Alberta · Grade 7
Social Studies 7
Alberta’s Grade 7 social studies course, from Toward Confederation to Following Confederation: Canadian Expansions.
- Units
- 2
- Lessons
- 8
- Skills
- 25
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Alberta Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 12 skills
Toward Confederation
Peoples of Pre-Confederation Canada
Aboriginal societies and decision-making
I can compare how Aboriginal societies were structured and how that shaped decision making.
Skill 1.1
European imperialism and its impact
I can explain European imperialism and how it affected Aboriginal societies.
Skill 1.2
New France and British colonial societies
I can compare the society of New France with British settlement of North America.
Skill 1.3
The Fur Trade
Participants in the fur trade
I can assess how First Nations, French, British, and Métis peoples interacted in the fur trade.
Skill 1.4
The fur trade economy
I can explain how the fur trade built the economy and how British and French interests differed.
Skill 1.5
The French-British Struggle for North America
Conflict and the Acadian Deportation
I can assess how French-British conflict in Europe led to the Acadian Deportation.
Skill 1.6
The Battle of the Plains of Abraham
I can evaluate the Battle of the Plains of Abraham as a turning point.
Skill 1.7
The 13 Colonies and the Loyalist migration
I can assess how the American Revolution and the Loyalist migration changed British North America.
Skill 1.8
The Foundations of Canada
Chief Pontiac and the Royal Proclamation of 1763
I can explain Chief Pontiac and assess the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
Skill 1.9
The Québec Act of 1774
I can assess how the Québec Act of 1774 shaped Canada’s foundations.
Skill 1.10
Chief Tecumseh and the War of 1812
I can explain Chief Tecumseh’s role and how the War of 1812 shaped Canada.
Skill 1.11
Rebellions, the Act of Union, and the road to Confederation
I can assess how the Rebellions, the Act of Union, and Confederation built Canada.
Skill 1.12
The official wording · 12 outcomes
- 1.1
- the different ways in which Aboriginal societies were structured
- 1.2
- the social and economic factors of European imperialism
- 1.3
- the Royal Government and the Catholic Church play in the social structure of New France
- 1.4
- the First Nations, French, British and Métis peoples interact with each other as participants in the fur trade
- 1.5
- the fur trade contribute to the foundations of the economy in North America
- 1.6
- the Great Deportation of the Acadians in 1755
- 1.7
- the Battle of the Plains of Abraham the key event in achieving British control over North America
- 1.8
- British North America impacted by rebellion in the 13 colonies and by the subsequent Loyalist migration
- 1.9
- the Royal Proclamation of 1763 an attempt to achieve compromise between the Aboriginal peoples, the French and the British
- 1.10
- the Québec Act of 1774 contribute to the foundations of Canada as an officially bilingual country
- 1.11
- the role of Chief Tecumseh in the War of 1812
- 1.12
- the Act of Union of 1840 an attempt to resolve the issues raised by the 1837 and 1838 Rebellions
Key ideas
Aboriginal societies (the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Ojibwa, Mi’kmaq) had their own governments and ways of organizing — many made decisions by consensus.
The fur trade depended on First Nations knowledge and labour; French, British and Métis peoples all took part.
European wars between France and Britain spilled into North America as competition for territory.
Chief Pontiac led resistance against British expansion, seizing British forts after 1763.
A society’s structure shapes who makes decisions; in some societies women (e.g., Clan Mothers) held important decision-making roles.
Watch out for
- Thinking Aboriginal societies had no government or organized structure before Europeans arrived.
- Thinking Europeans ran the fur trade alone without First Nations partners.
- Thinking the Acadian Deportation was a small, voluntary move rather than a forced expulsion.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 13 skills
Following Confederation: Canadian Expansions
The Métis and the North-West
Louis Riel and the two resistances
I can assess Louis Riel’s leadership and compare the two Métis resistances.
Skill 2.1
Canada’s response and control of the West
I can assess how Canada’s response to the resistances solidified its control of the West.
Skill 2.2
The creation of Manitoba and the Manitoba Schools Act
I can assess the creation of Manitoba and the Manitoba Schools Act.
Skill 2.3
Building the West
Rupert’s Land and the National Policy
I can evaluate the purchase of Rupert’s Land and the National Policy.
Skill 2.4
The railway and the North West Mounted Police
I can evaluate the railway and the North West Mounted Police in the West.
Skill 2.5
Immigration and the settlers of the West
I can evaluate immigration strategies and how settlers changed the West.
Skill 2.6
New provinces join Confederation
I can evaluate how new provinces joined and expanded Confederation.
Skill 2.7
The numbered treaties and their impact
I can evaluate the numbered treaties and the impact of expansion on Aboriginal peoples.
Skill 2.8
A Changing Canada Since 1918
Newfoundland joins Confederation
I can assess the reasons for and consequences of Newfoundland joining Confederation.
Skill 2.9
The changing roles of women
I can assess the social and economic effects of women’s changing roles.
Skill 2.10
Bilingualism, multiculturalism and the Aboriginal population
I can assess bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the growing Aboriginal population.
Skill 2.11
Urbanization and Technology
Urbanization and the rise of factories
I can assess the impact of urbanization and of factories on Canada.
Skill 2.12
Technology, broadcasting and identity
I can assess how technology and broadcasting shaped Canada and its identity.
Skill 2.13
The official wording · 13 outcomes
- 2.1
- What factors led to Louis Riel’s emergence as the leader of the Métis
- 2.2
- the Government of Canada’s response to the Red River Resistance and the second Métis uprising solidify Canada’s control of the West
- 2.3
- the creation of Manitoba an attempt to achieve compromise between the Métis, First Nations, French and British peoples
- 2.4
- the National Policy determine the economic and demographic aspects of Canadian expansion
- 2.5
- the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway affect the growth of Canada
- 2.6
- strategies were used by the government to encourage immigration from Europe
- 2.7
- What factors led to British Columbia’s joining Confederation
- 2.8
- the underlying reasons for the negotiation of the numbered treaties
- 2.9
- the reasons for, and the consequences of, Newfoundland’s joining Confederation
- 2.10
- the changing roles and images of women in Canadian society
- 2.11
- Canadian immigration policies contributed to increased diversity and multiculturalism
- 2.12
- increased urbanization had on rural communities in Canada
- 2.13
- technological advances contribute to the development of Canada
Key ideas
Louis Riel became the Métis leader because Canada’s expansion threatened Métis land and rights without consultation.
Canada bought Rupert’s Land from the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1869, hugely expanding its territory (without consent from the peoples living there).
Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949 after a close referendum, driven partly by economic hardship.
As people moved to cities (urbanization), rural communities shrank and changed.
The Red River Resistance (1869-70) and the North-West Resistance (1885) had related but different causes and outcomes.
Watch out for
- Thinking the West was empty land Canada could simply buy and settle.
- Thinking Rupert’s Land was empty when Canada bought it.
- Thinking Newfoundland was always part of Canada.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Alberta’s own curriculum for Social Studies 7.
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches Social Studies 7 one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep Social Studies 7 organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 22
- Fillable fields
- 1,240
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about Social Studies 7
What is Social Studies 7?
Alberta’s Grade 7 social studies course: 2 units and 25 skills, from Toward Confederation to Following Confederation: Canadian Expansions.
What units are in Social Studies 7?
1. Toward Confederation and 2. Following Confederation: Canadian Expansions.
Is there a provincial exam for Social Studies 7?
No. Alberta gives no provincial exam for Social Studies 7.
What comes after Social Studies 7?
Social Studies 8.
Can MapleMind help with Social Studies 7?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of Social Studies 7, step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for Social Studies 7
Practise every skill of Social Studies 7 in MapleMind, free with daily limits.
