INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES YEAR 4 (SOCIAL STUDIES 9)

Individuals and Societies 9 Curriculum focuses on world civilizations, including Canada from 1750-1919. This course is framed by both Curricular and Core Competencies of Communication, Thinking and Personal and Social. By the end of Individuals and Societies Year 4, students are expected to know about political, social, economic and technological revolutions, the continuing effects of imperialism and colonialism on Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world. The course also will critically examine the discriminatory policies of the Canadian government. Students will also learn about global demographics, migration and immigration, nationalism, the development of the modern state, including Canada, conflicts, both local, regional and global. Canada's physiographic features and geological processes will also be addressed. The Big Ideas that students will be examining are:

• Emerging ideas and ideologies profoundly influence societies and events.
• The physical environment influences the nature of political, social, and economic change.
• Disparities in power alter the balance of relationships between individuals and between societies
• Collective identity is constructed and can change over time.

INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES YEAR 5 (SOCIAL STUDIES 10) (4 credits)

Individuals and Societies 10 curriculum focuses on the study of Canada and the World from 1919 to present. Topics of study will include the development, structure and function of Canadian political institutions and government including First Peoples governance, political ideologies. In addition, students will examine the changing concepts of Canadian identity, both locally and internationally through domestic conflict and cooperation, political and economic development and impacts on the environment. Students will critically examine the discriminatory policies and injustices in Canada and the world, such as the Head Tax, the Komagata Maru incident, residential schools, Truth and Reconciliation and internments. The Big Ideas in Individuals and Societies Year 5 are:

• Global and regional conflicts have been a powerful force in shaping our contemporary world and identities
• The development of political institutions is influenced by economic, social, ideological, and geographic factors
• Worldviews lead to different perspectives and ideas about developments in Canadian society
• Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society

EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIAL STUDIES 11 (4 credits)

Social Studies 11 is a survey course that offers student insight into the senior level Socials courses available at Carson. There is a focus on student led learning, so the units of study are likely to change each year. Possible topics include: History, Politics, Urbanization, Current Events, Law, the Environment and Climate Change. The course will incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and this will be reflected in many of the topics covered. Through this style of course design, there is an emphasis on project based, hands-on, and collaborative work. Students interested in this course must be motivated to bring their own ideas and passions as well as a willingness to work together, research, and discover.

20th CENTURY HISTORY 12 (4 credits)

This course will focus on the history of the 20th Century including the rise and rule of authoritarian regimes, civil wars, independence movements and revolutions. Global conflicts including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War will also be covered. Human rights movements including those of Indigenous peoples, as well religious, ethnic and or cultural conflicts including genocide, will be explored including the impacts of migrations, movements and territorial boundaries. Interdependence, international cooperation, social and cultural development including mass consumption and production of communication and transportation technologies are also studies during this course.

COMPARATIVE CULTURES 12 (4 credits)

This course will focus on the themes of definitions of culture and how these have changed over time including the elements of culture and cultural expression, interactions and exchange between cultures and the natural environment. In addition there will be an examination of conflict and conflict resolution within and between cultures, the systems of power, authority and governance and what role value and belief systems play in the development of culture.​

GENOCIDE STUDIES 12 (4 credits)

This course will focus on the origins and development of the term 'genocide' and the economic, political, social and cultural conditions of genocide. Students will study the characteristics, stages and strategies to commit genocide by focusing on acts of mass violence and atrocities in different global regions. An analysis of the uses of technology to promote and carry out genocide will also be covered. Students will learn about the recognition and responses to genocide including the controversies regarding denial and attempts to minimize the scope of genocides globally. Students will examine the evidence use to demonstrate the scale and nature of genocide and how this is influenced and impacted by international law.

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY 12 (4 credits)

This course examines where and why human activities occur across the global. It is a critical study of the human experience and the origins of cultural and economic patterns. Students analyze the relationship between human activities and their impact on the environment. It also encourages the development of international awareness by examining contemporary issues such as poverty, sustainability and resource consumption. As the course progresses, students deepen their understanding of the challenges the world faces by exploring themes such as urbanization and the uneven access to health and food. While thinking globally, students act locally to build an awareness of their own responsibility to their community. Supporting this, the fieldwork component of the course will be on a local scale where students collect and analyze data then present their work in a written report. This course runs simultaneously with IB Geography 11 with its content, pace and assessment. Students can continue on with this course in Grade 12 as a Certificate course, thereby earning 4 more credits and possible university credit. Please see the teachers for details.

Supplemental Fee $60

LAW STUDIES 12 (4 credits)

This course focuses on the key areas of law including criminal, civil, the history of law and jurisprudence which is the structure of the legal system. Students will learn about the foundations of Canadian law, including the structures and powers of the federal and provincial courts and administrative tribunals. The course examines the Constitution of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Students will have the opportunity to learn about legislation concerning First Peoples, the role of the judiciary as a constitutional check, the correctional system, and laws regarding children and youth. This course also studies legal resources and services and the structures and roles of global dispute resolution agencies.

SOCIAL JUSTICE 12 (4 credits)

This course will focus on anti-oppression education and will empower students through building a greater awareness of themselves and others; critical, creative and reflective thinking; and fostering a sense of personal, social and cultural identity. Students will be guided in their process of (un)learning by analyzing social justice issues through multiple forms of media including music, art, literature, and film further deepening their understanding and appreciation of global, regional, and local injustices. Throughout the course, we will learn how institutions, groups and individuals may promote social justice. Students will plan, develop, and put into action their own social justice campaigns, further building strong communication and organizational skills. In this way, course topics will be heavily dependent on student interest, but will likely touch on some key social justice issues such as race, gender, poverty, ableism, climate action, food insecurity, and LGBTQ2A+ rights. With the structure of this course, class material will be heavily hands-on/experiential and will include project and problem-based learning.

PSYCHOLOGY 12 (4 credits)

*Please note that this course does not fulfill the Grade 11/12 Social Studies requirement as it is a locally developed course.

Psychology 12 is a course that provides students with an understanding of mental processes and human behaviour. Through the exploration of basic concepts in modern psychology, this course offers a general overview of the five major psychological domains: methods, neuroscience, cognitive, social, and developmental. This course has been designed to help students recognize the key role that psychology plays in contemporary affairs of humankind. Students will learn to critically think about human behaviour and communicate ideas about associated behavioral complexities. As students develop greater awareness of their relationship to oneself and others through psychological frameworks, they will have opportunities to explore various topics including: the historical roots of psychology, personality, neuroscience, mindfulness, development, sensation, perception, learning, memory, intelligence, emotion, stress, motivation, social psychology and psychological disorders.

POLITICAL STUDIES 12 (4 credits)

Political Studies 12 explores political concepts such as power, equality, sustainability, and peace in a range of current and contemporary contexts. It allows students to develop an understanding of the local, national, international, and global dimensions of political activity and process, as well as to explore political issues affecting their own lives. This course helps students to understand abstract political concepts by grounding them in real-world examples and case studies. It also invites comparison between such examples and case studies to ensure a wider and transnational perspective. The study of global politics enables students to critically engage with different and new perspectives and approaches to politics in order to comprehend the challenges of the changing world and become aware of their role in it as active global citizens. Examples of case studies that students may encounter include: power struggles in the South China Sea, Myanmar and the Rohingya crisis, nuclear North Korea, Russian annexation of Crimea, the Syrian civil war, ongoing effects of the Rwandan genocide

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 12 (4 credits)

This course will focus on the many interactions that are found in the world around us. The ever increasing impact of humanity on the global environment and the way that the planet influences human structures will be one of the main areas of study. We will also study global systems such as weather, climate, and the way that they affect the living environment. We will explore plate tectonics, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Planet earth is an interconnected system and Geography 12 will investigate the interconnected nature of the globe using the inquiry process.​

IB Individuals and Societies Certificate Options