CURRICULAR OUTCOMES

where sound pedagogy and core content meet

What is taught?

Our Canadian Social Studies program is unique in its methodology. It begins with the student. It asks: What life skills does each student need to foster in this particular school subject? The answer is two-fold (1) civics and (2) decision-making. These two items are what underlie the goals and objectives outlined in the provincial and territorial frameworks. 

First, Social Studies is the study of human interactions. Canada is a society, and its citizens do not live in isolation. We live in community with civics playing a key role in our society. Civics holds each citizen accountable with respect to social participation and social responsibility.

Second, students are presented a basic framework for the decision-making process. Our students don’t simply learn to memorize facts and identify people and places. Instead, our students are tasked to apply a framework when sifting through information. In doing so, Jr. Think Tank helps students to understand their own worldview in relation to others through the great narrative of history.

Canadian history is presented within the context of the history of humankind from prehistoric to contemporary times. The perspectives of various historians and experts in related fields of study give students food for thought and may at times challenge commonly held beliefs. Tales of yore will be shared and voices from today heard...followed by moments of self-reflection.

  • For each module, parents have the option of printing out a PDF of the Vocabulary List  that includes the targeted concepts and key words covered.
  • Each module of the Jr. Think Tank program offers a list of Resources for students and their families to learn more about a wide variety of related topics including hands-on activities and suggested readings and videos.
  • Our Glossary features the key terms and concepts listed in the provincial and territorial curricula.


Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories have a distinct focus on the First Peoples narrative. Please click on the hyperlinks provided for more information.
Links to provincial education documents for Social Studies
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
& Labrador
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The capacity to learn is a gift;
the ability to learn is a skill;
the willingness to learn is a choice.
- Brian Herbert

What sets the Jr. Think Tank program apart?

Our students are taught the history of logic, communication, and information processing from ancient to contemporary times beginning in Module 1. They are able to further develop and refine their critical thinking skills throughout our program. Along with logic, emotional intelligence is understood as playing a key role in rational decision-making. Students are challenged to consider:  How can a society foster a spirit of cooperation and respect when its people hold vastly differing opinions and worldviews? Modules 1 is the building block missing in other Social Studies curricula and is a strongly suggested prerequisite for subsequent Modules. 

Does your current Social Studies curriculum still have Stephen Harper listed as our Prime Minister? Was your textbook published before 2010? Jr. Think Tank is not print-based. Therefore, our information can be updated as needed after every election, major scientific discovery, or worldwide event!

How is the material sequenced?

A concerted effort has been made to teach about prominent historical figures and events in relatively chronological order. The reasons for this are fourfold:

  1. Students can better determine progress, or in some cases, regression, in human thought and action.
  2. Students can better identify patterns throughout history and come to understand life cycles, or repetition in a circle of life.
  3. Students can better understand the relationship between cause and effect - that a certain action led to a given result, intended or otherwise.
  4. To make it easier for students to draw correlations between specific events, various cultures, and epochs in history.