In Human Society and its Environment (HSIE), both subjects of History and Geography are mandatory from Year 7 to Year 10, and both will be studied during Year 7 and Year 8.
Students learn specific historical and geographical concepts and skills in History and Geography. They also have an opportunity to learn more about people and the societies and environments in which they live through elective subjects in Years 9 and 10.
A large number of individual subjects make up the key learning area of HSIE in which students:
research, gather and analyse information
question and make judgements
write for a variety of purposes.
What will students learn to do?
During the study of HSIE, students learn to gather, process and communicate information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. Learning is supported by a specifically designed excursion program involving field work and site visits and a variety of extension activities. Our boys develop significant skills in the use of information and communication technologies.
In Geography students will learn to use a wide range of geographical tools including maps, graphs, statistics, photographs and fieldwork. Students gather, analyse and communicate geographical information in a range of formats.
The aim of Geography is to stimulate students’ enjoyment and interest in the interaction of the physical and human environments. Students achieve this as they develop geographic knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes and become informed and active citizens.
Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. It is a rich and complex discipline that integrates knowledge from natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to build a holistic understanding of the world. Through the study of Geography, students are encouraged to question why the world is the way it is, reflect on their relationships with and responsibilities for the world and propose actions designed to shape a socially just and sustainable future.
An introduction to the 7-10 Geography Syllabus can be found on the NSW Curriculum website (Video shown below).
In History students will investigate the actions, motives and lifestyles of people over time. They examine different perspectives and interpretations which develop an understanding of a wide variety of viewpoints. Students engage in research and learn to critically analyse and interpret sources of evidence. They construct logical historical arguments supported by relevant evidence to communicate effectively about the past to different audiences.
The aim history syllabus is to stimulate students’ interest and enjoyment in exploring the past, to develop a critical understanding of the past and its impact on the present, to develop the critical skills of historical inquiry, and to enable students to participate as active, informed and responsible citizens.
History is a disciplined process of inquiry into the past that helps to explain how people, events and forces from the past have shaped our world. It allows students to locate and understand themselves and others in the continuum of human experience up to the present. History provides opportunities for students to explore human actions and achievements in a range of historical contexts. Students become aware that history is all around us and that historical information may be drawn from the physical remains of the past as well as written, visual and oral sources of evidence.
