Alberta Social Studies, Grades 3 to 6
If you teach in Alberta, you know the government made major changes to all subject areas in kindergarten through Grade 6.
Alberta social studies teachers can find complete lesson plans, activities, assessments, and drama circles aligned to the new Alberta curriculum (2024). We offer ready-to-teach resources for Grades 3–6 for Time and Place, Systems, and Citizenship. Browse by grade level below to find lessons, units, full-year bundles, interactive games, posters and more.
Grade 2
Many of our Grade 5 resources are on the same topic as the new Grade 2. However, we will not be adjusting our Canadian geography resources for Grade 2. First, we are not curriculum writers for Division 1. Second, the activities are too advanced for Grade 2 regardless of how simple we try to make them. We do not plan to write any resources for Grade 2 at this time.
Grade 3
Find the Grade 3 Alberta Social Studies Full Year of Lessons in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD). It includes ALL the resources listed below for Grade 3. The full year-long set also includes a year plan, unit plans, planning materials, vocabulary supports and additional assessments.
Time and Place
- Treaties in Alberta in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Regions of Alberta Research Projects in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Regions of Alberta Reading Passages in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Regions of Alberta Posters in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Alberta Landmarks in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- First Nations and Métis Communities in Alberta in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Francophones in Alberta in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Design a Homestead (Colonists) in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Homestead Life Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Immigrants in Alberta in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Time and Place Unit for Grade 3 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Systems
- Alberta’s Economy in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Symbols of Alberta Collaborative Poster in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Government: Municipal and Provincial in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Systems Unit for Grade 3 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Citizenship
- Alberta’s Identity in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Charity and Volunteering in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Voting and Elections in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Citizenship Unit for Grade 3 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Grade 4
NEW! Grade 4 Alberta Social Studies Full Year Lessons in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD). It includes ALL the resources listed below for Grade 4. The full year-long set also includes a year plan, unit plans, planning materials, vocabulary supports and additional assessments.
Time and Place
- NEW! European Explorers in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! New France in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Rivalries and Treaties in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Immigration Before Confederation in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD). Includes Loyalists, War of 1812, The Rebellions and the Underground Railroad
- War of 1812 Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Loyalists Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Canada Before Confederation in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Time and Place Unit for Grade 4 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Systems
- NEW! Fur Trade Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! The Fur Trade in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- Design a Fur Trading Post in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Confederation in Canada in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Confederation Collaborative Poster in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Confederation Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Systems Unit for Grade 4 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Citizenship
- NEW! Rights & Responsibilities Poster in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Rights & Responsibilities in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Responsible Citizens Perspective Activities in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Citizenship Unit for Grade 4 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Grade 5
NEW! Grade 5 Alberta Social Studies Full Year Lessons in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD). It includes ALL the resources listed below for Grade 5. The full year-long set also includes a year plan, unit plans, planning materials, vocabulary supports and additional assessments.
Time and Place
- NEW! Social Scientists Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Development of Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Rising and Falling Ancient Civilizations Activity in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! The Rise of Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! The Fall of Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Innovations of Ancient Civilizations Poster in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Ancient Civilizations Interactive Review Game in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Time and Place Unit for Grade 5 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Systems
- NEW! Authoritarians and Empires in Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Economic Practices in Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Social Systems in Ancient Civilizations in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Systems Unit for Grade 5 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Citizenship
- NEW! Connections Then and Now in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Informed Citizens in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Citizenship Unit for Grade 5 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Grade 6
NEW! Grade 6 Alberta Social Studies Full Year Lessons in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD). It includes ALL the resources listed below for Grade 6. The full year-long set also includes a year plan, unit plans, planning materials, vocabulary supports and additional assessments.
Time and Place
- NEW! Origins of Democracy in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Haudenosaunee Confederacy in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Comparing Democracies Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Roots of Democracy in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! All About Democracy Interactive Game in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Time and Place Unit for Grade 6 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Systems
- NEW! Federal Government in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Provincial Government in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Comparing Governments Interactive Game in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Elections in Canada in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Division of Powers Collaborative Poster in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Systems Unit for Grade 6 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Citizenship
- NEW! Charter of Rights Drama Circle in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Charter of Rights in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Civic Participation in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
- NEW! Citizenship Unit for Grade 6 in our BN Shop ($CAD) or our TpT Store ($USD).
Our resources are never truly finished. We will continue to edit, refine and add to these lessons as we get feedback from ninjas like you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades do these Alberta social studies resources cover?
Brain Ninjas offers complete resources for Grades 3–6. (Note: The Grade 2 curriculum overlaps with our legacy Grade 5 materials, which we’ve kept in print for use in other provinces.)
Are resources aligned to the new Alberta curriculum?
Yes. All resources listed are written specifically for the revised Alberta social studies curriculum (kindergarten–Grade 6), updated in 2024.
Can I use these resources in Google Classroom or as digital PDFs?
Most resources come in both paper and digital (PDF, Google Slides) versions. Check the product description on BN Shop or TpT for format options.
Where can I buy these resources?
Resources are sold on two platforms: Brain Ninjas Shop (CAD pricing) and TpT (USD pricing).
Are drama circles included?
Yes. Most grade levels include drama circles and readers theatre activities. Review the resource list for your specific grade to see which units include drama activities.
Do you have Alberta social studies resources for Grade 2?
No. Many of our Grade 5 resources cover the same topics as the new Grade 2, but we do not plan to write resources for Grade 2 at this time.
What topics do the Alberta social studies resources cover?
Grade 3 covers Alberta history, geography and government, including treaties, Alberta’s regions, First Nations and Métis communities, Francophones, homesteading, immigrants, the economy, municipal and provincial government, charity and volunteering, and voting. In grade 4, students cover Canadian history up to Confederation, including European explorers, New France, the fur trade, rivalries and treaties, Confederation, and rights and responsibilities. Grade 5 covers ancient civilizations, including how they developed, rose and fell, their governments and empires, economies and social systems, and connections to today. Grade 6 covers democracy and government in Canada, including the origins of democracy, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Magna Carta, federal and provincial government, elections, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and civic participation.
What is included in a full-year lesson bundle?
Each full-year bundle includes all of the resources listed for that grade, plus a year plan, unit plans, planning materials, vocabulary supports and additional assessments.
