English Language Arts 3-5
In the Elementary Block, English Language Arts learners “develop their ability to find information they are looking for, they begin to support their opinions and perspectives.
In the Elementary Block, English Language Arts learners “develop their ability to find information they are looking for, they begin to support their opinions and perspectives.
English Language Learners in the Middle Block “get to know themselves and others and use language to understand and navigate their world” and “engage with a variety of text forms, genres, and modes.” Specific expectations involve communicating effectively and persuasively, evaluating and responding, communicating using technology, and analyzing media critically.
At this level, “learners engage with a variety of text types including picture books, magazines, non-fiction text, and audio books. They imagine alternate storylines, examine characters through role-play and exploration, and investigate facts and information with curiosity… As learners develop their interests and opinions, they transfer expressive and receptive language skills to social interactions and play.
Science learners in the Middle Block “apply critical thinking and scientific literacy to their investigations” and “transfer science and technological understandings to situational contexts.” Digital media literacy connections at this level are found in the Scientific Literacy strand.
Science courses in the High School Block “prepare students to hypothesize; inquire, pursue, acquire, and apply knowledge about the physical and natural world; be curious; plan, create and action change; apply a systematic methodology based on scientific evidence and grounded in observation and experimentation; [and] find problems and make decisions by critical evaluation of evidence and applying knowledge and evidence to novel situations.”
Social Studies learners in the Middle Block “engage in participatory citizenship and explore civics in their region and around the globe including elections, the democratic process, and civic engagement” along with issues of representation and rights. Specific content focuses on civic engagement, cultural systems and youth rights.
At this level, Social Studies “develops skills to ask questions about who decides what is significant enough to be studied, represented, and commemorated; how we know what we know; and what has changed and what has stayed the same.”
Connections to digital media literacy largely fall within the Civics strand, which focuses on government and governance and the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens.
In the Middle Block, students “examine their own personal health and how their choices and habits impact personal wellness. They learn the importance of making meaningful connections with their peers while respecting individual choices, lifestyles, and beliefs. Learners examine social, emotional, and cognitive changes associated with adolescence and how those choices impact relationships, personal safety, and mental health.”
Students in the Elementary Block discuss “topics such as diversity, empathy, conflict, and relationships [and] develop a stronger sense of global citizenship.” Concepts addressed include use and misuses of substances, food, and screen time; personal safety; digital citizenship; emotions and decision-making; diversity; friendships and bullying, and career pathways.
In the Primary Block, learners “investigate, play, grow, pretend, invent, and develop relationships with others and with the environment… They develop interests, social and emotional well-being, and personal safety strategies which help a child feel valued, secure, and ready to learn. Learners get to know their peers, find and fix problems, and show off their learning while experiencing and expressing a variety of emotions.”