Social Sciences

This course explores the challenges faced by all people: how to meet basic needs, how to relate to others, how to manage resources, and how to become responsible members of society. Students will acquire knowledge and skills that are needed to make the transition to adulthood. Teachers will instruct students in developing interpersonal, decision-making, and practical skills related to daily life. Students will explore the functioning of families and the diversities found among families and within society.

This course explores the factors that affect attitudes and decisions about food, examines current issues of body image and food marketing, and is grounded in the scientific study of nutrition. Students will learn how to make informed food choices and how to prepare foods, and will investigate our Canadian food heritage and food industries, as well as global food issues. The course also introduces students to research skills related to food and nutrition.

This course explores how to use human, material, and community resources effectively, and how to make informed choices with respect to clothing purchases, finance, food and nutrition, housing, and transportation. Students will learn about the dynamics of human interaction; how to make responsible choices in their transition to postsecondary education and careers; and strategies to enable them to manage time, talent, and money effectively. This course also introduces students to skills used in researching and investigating resource management.

This course explores what clothing communicates about the wearer and how it becomes a creative and entrepreneurial outlet through the design and production processes. Students will learn, through practical experiences, about the nature of fashion design; the characteristics of fibres and fabrics; the construction, production, and marketing of clothing; and how to plan and care for a wardrobe that is appropriate for an individual's appearance, activities, employment, and lifestyle. Students will develop research skills as they explore the evolution of fashion and its relationship to society, culture, and individual psychology.

This course focuses on the skills and knowledge needed to promote the positive and healthy nurturing of children, with particular emphasis on the critical importance of the early years to human development. Students will learn how to meet the developmental needs of young children, communicate and discipline effectively, and guide early behaviour. They will have practical experiences with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and will learn skills in researching and investigating questions relating to parenting.

This course introduces the theories, questions, and issues that are the major concerns of anthropology, psychology, and sociology. Students will develop an understanding of the way social scientists approach the topics they study and the research methods they employ. Students will be given opportunities to explore theories from a variety of perspectives and to become familiar with current thinking on a range of issues that have captured the interest of classical and contemporary social scientists in the three disciplines.

This course examines various nutritional, psychological, social, cultural, and global factors that influence people's food choices and customs. Students will learn about current Canadian and worldwide issues related to food, frameworks for making appropriate dietary choices, and food-preparation techniques. This course also refines students' skills used in researching and investigating issues related to food and nutrition.

This course applies current theories and research from the disciplines of anthropology, psychology, and sociology to the study of individual development, family behaviour, intimate and parent– child relationships, and the ways in which families interact within the diverse Canadian society. Students will learn the interpersonal skills required to contribute to the well-being of families, and the investigative skills required to conduct and evaluate research about individuals and families.