Families in Society

Families in Society provides students in grades 10 through 12 with a sociological framework from which to learn about families in Canadian society. family picture

The objective of this course is to allow students to explore trends affecting Canadian families. These trends include the influence of family dynamics, as well as the diversity in family customs and traditions from different cultures. Students will gain a better understanding of the roles in families, functions of the family and situational issues that different families are faced with and how to cope with them. They will also be stimulated to take a closer look at their
own lives and transfer their empathy towards others.

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This is an all-new curriculum that offers the flexibility to be taken any time. This course provides a pragmatic and engaging elective for students in grades 10 to 12.

Families in Society is the first two-credit course for Family Studies 10 to 12.

Highlights of Families in Society:

A historical overview of the family
The functions families serve in society
Roles and responsibilities of family members
Current issues facing Canadian families
Exploration of careers relevant to families in society
Personal and relevant assignments

In this course, students will be encouraged to reflect
on their own family values as well as those of others, and
incorporate what they learn in this course into their own daily lives. They will be given a modern, practical perspective on family issues and will also be prompted to research careers associated with the family in Canada.

Interpersonal and Family Relationships

family pic
The aim of Interpersonal and Family Relationships is to provide a broad overview of how relationships form and change. Students will explore a variety of relationships, including work relationships, friendships' and committed relationships, as well as examine how these relationships evolve or end. This course will also provide an overview on effective communication, wellness, and safety in interpersonal relationships. Students will examine the variety of ways people communicate and describe components of healthy and unhealthy relationships. They will conclude this course by researching careers associated with interpersonal and family relationships.

Highlights of Interpersonal and Family Relationships:

Examination of verbal and non-verbal communication
Analysis of different relationship types, including friends and family
Consideration of health and safety in relationships
Exploration of careers related to interpersonal and family relationships
Personal and relevant assignments

In this course students explore communication and its effectiveness and how it differs with friends, parents and teachers. Students will look into the many different relationships that they develop in their lifetime and its impact on decision-making. This course examines healthy and unhealthy relationships and how to recognize them. The course project in this module has students exploring careers related to interpersonal and family relationships.

Advantages of these courses:

Exceptional value
No textbooks required (brief Source File of readings for Families in Society)
Engaging videos of topical issues
Foundational Skills Package
Canadian-based information (British Columbia focus and Stats Can)
Available in print or online
Teacher’s Guide
Blackline Master CD for easy editing of material
Section management is flexible
Attractive course for high school students

Both courses are supported by DVD sets containing numerous videos pertaining to important issues facing families, and challenges in interpersonal relationships.

There is also a companion website featuring animations and interactive tutorials, as well as supporting websites relating to each course.

The Foundation Skills Package contains tutorials aimed to improve the students’ skills to excel in this course, and it is transferable to the rest of their studies. The Foundational Skills Package is a supporting resource for all Family Studies 10-12 courses.

Available in print or online
Grades 10 – 12 Home Economics elective
DVD sets with educational videos
Foundational Skills Package
Teacher's Guide
All new section assignments
CD with editable assignments

To make use of multimedia resources requires a modern computer with sound, a CD-ROM drive and Flash Player (free to download from Adobe's website). To take an online course requires all of the above, plus an Internet connection and current web browser.

Foundational Skills Package (paper-based course only)
Families in Society Source File
Families in Society DVD set
Interpersonal and Family Relationships DVD set
Families in Society companion website
Interpersonal and Family Relationships companion website

To order these course resources, download the PDF order form and send in the completed order via:

These resources can be ordered:

from our secure Open School BC Online Catalogue
via an order form faxed to
250-387-1120
by emailing our Customer Service Team
by phoning our local Victoria number
250-356-2820
by phoning our toll free number
1-888-883-4766

Families in Society Sections
Section 1: Families in a Changing World	This section takes a sociological perspective on the family. The definitions of family will be discussed, as well as how the functions of family affect the individual and society at large. Students will examine the rapidly evolving family structure, as well as gain tolerance as they explore different customs and traditions of families in different cultures.
Section 2: Living in a Family	Lessons in this section include how birth order affects the individual and the family, family roles and responsibilities, and how gender roles in society influence the family. Students will be asked to self-reflect on their own value system, and will learn how family values affect expenditure choices.
Section 3: Facing Family Challenges	This section will teach students coping mechanisms when dealing with social, economic, and emotional issues that cause stress within families. Students will also be shown how to make smart consumer choices and the consequences of financial debt. Care giving will also be examined, as well as how families cope with both childcare and eldercare.

Interpersonal and Family Relationships Sections
Section 1: Effective Communication	This section looks at communication from many different angles. Students begin by exploring verbal communication. Next, they will learn about all the elements needed to effectively send and receive messages. The section concludes with a discussion about formal and informal communication and how it is applied in everyday life.
Section 2: Relationships	Relationships are, in many ways, the foundation of our lives. Family members, acquaintances, friends, and life partners fulfill important social and emotional needs. This section explores the many aspects of relationships.
Section 3: Wellness and Safety in Personal Relationships	Throughout life people experience many different kinds of relationships: familial, friendship, romantic, work, and school-related. Students will look at how each of these relationships has the potential to enrich their lives, boost their self-esteem, and add to their feeling of belonging.