Social+Studies+9

Social Studies 9

This page is the Social Studies 9 Course outline. The Social Studies 9 curriculum covers Europe and North America from 1500 to 1815. Our textbook is __Crossroads: A Meeting of Nations, Second Edition__ by Michael Cranny (2013). We will also use portions of other texts (including educational videos and topic-relevant flims) and lots of Internet resources.

The course is organized around the following big ideas:
 * Emergence of modern powers and economies/technologies
 * Cultural and geographic adaptations
 * Colonisation and control
 * Rebellion and society building

Please note that students are not limited to reading what is in their textbooks! There are a great number of books, Internet articles, documentaries, feature films, songs, and other sources to learn about North America and Europe during this period. Students are encouraged to delve deeper into topics of interest. If you find a particularly interesting or helpful source, let me know, and I will add it to the "Socials 9 Resources" page on this wiki. The course divides neatly into four units: Unit 0: Geography and Intro to the Modern Age Unit 1: Colonialism and Conflict Unit 2: Democracy and the Modern World Unit 3: Global Transformations

There is also a final examination at the end of the course, worth 20% of the final mark.

Each story contains several topics, each with its own focus question(s). Students must prove that they have a clear understanding of the focus questions for each topic, in order to meet the Prescribed Learning Outcomes for the course. Students will have several opportunities to show their comprehension of these key ideas.

Course marks break down as follows:
 * Term work (projects, assignments, verifications) 55%
 * Unit tests 25%
 * Final Examination 20%

A verification is a formative open-notes quiz or assignment. It checks the work you have done and your level of understanding. Consider it a "check-in" on your comprehension to date. You may not use your text or other resources on these types of assignments--only your own handwritten notes. So be sure you take good ones, and keep them organized! You will not have a mark recorded for a verification unless you get at least 67% on it. If you score less than 67%, you are expected to follow the steps outlined on your course outline: fill in a "re-assessment" form, complete the notes, talk to Mrs. Cousar, and re-take the assessment (or a similar one that covers the same outcomes).
 * What's a Verification?**

There are several projects over the course of the semester. The llargest project is our Social Studies Fair project. For this, students must present a display, write an essay, and attend the Social Studies Fair event to do an oral presentation. You will be given plenty of notice of this event.
 * Projects**

These are closed notes (in other words, you don't get to use your notes, computer, or text).
 * Unit Tests**

Will be written at the end of the semester, in the gym, as per the school exam schedule.
 * Final exam**

__** Social Studies 9 FAQ **__

No. One of the principles of Traditional is a strong academic focus. You are responsible for keeping up with the work and being ready for tests, projects, assignments and the exam. It is part of our job at this Traditional school to help you learn that the real world has deadlines, and you MUST meet them, or face the consequences. (If I don't meet the deadlines at my job, I get fired. If I don't pay my bills on time, I have to pay interest on them, and consequences get worse the longer I put off paying....) Also, Grade Nine is the first year of high school. This means that your teachers will expect YOU to keep up--we will be much less likely to pester you to get your work in if you don't do it. If you choose not to do your work, that is YOUR CHOICE--and if you choose to fail, that is YOUR CHOICE, too. Want to know how to succeed at school? See "tips for success" in the navigation panel (on the left). I don't know about all your other teachers, but my philosophy on this one is: you're going to be an adult in a few years. You need to learn to face the natural consequences of your actions. I am honoured to be able to help you learn that skill.
 * "Can I do a rewrite on my unit test/project/final exam/anything not a verification?"**

No. ATSS does not offer correspondence courses. Besides, 99% of students who take work on holiday don't do any of the work anyway. You will have to fill in forms at the office, and you and your parents will have to sign off on the idea that your extended absence will likely seriously affect your mark. This course is 18 weeks long. If you miss two weeks, you are missing 11% of the course (so your mark will likely go down at least 11%). However, most of the major assignments are posted on this wiki, and the homework //should// be posted daily (and you can always email a classmate to find out what you missed), so if you have Internet access on holiday, you CAN do most of the work. Note that all missed verifications and tests must be addressed as below. Remember that if you are leaving the province you cannot take your school laptop with you; that's part of the contract.
 * "I'm going on holiday and will miss more than 10 days of school. Can I have the work?"**

Probably. Most of the work will be posted here on the wiki. I can't give you notes; it's your job to take them from in-class lectures (which you will miss). Usually, I need a few days' notice (sometimes I am still creating handouts or booklets the day before I hand them out!). Please let me know well in advance of a scheduled absence, and keep reminding me. If I can't get you the material right away, I can certainly email it to you as soon as I have it (and if you have let me know about your absence in advance, I will probably be much more flexible with extensions and due dates if it is MY FAULT you didn't have the material).
 * "I'm going to be away for less than two weeks. Can I have the work?"**

If a) you have a note from your parent (signed, with a contact number or email address), or b) your parent has emailed me the day of your absence, you may write the test or verification //**AFTER SCHOOL THE DAY YOU RETURN**//. If you don't show up, expect a score of zero. Please note: your parent's email or written note must include a GOOD REASON for you missing class. Examples:
 * "I missed class on a test (or verification) day. Now what?"**
 * Good reason**: severe illness or injury, serious family crisis, car accident on the way to school, medical specialist appointment, etc.
 * Not a good reason**: headache, tired, forgot, stayed home to buy Justin Bieber tickets online (Yes, someone tried that. Sigh.) etc.

Um, other than inventing a time machine, going into the past and doing better this time around, nothing. That sounds harsh, I know, but realistically, //there is nothing you can do at this late date//. Here's why:
 * "It's two days before report cards come out. What can I do to raise my mark?"**
 * there are no rewrites (so you can't redo something you messed up)
 * your teacher isn't going to invent another assignment, just for you, and have you do it and mark it in the next 48 hours (that's a lot of work for your teacher!)
 * your teacher submitted the marks to the office at least three days ago (it takes about a week for the office to print and check the report cards, plus get the principal to sign them all). Even if you could redo everything, your report card is already printed.
 * most students who ask for "bonus assignments" don't do them (in April of 2012, students asked for a bonus assignment in one of my classes. There were 29 students in the class. Twenty-seven students took a copy of the assignment and assured me they would do it. Seven completed it and handed it in; four of them were already getting As).

Yes, there will, for the first while at least (I am slow at learning names, and students hate wearing name tags). After I start getting most names right, the seating plan will be "sit wherever you like". Understand that if you show me you cannot focus when you get to choose your own spot, I will help you by assigning you a place very close to me so I can redirect you if necessary. On verification and test days, you will be given a playing card, and you will sit at the desk which has the same card taped to the surface. You will also set up dividers between you and your row mate(s). I really, really hate dishonest test behaviour.
 * "Will there be a seating plan?"**

Yep. I have been known to be flexible with individuals who ask me ahead of time for help or extensions, if they have a good reason (see above). However, there are always some students (usually the ones who underachieve) who try to take advantage of every loophole. Be aware that exceptions to these rules are at MY discretion--and I am much more likely to grant exceptions to students who show through their work and behaviour that they are doing their very best. Note: All possible effort is made to accommodate students' IEP adaptations, if applicable. If I seem to be forgetting your (or your child's) IEP adaptations, please let me know!
 * "Gee, Mrs. Cousar, these are pretty darn strict rules you have here."**

What supplies are needed for Social Studies 9?

So glad you asked! You will need:
 * What do you need to bring to Social Studies class __every day__?**
 * a blue or black pen (for written work)
 * a sharp pencil (or mechanical pencil) for LIGHTLY drawing maps and diagrams
 * a "math kit" (compass, protractor, ruler) for creating graphs, maps and diagrams (after you show me you can work with these "primitive" tools, we'll do some on the computers)
 * pencil crayons (or fineline non-bleed markers) for finishing maps (can't leave everything in light pencil!)
 * lined looseleaf paper (You will likely use at least 200 sheets of paper in Social Studies, possibly more.)
 * a binder (preferably JUST for Social Studies, not a multi-subject binder) preferably NOT a zipper binder. I reccommend a 2-inch binder with D-ring closure. Colour is your choice.
 * your planner, for recording homework and other assignments
 * your textbook (once it is assigned to you)
 * any handouts we may be working with
 * your CHARGED computer (once it is issued)

You MIGHT want or need (you might want to have available, in your bag, in your locker or at home):
 * a red pen (for marking in class)
 * a calculator (no, you may not use your cell phone or other electronic gadget)
 * a 30 cm ruler
 * scissors and/or glue
 * poster paper (you may be assigned projects that ask for posters. //The school does not have poster paper for student use//; students can purchase their own poster paper at a dollar store very cheaply)
 * a pocket dictionary


 * Please do NOT bring:**
 * Food, drink, gum or candy of any sort (except water, in a resealable container). If you just made muffins in Foods class, they need to be stored in your locker or eaten outside or in the hall during break time. **THIS INCLUDES YOUR LUNCH, EVEN IF IT IS IN YOUR BACKPACK.** __ NO FOOD IN CLASS. STORE FOOD IN YOUR LOCKER. __
 * Your PE strip/PE bag (If you are not in gym class, it should be in your locker)
 * A lot of extra binders and textbooks--keep as much as possible in your locker; it's better for your back and it keeps extra "stuff" out of the aisles
 * A cell phone, iPad, hand-held video game or iPod (etc)--if I see them, they will simply be confiscated. If they are actually USED in class, they will be given to an administrator and you will be able to retrieve them when he feels you are ready for the responsibility. No, you may not use your cell phone as a calculator. If you need a calculator, bring one.