Teacher Resources

Where will I find helpful resources as I begin working with the new Social Studies Program?

Social Studies Programs of Study
Online Guide to Implementation
Learning and Teaching Resources
Focus on Inquiry, 2004
Infusion of Technology into Alberta's New Social Studies Program of Studies
The Critical Thinking Consortium
ATA Social Studies Website
Download Social Studies Planning Templates
Demonstration Lessons Project K-3 Focus

Social Studies Programs of Study

"Alberta's Social Studies curriculum supports students in their journey to become responsible citizens and leaders who will shape Canada's future. Students learn about Canadian and world history, geography, economics, other social sciences and the humanities." Alberta Education 2005

In order to view/print these documents you must have Adobe® Acrobat Reader® installed on your computer.

Current Programs of Study
Identify what students are expected to know and be able to do at each grade level.

Elementary
Social Studies, Kindergarten to Grade 3, 2005 (1.1 mb)
Social Studies, Grade 4, 2006 (112 kb)

Junior High
Social Studies, Grade 7, 2006 (108 kb)

Program of Studies Undergoing Revision
Social Studies Grades 5, 6, 8 and 9 Program of Studies, Validation Draft, September 2003 (914 kb)
Social Studies 10-1 and 10-2 Program of Studies, December 2005 Validation Draft (740 kb)
Social Studies 20-1 and 20-2 Program of Studies, December 2005 Validation Draft (871 kb)
Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 Program of Studies, December 2005 Validation Draft (1 mb)

Online Guide to Implementation

This is an Alberta Education project. While the specific teaching resources and ideas found here are currently for specific outcomes for grades K-4 and 7, the program vision and foundations for Alberta 's new curriculum are common for all grades. This site offers detailed explanations of the overarching foundations of the program of studies, as well as some great video clips of experts in various elements of the curriculum. If you don't have your district's log in and password handy, log on as a guest.

Visit Online Guide to Implementation

Learning and Teaching Resources

Authorized Resources Database – A searchable database of all authorized resources.

Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 Alberta Authorized Resource List and Annotated Bibliography, August 2006 DRAFT (834 kb)

Focus on Inquiry, 2004

Find information and supports for implementing inquiry-based learning activities in the classroom. This guide is designed to assist teachers working on their own or in teams, with or without the support of a teacher-librarian or other library personnel.

Focus On Inquiry (1.2mb)

Infusion of Technology into Alberta's New Social Studies Program of Studies

Thanks to the Calgary Regional Consortium for sharing this project with Central Alberta.

Visit Infusion of Technology

The Critical Thinking Consortium

This website for this non-profit group contains various articles on critical thinking and describes award winning teacher resources in social studies with sample downloadable lessons.

Visit Critical Thinking Consortium

ATA Social Studies Website

For links to a social studies world of useful resources, visit the Alberta Teacher’s Association Social Studies Specialist Council Website.

Visit ATA Social Studies

Download Social Studies Planning Templates

English version (Word doc.)
French version (Word doc.)

Demonstration Lessons Project K-3 Focus

Teachers from four districts- Red Deer Public, Red Deer Catholic, Chinook’s Edge and Wolf Creek - completed a very interesting collaborative video project that culminated in social studies demonstration lessons being videographed, in both French and English, within Central Alberta classrooms. District Curriculum contacts have distributed a copy of the DVD to each school in Zone 4.

These can be used as springboards for discussion, highlighting guiding principles and practices for K-3 teachers who are currently implementing the new Social Studies curriculum. These demonstration lessons can also act as models of instruction and a springboard for discussion for other grades that are implementing or preparing to implement the new program.

The weblinks below provide lesson material to support classroom practice. Many thanks to the teachers who participated in this pilot project.