Social Studies Grade Five

Unit 4: Decision Making

Unit Overview for Grades 1 to 5

Learning at each grade level is organized around four units of study.

Unit 1    Identity            Unit 3     Interdependence

Unit 2    Heritage            Unit 4     Decision Making

This curriculum uses a spiral model for organizing learning objectives. With this developmental model, concepts are introduced and developed within the context of a theme and at a level appropriate for the students in the classroom. The unit "Decision Making" is developed in the following way:

Unit Summary for Grade Five

Students will study how Canadians govern themselves . They will learn how federal representatives are elected, what some of their responsibilities are, where they meet, and how decisions at this level may be influenced.
They will practise democratic procedures and decision making with an emphasis on the cooperative and interdependent aspects of the process. They will learn that decisions are made because of needs/wants and invariably result in a set of consequences.
They will understand that all citizens have rights and responsibilities.

Major Concepts and Learning Objectives
Concepts
Decision making

rules, laws, government, change, rights, responsibilities
Knowledge Objectives
Students will know that:

rules are made by groups and organizations and are enforced in various ways. (PSVS)
laws are made by governments and enforced by the justice system. (PSVS, CCT)
the federal government collects revenues and provides various services. (N, PSVS)
Canadians have rights and responsibilities. (PSVS)
people make decisions for change according to changing needs and wants. (PSVS, CCT)
Skills/Abilities Objectives
Students will:

categorize rules and laws and link them with their purposes. (CCT, C)
identify some laws and services under federal jurisdiction. (CCT, IL, C)
identify and apply rights and responsibilities. (C, PSVS)
practice decision-making. (C, PSVS, IL)
Attitudes/Values Objectives
Students will:

value the role of the federal government in meeting human needs and wants. (PSVS)
value rights and responsibilities. (PSVS, CCT)
Citizen Action Objectives
Students may:

participate in decision-making processes. (PSVS, C, IL)
apply the principle of rights and responsibilities. (C, PSVS, IL)

Suggestions for Integration

Language Arts:
Use literature related to the themes and concepts.
Develop a theme in English language arts such as "Our Changing World" or "Rights and Responsibilities of Canadians" in the Social context.
Develop a theme "Other Ways to Learn" in the Literary context to develop understandings about learning from the media.
Decision making may be practiced in other subjects.
Student skills/abilities may be supported in all subjects.