Discover Yourself — Discover the World

Updated: January 6, 2009

The Global Studies Department has completed another exciting year journeying into the ancient past, examining contemporary political and economic issues, understanding the law and discovering the farthest reaches of the mind and soul!

This year, our grade 9 students started their exploration of Global Studies through the exciting grade 9 geography program. Students investigated the interactions of natural and human systems within Canada and around the world. Students were introduced to geo-technologies, and participated in a number of field trips, including trips to the Lorne Park Water Treatment Facility, tree planting at the Credit River Watershed, urban exploration of downtown Toronto, and a tour of the Niagara Falls Power Plant. Students also wrote letters to our local MP regarding Canada's role in Darfur, and students took ownership and proposed actions to control their contributions to global climate change

Our grade 10 students explored the history of the 20th century, starting from World War I. Students engaged, discussed, and debated issues related to Canada's maturity as an innovative, diverse, peace-loving nation. Students learned about the government’s post-Confederation relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal, English, French and Immigrant populations. Larger global issues such as the two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and the current Middle East conflict were addressed, to provide context to Canada's development over the past 140 years. As well, students were given multiple opportunities to master how to write and research a critical history essay. Our grade 10 students, also enrolled in a compulsory half credit in Civics (CHV 20O), as an engaging introduction to political philosophy, government and philanthropy.

In collaboration with the Toskan Foundation, the Global Studies Department has constructed an exciting curriculum for youth who are interested in social justice, and who want to make a change in their local community. Students learn about the importance of grassroots charity work, and investigate why grassroots charities are needed more than ever in the year 2007. Students learn about charity finance and choose a local charity to advocate for. Students conduct a site visit, and spend three weeks developing a dynamic presentation.

The winning group from each Civics class competes in May to decide who wins. And the prize? The winning group receives $5000, to donate to the charity they advocate for! The money is generously provided by the Toskan Foundation and is presented to the charity with a monstrous cheque! This year Eden Food Bank was the recipient of the $5,000. The students were invited to attend the Toskan Celebration Luncheon at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, along with the winners of the YPI from all across Ontario. There they met notable Canadians including Dalton McGuinty, Craig Kielburger, Julie Toskan-Casale and Rick Campanelli. We also had another exciting moment when one of our Civics students had his Letter to the Editor assignment published in the Toronto Star on June 8.

Here are a few highlights from our grade 11 courses from second semester:

Economics (CIE3MO). Students participated in a simulated stock market activity, studied contemporary economics issues from news sources around the world, presented twenty-minute academic seminars, and even participated in a collective bargaining simulation where our labour union and management teams were able to come to terms with a collective agreement that was agreeable to all! After learning about the valuable role that entrepreneurs play in our economy, we decided as a class to connect this with our school's social justice mission by providing an interest-free loan to an entrepreneur in Sierra Leone. Ibrahim Bah has expanded his water business in Sub-Saharan Africa and has already begun repaying his loan! By discovering the role of economics the world, students have begun to discover themselves the valuable role they can play in the global village.

Anthropology, Psychology, Sociology (HSP3MO): In addition to being introduced to the academic (and fascinating) study of human behaviour, students were visited by a guest speaker to address “Gender and the Media” and participated in a fascinating field trip to the Toronto Zoo to conduct a primate study. In addition, students created some incredible artefacts this year, including verbal-visual essays depicting a problem/solution perspective for an social issue (in a collage format), a family album for sociology, and a behaviour modification proposal for psychology.

Law (CLU3MO): This year, students met with two officers from the Region of Peel Police Force who discussed their role and provided students with a great overview of their job and the law pertaining to arrests and searches. Students met with residents of St. Leonard's House–a halfway house program in Brampton that works to rehabilitate individuals who have served sentences in federal and provincial institutions. Stephen Lewis Law students were an excellent audience, asking many insightful legal questions. Students also participated in a field- trip to the William Davis Courthouse in Brampton. Students were able to watch criminal and civil trials in session, as well as bail hearings and plea bargains. Students were also able to observe the day to day activity of one of the busiest courts in Ontario. Students met with a provincial court judge who responded to all questions and provided much insight as to his role and the Canadian judicial system.

Finally, students participated in "Mock Trials," where students assumed the roles of Crown, Defence, Witnesses and the Accused. Students cross-examined witnesses and argued the pertinent points of the law with their peers. Students did an excellent job of assuming the various roles in the courtroom. Mock Trials were presented in order to gain greater insight in to our adversarial system of justice.

World Religions (HRT3MO): In addition to studying the theory and foundations of the world’s established religious traditions (Judaism; Christianity; Islam; Hinduism; Buddhism and Sikhism), students participated in exciting field trips to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museums) to see the Darwin Exhibit, to the Diesel Playhouse to see an exciting “Paranormal Show”, as well visiting three places of worship: the BAPS Swaminarayana Mandir; Tariq Mosque and the Dixie-Derry Gurudwara. As well, students researched various Islamic and Christian sects, as well as investigated the difference between “Negative Cults” and “New Religious Movements”.

Next year, students will have the opportunity to continue their exploration of Global Studies courses through the following grade 12 courses: CHY4U (West & the World); CLN4UO (International and Canadian Law); HSB4M (Society Challenge & Change); CGW4M (Canadian and World Issues); and HGG4M (Human Growth and Development).

NEWS from Global Studies Semester I 2007-2008

The Global Studies Department, together with SLSS students, have continued to build programs consistent with the department motto, “Discover yourself, Discover the world”.

Grade 9 students were immersed in an engaging—and activist—geography program this year. Students investigated the interactions of natural and human systems within Canada and around the world. This year, our students were able to experiment with our brand new GPS units as our geo-technologies program continues to grow. Students continued to excel in presenting their “Geo-News” assignments about current issues affecting the world. As well, students had the chance to reflect on their ecological footprint by writing letters to their future grandchildren, to explain what they did to help preserve the earth for them. Very powerful!! In addition, students participated in the woodlot cleanup of the SLSS property, and enjoyed engaging field trips to downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls.

This semester, Grade 10 explored the history of the 20th century, starting from World War I. Students engaged, discussed, and debated issues related to Canada's maturity as an innovative, diverse nation. Larger global issues such as the two world wars, the Great Depression, and the origins of the current Middle East conflict were also addressed, to provide context to Canada's development over the past 140 years. Students this year mastered the art of writing critical, organized essays in preparation for their Grade 11 and 12 courses.

Grade 10 students also enrolled in a compulsory half credit in Civics (CHV 20O). At Stephen Lewis, students have the unique opportunity to participate in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, as part of their second unit of study.

In collaboration with the Toskan Foundation, the Global Studies Department has constructed an exciting curriculum for youth who are interested in social justice, and who want to make a change in their local community. Students learn about the importance of grassroots charity work, and investigate why grassroots charities are needed more than ever in the year 2007-2008. Students learn about charity finance and choose a local charity to advocate for. Students conduct a site visit, and spend 3 weeks developing a dynamic presentation. The winning group from each Civics class competes in May to decide who wins. And the prize? The winning group receives $5000, to donate to the charity they advocate for! The money is generously provided by the Toskan Foundation and is presented to the charity with a monstrous cheque!

Check out their website and find out more for yourself about this incredible program. Every student is a winner because they leave Civics knowing that they have made a difference in their local community by researching and advocating for a local charity. The Global Studies Department at Stephen Lewis Secondary School is one of the only schools in Peel to establish a partnership with the Toskan Foundation

This year, we introduced our Grade 11 courses for the first time, to much fanfare and excitement! A quick peek into any of our senior classrooms would show students engaged in the stimulating curriculum specially designed and delivered by our skilled faculty. Our courses were packed—there was hardly a free desk in any of our senior courses. Here is a brief description of the Grade 11 courses we offered this semester, and the activities students engaged in:

HSP3MO (Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology)

• Examination of how all three disciplines address the question: What does it mean to be human?
  
• Study of the role nature (genetic inheritance) and nurture (environmental, cultural influence) play in shaping our perception of the world.
  
• Primate field study at the Metro Toronto Zoo.
  
• Some of the topics covered: dream analysis, gender, deviance, individual identity –versus group conformity.

HRT 3MO (Introduction to World Religions)

• Examination of the role belief, ritual, mystical experience and politics play in shaping the world’s religions—and individual belief.
• Exploration of how each religion imagines the universe (its creation, its order, its purpose), and how each religion answers the basic human question: “What is the ultimate purpose of life?”
• Some of the topics covered: relationship between religion and history; ethics and lawfulness; knowledge versus gnosis, significance of holy-days; plurality of sects within religions.
• For the culminating assessment, students interviewed members of the local community to study the relationship between the ‘lived experience’ and ‘theoretical study’ of religion

CHW3MO (World History to the 16th Century)

• Examination of Mesopotamia, Dynastic Egypt, Classical Greece, Roman and Christian Empires, and China through special topics.
  
• Students created multimedia presentations to showcase their understanding of Akhenaten—Egypt’s most controversial Pharaoh!
  
• Exploration of the role of key individuals and groups in shaping history: Alexander the Great, Cleopatra, Augustus Octavian, Shi Huangdi, Cleisthenes, Kublai Khan, the Phoenicians, the Spartans, Persians, Mongols, and nomadic Indo-Europeans.

CLU3MO (Introduction to Law)

• Students participated in a mock trial, visited the Ontario Court of appeal in Toronto, and were trained to examine legal cases as lawyers do.
  
• Students were visited by guest speakers who talked about their experience with the criminal justice system.
  
• Students were also exposed to the history of legal rules, and social issues related to criminality and deviance.
  
• In addition, during semester two, we are proud to introduce Grade 11 Economics (CIE3MO) for the first time at SLSS.

Next year, students have the opportunity to continue their Global Studies education, through the following courses specially designed to prepare students for college and university. Please browse through the course calendar to ensure your son or daughter makes the choice suited to their post-secondary destination.

• CHY4U: The West and the World: Global History since the 16th C (University Prep)
• HSB 4M: Society Challenge and Change (College & University Prep)
• CLN4U: Canadian and International Law (University Prep)
• CGW4U: Canadian and World Issues (University Prep)

All of the courses offered by the Global Studies Department aim to help students better understand the world around them, so that students can build a compassionate, equitable and sustainable future.

Please feel free to contact the Global Studies Department if you have any questions about Grade 11 and 12 courses for next year. 905-363-0289, x437.

The Global Studies Department at Stephen Lewis Secondary School provides countless options for students to journey into the ancient past, examine contemporary political and economic issues, research exotic locations, and discover the farthest reaches of the mind and soul!

Grade 9 students begin their exploration of Global Studies through the exciting grade nine geography program. Students investigate the interactions of natural and human systems within Canada and around the world. Students are introduced to geo-technologies, and participate in a number of field trips, including trips to Downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls.

In Grade 10 students explore the history of the 20th century, starting from World War 1. Students engage, discuss, and debate issues related to Canada's maturity as an innovative, diverse, peace-loving nation. Larger global issues such as the two world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War and the current Middle East conflict are addressed, to provide context to Canada's development over the past 140 years.

In grades 11 and 12 students have the options to explore more specialized courses such as World Religions, Economics, Law, Politics, Ancient and Modern World History and the three Social Sciences: Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology.

The Global Studies Department at Stephen Lewis Secondary School is dedicated to building student-centred classrooms. Students develop creative and critical thinking skills through role-plays, debates, discussions, and primary document analysis. Students also enjoy the opportunity to incorporate information technology into class projects

All of the courses offered by the Global Studies Department aim to help students better understand the world around them, so that students can build a compassionate, equitable and sustainable future.