Social Studies, Grade 7

Unit 1: World Geography

Cluster 1: reading and mapping the world — latitude and longitude, continents and climate, population, francophone countries, migration, time zones, and map projections.

• Latitude, longitude, parallels, and meridians
• Continents, landforms, and bodies of water
• Climate and vegetation zones
• Population clusters and the environment
• Major francophone countries
• Why people move around the world
• Time zones and their purpose
• Standards related to time zones
• Map projections and our view of the world

Unit 2: Global Quality of Life

Cluster 2: what makes a good life — citizenship rights, quality of life, democracy, personal global impact, identity, diversity, discrimination, and universal human rights.

• Factors affecting citizenship rights
• Factors affecting quality of life
• Democracy and quality of life
• How my actions affect others in the world
• Remembrance Day

• Diverse perspectives on quality of life
• Discrimination and quality of life
• Factors that shape personal identity
• What all societies share
• Universal human rights

Unit 3: Ways of Life in Asia, Africa, or Australasia

Cluster 3: an in-depth study of one society of Asia, Africa, or Australasia — its geography, culture, arts, health, indigenous ways of life, history, economy, technology, and government.

• Cities, landforms, and water of the society
• The environment and ways of life
• Cultural factors shaping the society
• Artistic expression of culture
• The influence of westernization
• Factors affecting health
• Indigenous ways of life
• History that still affects the society
• Major economic activities
• Urbanization and indigenous peoples
• Changing technologies
• Work and trade issues
• Government and the justice system

Unit 4: Human Impact in Europe or the Americas

Cluster 4: an in-depth study of one society of Europe or the Americas plus global challenges — geography, urbanization, environment, climate change, development, wealth, power, cooperation, and human rights.

• Cities, landforms, and water of the society
• Reasons for increased urbanization
• Approaches to land and resource use
• Human impact on the environment
• History that still affects the society
• Major economic activities

• Human activities and climate change
• Consequences of climate change
• Government and the environment
• Food production and distribution
• Sustainable development issues
• The impact of consumerism
• Challenges of large urban centres

• More and less developed nations
• Uneven distribution of wealth
• Types of power and authority
• Power, wealth, and resources
• Government decisions and quality of life
• Individuals who influence world affairs
• Enhancing understanding among peoples
• Reasons people emigrate
• Global cooperation for conflicts and disasters
• International organizations and quality of life