Course Outline

Citizenship education is central to a complete education. Indeed, it is one of the Essential Graduation Competencies for all learners in Nova Scotia Public Schools. Social Studies 9 focuses on citizenship, as well as an understanding of civics, and is enhanced by critical inquiry into rights, privileges and responsibilities, with an emphasis on active participation. Active and engaged citizens are necessary for a resilient democracy.

With inquiry at its centre, this course aims to engage learners as citizens at the local and global level. Learners will assess their own skills and goals as individuals and as members of a variety of communities, and will consider the ways they can be active citizens, with emphasis on how they can contribute to those communities even as young people. Learners will become empowered by gaining knowledge in the decision-making process and in their own understanding of rights and responsibilities. They will become aware of the importance of perspective and points of view on issues of community and Canadian significance, and will consider how historic and geographic decisions have affected citizenship in Canada and the world.

From this inquiry and empowerment, learners will act upon their understandings through a key component of the course - Service Learning. Service Learning connects curriculum outcomes, skills, and community needs. It enables learners to evaluate needs and their underlying causes, to make decisions that have real results, and to work collaboratively to affect change. The service learning piece is the capstone of the course and involves all learners in a meaningful service project. Different than individual volunteerism, it is about changes and not charity, and is outcomes-based.

The curriculum design for Citizenship Education follows a path which takes learners on a journey of inquiry from themselves and their communities, into the national, digital and global world and back to the community. While the outcomes and indicators have an implicit flow, the curriculum should be considered as a whole rather than in chronological units. In fact, it would be important for learners to consider what is to come (for example, the service learning piece), even while they are looking at their own skills and interests, and throughout their learning experiences.

Citizenship education prepares learners to participate in their communities as engaged individuals.

Updated August 25, 2021

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