This unit is designed to help students understand ways in which specific historical events have influenced and contributed to contemporary life. Students explore the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and political revolutions to develop their understanding of cause and effect relationships.
The concept of causality is first introduced to students through an examination of some ordinary, life situations in which cause and effect can be seen to work. In this way, students will learn that change in one area of society can cause change in other areas. For example, would there be drive-in restaurants without automobiles?
The concept of paradigm is introduced to demonstrate how humans use patterns of ideas, beliefs and values to guide actions and attitudes. A group of paradigms can form the basis of a worldview. For example, in our society, paradigms in science, medicine, engineering and technology are the basis for our current technological worldview. Other paradigms can be clumped together to create a different worldview.
The following chart provides an outline of Unit Three:
Major Concept
causality
Related Concepts
worldview, paradigms, paradigm shifts, Scientific Revolution, Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment
Topics
Topic One: Causality
Topic Two: Causality and Social Organization
Topic Three: Paradigms
Topic Four: Causality and Changing Worldviews
Topic Five: Shifting Paradigms
Topic Six: Worldviews
Topic Seven: Paradigm Shifts in History
Topic Eight: Growth of the Enlightenment
Topic Nine: The American Revolution
Glossary of Terms
The following definitions are as much for the teacher as they are for students. It is up to individual teachers to decide which of the following terms to present to students. Teachers should base this decision upon students' prior knowledge about the concepts and content of the topic.
Causality Identifies the relationship between cause and effect.
Paradigm A set pattern of ideas, beliefs and values used by individuals and societies as a means of making sense of reality.
Paradigm shift A change in an individual's and/or society's pattern of ideas, beliefs and values which, in turn, causes change in the perceptions of reality.
Worldview A distinctive way of looking at reality that creates a context for living.
Resources
All units are resource-based; teachers and students are encouraged to use a variety of resources and sources throughout. The accompanying bibliography contains annotations of current, useful resources including print, video, Internet sites and other media. Teachers are encouraged to assess their current resource collection, identifying those that are still useful, and to acquire small quantities of each title, rather than class sets,
in order to provide students with a broad range of perspectives and information. The bibliography that accompanies this curriculum guide includes detailed annotations that will assist teachers in making resource selections appropriate to the abilities and needs of the students.
The following list of resources is intended to be a starting point for developing a Unit Three resource collection that is current and relevant, and that addresses students' various learning styles and abilities.
Print Resources
Kingfisher Book of the Ancient World
Medieval Times to Today
Pathways: Civilizations Through Time
Roots of Society (previously listed resource that continues to be useful)
World Civilizations: A Comparative Study
Non-print Resources
Culture Change - Faces of Culture Series (video)
The Future of Humanity - Faces of Culture Series (video)
Roots of Society (kit - previously listed resource that continues to be useful)
Internet Sites
Teachers are advised to check the bibliography for Internet site addresses that support this unit. As well, many general interest sites are listed in Social Studies: An Information Bulletin for the Renewed Middle Level Curricula (Grades 7-9), March 1999, pp. 19-20. Due to the unstable nature of Internet sites, teachers are advised to access Saskatchewan Education's Web site at http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/curr_inst/social/socialsciences.html.
See pages 378-381 in this curriculum guide for information about locating and evaluating Internet sites.
Incorporating Current Events
Incorporating current events enhances students' understanding of the concepts under study and extends their learning experiences by relating the events to real life and making them relevant. Sources for current event stories include newspapers, news magazines, daily and weekly television and radio newscasts and documentaries, and the Internet. Many Canadian daily newspapers are available on-line and are a reliable source of current events. Select articles and news items to support the objectives and concepts as often as possible, and encourage students to contribute also. See pages 346-350 in this curriculum guide for some current event activities.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
This unit may be adapted for interdisciplinary study. See page 336 of this curriculum guide for information about developing interdisciplinary units of study. The following are some suggestions for connecting this unit to other subject areas: