – ideally by e-mail. Several teachers have blog-sites – allowing you to “virtually” look over your son or daughter’s shoulder.

Help them through the little problems – before they snowball into big ones.

Help them see things from a bigger perspective. Every class or assignment is just one step along a longer path.

Connect the content with real life problems that you have dealt with.

How can you help? Read texts with them. Take an interest in the material.

Adults find History fascinating because we have experienced more of it and have a sense of time.

Discuss plans of attack for studying. Help them organize their materials and their method of studying.

Refer them to teachers’ websites and support links

The Hidden Curriculum

In addition to course content, Social Studies stresses skill development

- Study Skills

- Writing Skills

- Research Skills

- Speaking Skills

Our goals To foster curiosity To encourage critical thinking To build study skills To develop research, writing &

speaking skills To create intercultural

awareness To build a content base in

Geography & History in all SS courses, and Political Science in SS11, Art History in C.Civ.12 and Law in Law 12.

Conclusion

The material is fascinating, but difficult for some.

However, if school and home both work on developing good skills and attitudes in students, they nearly always find success.