Grade 6 Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 social studies in the Nova Scotia Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Investigate the role of culture in communities. Learners will investigate the role of culture in communities, inclusive of Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’kmaq, and additional groups.
- Analyse the impact of cross-cultural understanding. Learners will analyse the impact of cross-cultural understanding, inclusive of Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’kmaq, and additional cultures.
- Compare sustainability practices between Canada and a selected country. Learners will compare sustainability practices between Canada and a selected country.
- Analyse how traditions and beliefs relate to culture in a region. Learners will analyse how traditions and beliefs relate to culture in a region.
- Investigate selected examples of child rights issues around the world. Learners will investigate selected examples of child rights issues around the world inclusive of Aboriginal human rights issues in Canada.
- Implement age appropriate actions that demonstrate responsibility as global citizens. Learners will implement age appropriate actions that demonstrate responsibility as global citizens.
Easy ways to practise social studies at home
- Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently.
- Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying.
- Use an atlas or online map to trace a trade or travel route.
- Ask “Whose voice is missing from this story?” when reading about the past.
What each unit covers
What Makes Canada, Canada?
Official languages, parliamentary democracy and the constitutional monarchy, multiculturalism, the Charter, built and physical features, and groups working for inclusion.
Understanding Each Other
Practises how cross-cultural understanding builds friendships, schools and communities, using examples from Nova Scotia such as the Mi’kmaq, Acadians, African Nova Scotians and Gaels. Content is respectful and factual.
Global Challenges
Poverty and inequality, global environmental problems, and how individuals, governments, NGOs and the UN work together, including the Montreal Protocol as a cooperation success story.
Traditions & Beliefs Around the World
Practises how geography, history and beliefs shape the traditions of a region, with respectful, factual questions about festivals and customs from around the world and in Nova Scotia. No tradition or religion is ranked above another.
Rights of Children
Practises the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and selected child rights issues around the world, including those of Indigenous children in Canada. Questions are gentle and focus on what people can do to help.
Helping Around the World
How governments, NGOs and citizens respond to disasters and global issues, the Montreal Protocol and Paris Agreement, refugees, and a factual look at Canada's response to the MS St. Louis in 1939.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Limited
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Basic
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Good
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Thorough
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Nova Scotia report card guide.
Common questions
Follow a current event together and ask who is affected and why people see it differently. Build a timeline of a family event or a historical topic they are studying. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Grade 6 social studies units include what makes canada, canada?, understanding each other, global challenges, traditions & beliefs around the world, rights of children, helping around the world.
Free printable Grade 6 social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.