Canada · Ontario Curriculum Expectations
Grade 10 Canadian Studies
Grade 10 Canadian Studies exploring Canadian history since World War I, including residential schools, women's rights, multiculturalism, and Canada in World War II. Students develop critical historical thinking and perspective-taking skills.
Canada & World War I
How did World War I change Canada? Students examine Canada's participation in the Great War, the impact on the home front, and how the war helped forge a new sense of Canadian identity.
Students investigate why Canada entered World War I, the enthusiasm and division the decision created, and the experiences of Canadian soldiers on the Western Front.
Students explore the Battle of Vimy Ridge and its significance as a defining moment in Canadian national identity, while also questioning the mythology surrounding it.
Students examine life on the home front during WWI, the role of women in the war effort, and the divisive conscription crisis that tore the country apart along linguistic lines.
Students assess the lasting impact of World War I on Canada, including the Spanish flu, the Winnipeg General Strike, and changes in Canada's international status.
An exploration of the contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit soldiers, and the contrast between their service and their treatment upon return.
A study of the War Measures Act and the internment of Ukrainian and other European immigrants during WWI.
Residential Schools & Indigenous Rights
What were residential schools and how do their effects continue today? Students examine the history and legacy of residential schools and explore the ongoing movement for Indigenous rights.
Students learn about the establishment, operation, and goals of the residential school system, and the profound suffering it caused to Indigenous children, families, and communities.
Students examine how the trauma of residential schools has been passed down through generations, affecting Indigenous communities in areas such as health, education, and family life.
Students study the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, its findings, and the 94 Calls to Action, evaluating how much progress has been made towards implementing them.
Students explore the movement for Indigenous self-determination in Canada, including land claims, self-governance, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
An investigation into the mass removal of Indigenous children from their families into the child welfare system.
A look at key moments of resistance, from the 1969 White Paper to Idle No More and the Wet'suwet'en protests.
Analyzing the systemic causes behind the MMIWG crisis and the findings of the National Inquiry.
The Interwar Years: Boom & Bust
Students explore the social, economic, and political changes of the 1920s and 1930s, including the Great Depression.
Investigating the economic prosperity, technological advancements, and cultural shifts of the 1920s.
Analyzing the causes of the 1929 stock market crash and its devastating impact on the Canadian economy and people.
Evaluating the effectiveness of government responses, from Mackenzie King to R.B. Bennett, and the rise of new political parties.
Examining the temperance movement, the era of prohibition, and its impact on Canadian society.
Exploring how the Group of Seven shaped a unique Canadian landscape identity through art.
Canada in World War II
How did World War II test Canada's values? Students examine Canada's military contribution, the internment of Japanese Canadians, and the war's lasting impact on Canadian society.
Students examine Canada's military contributions to World War II, including the Battle of the Atlantic, D-Day, and the liberation of the Netherlands.
Students confront the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, examining how fear and racism led to the violation of Canadian citizens' rights.
Students explore life on the Canadian home front during WWII, including the expansion of women's roles, rationing, war bond drives, and the transformation of the economy.
Examining Canada's response to the Holocaust, including the "None is Too Many" policy regarding Jewish refugees.
A look at Canada's contribution to wartime innovation, including the BCATP and research into radar and atomic energy.
Analyzing controversial military operations and the specific challenges faced by Canadians in the Mediterranean.
Students assess the lasting impact of World War II on Canada, including the creation of the welfare state and Canada's role in founding the United Nations.
Post-War Canada & The Cold War
Exploring Canada's growth as a middle power and the social changes of the 1950s and 60s.
Investigating Canada's role in NATO, NORAD, and the Gouzenko Affair.
Lester B. Pearson and the birth of Canadian peacekeeping.
Analyzing the post-war economic boom and the rise of suburban life.
The modernization of Quebec and the rise of Quebec nationalism.
The Great Flag Debate of 1964 and the search for Canadian symbols.
The origins of Canada's healthcare system and the role of Tommy Douglas.
Women's Rights & Social Change
How have women fought for equality in Canada? Students trace the evolution of women's rights from suffrage to the present.
Students examine the Canadian women's suffrage movement and the uneven path to voting rights.
The Famous Five and the 1929 ruling that women were legally "persons".
The Royal Commission on the Status of Women and the fight for reproductive rights.
Tracing the changing role of women in the Canadian workforce and issues of pay equity.
Assessing the current state of gender equality and intersectional feminism.
The Trudeau Era to the Present
Modern political crises, constitutional changes, and Canada's evolving global role.
The rise of Pierre Trudeau and the 1970 FLQ crisis.
The 1982 Constitution Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The failed attempts to bring Quebec into the constitutional fold.
The debate over NAFTA and Canada's economic integration with the US.
The near-separation of Quebec and its aftermath.
Canada's combat role in the post-9/11 world.
Canada's role in international climate agreements and domestic policy.
The impact of the internet and social media on Canadian democracy and culture.
Diversity, Identity & The Future
Examining multiculturalism, immigration, and what it means to be Canadian in the 21st century.
The evolution from bilingualism to the 1988 Multiculturalism Act.
From the "Points System" to modern refugee resettlement.
The struggle for equality, from decriminalization to marriage equality.
Exploring the history of Black Canadians and the fight against systemic racism.
Critiques and defenses of Canada's approach to diversity.
The growing divide between urban centers and rural Canada.
Reflecting on identity in a globalized, technological world.
A culminating project where students predict and propose solutions for Canada's future.