Grade 6 Social Studies

6.S.1 develop skills of critical thinking and creative thinking:

• assess significant local and current affairs from a variety of sources, with a focus on examining bias and distinguishing fact from opinion

• critically evaluate ideas, information and positions

• re-evaluate personal opinions to broaden understanding of a topic or an issue

• generate original ideas and strategies in individual and group activities

• seek responses to inquiries from various authorities through electronic media

• demonstrate the skills of compromise in order to reach group consensus

• work collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal

• record group brainstorming, planning and sharing of ideas, using technology

• extend the scope of a project beyond classroom collaboration, using communication technologies such as the telephone and e-mail

6.S.6 develop age-appropriate behaviour for social involvement as responsible citizens contributing to their community

• demonstrate commitment to the well-being of their community by drawing attention to situations of injustice where action is needed

• determine reliability of information filtering for point of view and bias

• formulate questions to be answered through the research process

• use graphs, tables, charts and Venn diagrams to interpret information

• draw and support conclusions based on information gathered to answer a research question

• include references in an organized manner as part of research

• formulate new questions as research progresses

• design and follow a plan, including a schedule, to be used during an inquiry process, and making revisions to the plan as necessary

• access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet, using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)

• organize information, using tools such as databases, spreadsheets or electronic webbing

• use a variety of technologies to organize and synthesize researched information

• reflect on and describe the processes involved in completing a project

• express opinions and present perspectives and information in a variety of forms such as oral or written presentations, speeches or debates

• express reasons for their ideas and opinions, in oral or written form

• use skills of informal debate to persuasively express differing viewpoints regarding an issue

• respond appropriately to comments and questions, using language respectful of human diversity

• listen to others in order to understand their perspectives

• organize information gathered from the Internet, or an electronic source, selecting and recording the data in logical files or categories

• communicate effectively through appropriate forms, such as speeches, reports and multimedia presentations, applying information technologies that serve particular audiences and purposes

• detect bias present in the media

• examine and assess diverse perspectives regarding an issue presented in the media

• analyze significant current affairs

• identify and distinguish points of view expressed in electronic sources on a particular topic

• use selected presentation tools to demonstrate connections among various pieces of information

• recognize that information serves different purposes and that data from electronic sources

• Consider the ideas of others - select from the ideas and observations of others to expand personal understanding

• Combine ideas - use talk, notes, personal writing and representing, together with texts and the ideas of others, to clarify and shape understanding

• Extend understanding - evaluate the usefulness of new ideas, techniques and texts in terms of present understanding

2.1 Use Strategies and Cues

• Use textual cues - use text features, such as charts, graphs and dictionaries, to enhance understanding of ideas and information

• Use textual cues - identify and use the structural elements of texts, such as magazines, newspapers, newscasts and news features, to access and comprehend ideas
  and information

3.1 Plan and Focus

• Focus attention - distinguish among facts, supported inferences and opinions

• Focus attention - use note-taking or representing to assist with understanding ideas and information, and focusing topics for investigation

• Determine information needs - decide on and select the information needed to support a point of view

• Plan to gather information - develop and follow own plan for accessing and gathering ideas and information, considering guidelines for time and length of investigation and presentation

3.2 Select and Process

• Use a variety of sources - locate information to answer research questions, using a variety of sources, such as printed texts, bulletin boards, biographies, art, music, community resource people, CDROMs and the Internet

• Access information - use a variety of tools, such as bibliographies, thesauri, electronic searches and technology, to access information

• Access information - skim, scan and read closely to gather information

3.3 Organize, Record and Evaluate

• Organize information - organize ideas and information using a variety of strategies and techniques, such as comparing and contrasting, and classifying and sorting according to subtopics and sequence

• Organize information - organize and develop ideas and information into oral, print or other media texts with introductions that interest audiences and state the topic, sections that develop the topic and conclusions

• Record information - make notes on a topic, combining information from more than one source; use reference sources appropriately

• Record information - use outlines, thought webs and summaries to show the relationships among ideas and
  information and to clarify meaning

• Record information - quote information from oral, print and other media sources

• Evaluate information - evaluate the appropriateness of information for a particular audience and purpose

• Evaluate information - recognize gaps in gathered information, and suggest additional information needed for a particular audience and purpose

3.4 Share and Review

• Share ideas and information - communicate ideas and information in a variety of oral, print and other media texts, such as multiparagraph reports, question and answer formats and graphs - select appropriate visuals, print and/or other media to inform and engage the audience

• Review research process - establish goals for enhancing research skills

4.3 Present and Share

• Present information - use various styles and forms of presentations, depending on content, audience and purpose

• Enhance presentation - emphasize key ideas and information to enhance audience understanding and enjoyment

• Use effective oral and visual communication- demonstrate control of voice, pacing, gestures and facial expressions; arrange props and presentation space to enhance communication

• Demonstrate attentive listening and viewing - identify the tone, mood and emotion conveyed in oral and visual presentations

• Demonstrate attentive listening and viewing -  respond to the emotional aspects of presentations by providing nonverbal
  encouragement and appreciative comments

5.2 Work within a Group

• Cooperate with others - assume a variety of roles, and share responsibilities as a group member

• Cooperate with others - identify and participate in situations and projects in which group work enhances learning and results

• Work in groups - contribute to group knowledge of topics to identify and focus information needs, sources and purposes for research or investigations

• Work in groups - address specific problems in a group by specifying goals, devising alternative solutions and choosing the best  alternative