Grade 7 Social Studies: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 7 social studies in the Prince Edward Island Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Economic empowerment. Empowerment and disempowerment in Canada, 1830-1920: the economic context.
- Political empowerment. Empowerment and disempowerment in Canada, 1830-1920: the political context.
- Cultural empowerment. Empowerment and disempowerment in Canada, 1830-1920: the cultural context.
- Societal empowerment. Empowerment and disempowerment in Canada, 1830-1920: the societal context.
- National empowerment. Empowerment and disempowerment in Canada, 1830-1920: the national context.
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
Thinking Like a Historian
Practises the thinking tools used across the empowerment unit: primary and secondary sources, perspective and bias, cause and consequence, continuity and change, and time lines.
Economic Empowerment
Practises what empowerment and disempowerment mean in an economic context in Canada between 1830 and 1920, using inquiry and geography skills.
Steam, Rails and Wires
Practises how steam power, railways, the telegraph and the telephone changed work and trade from 1830 to 1920, and who gained or lost economic power as a result.
Research Skills
Children practise planning an inquiry, choosing and checking sources, telling primary from secondary sources, organizing information and drawing conclusions from evidence.
Political Empowerment
Practises what empowerment and disempowerment mean in a political context in Canada between 1830 and 1920, using inquiry and geography skills.
Cultural Empowerment
Practises what empowerment and disempowerment mean in a cultural context in Canada between 1830 and 1920, using inquiry and geography skills.
Societal Empowerment
Practises what empowerment and disempowerment mean in a societal context in Canada between 1830 and 1920, using inquiry and geography skills.
Island Life Around 1900
Practises what everyday life was like on Prince Edward Island around 1900 (school, farm work, travel, health and community) and how changes gave some groups more or less power.
National Empowerment
Practises what empowerment and disempowerment mean in a national context in Canada between 1830 and 1920, using inquiry and geography skills.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Approaching
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- 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 PEI 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 Prince Edward Island Curriculum Grade 7 social studies units include thinking like a historian, economic empowerment, steam, rails and wires, research skills, political empowerment, cultural empowerment.
Free printable Grade 7 social studies practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.