Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) in Kindergarten to Year 10

Board Developed Course

Course numbers:

• 440 Geography Elective 200 hours
• 441 Geography Elective 100 hours
• 4022 Geography Elective Life Skills 200 hours
• 4021 Geography Elective Life Skills 100 hours

Exclusions: Students may not access both the Geography Elective Years 7–10 outcomes and content and the Geography Elective Life Skills outcomes and content.

Course description

Geography enables young people to develop an interest in and engagement with the world. Geography Elective provides opportunities to develop a broader understanding of the discipline of Geography, including physical, social, cultural, economic and political influences on people, places and environments, from local to global scales.

The Geography Elective Years 7–10 course includes Life Skills outcomes and content for students with disability.

What students learn

Geography Elective enables students to learn about the geographical processes that form and transform environments and communities. Contemporary geographical issues and events are explored, including the roles and responsibilities of individuals, groups and governments. Through geographical inquiry, students develop knowledge and understanding to become informed, responsible and active citizens.

Students have the opportunity to further their geographical understanding through investigation of the concepts of place, space, environment, interconnection, scale, sustainability and change. They engage with the geographical tools of maps, fieldwork, graphs and statistics, spatial technologies, and visual representations, in order to acquire, process and communicate geographical information.

Course requirements

Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Geography Elective in Stage 4 and/or Stage 5. Across a 100-hour course or a 200-hour course students may study only ONE school-developed option.

100-hour course

Students undertaking the 100-hour course are required to complete a minimum of THREE topics.

200-hour course

Students undertaking the 200-hour course are required to complete a minimum of FIVE topics.

Topics

• Physical Geography
• Oceanography
• Primary Production
• Global Citizenship
• Australia's Neighbours
• Political Geography
• Interactions and Patterns along a Transcontinental Transect
• School-developed Option

Record of School Achievement

Satisfactory completion of 100 or 200 hours of study in Geography Elective during Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) will be recorded with a grade on the student’s Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

Students undertaking the Geography Elective course based on Life Skills outcomes and content are not allocated a grade.

Board Developed Course

Course numbers:

• 450 History Elective 200 hours
• 451 History Elective 100 hours
• 454 History Elective Life Skills 200 hours
• 453 History Elective Life Skills 100 hours

Exclusions: Students may not access both the History Elective Years 7–10 outcomes and content and the History Elective Life Skills outcomes and content.

Course description

History enables young people to develop an interest in and enjoyment of exploring the past. History Elective provides opportunities to develop a knowledge and understanding of past societies and historical periods.

The History Elective Years 7–10 course includes Life Skills outcomes and content for students with disability.

What students learn

Students explore the nature of history, heritage and archaeology and the methods that historians use to construct history through a range of thematic and historical studies. The construction of history is examined through options such as oral history, museum or archive studies, historical fiction, media, biography or film. Historical issues studied include the collection, display and reconstruction of the past, ethical issues of ownership, preservation and conservation of the past. Features of a range of ancient, medieval and modern societies are explored and students have the opportunity to study historical themes such as war and peace, crime and punishment, music through history, slavery and gender in history.

Students undertake processes of historical inquiry, including understanding and analysing sources and sequencing major historical events to show an understanding of continuity, change and causation. Students develop an understanding of historical concepts such as empathetic understanding, significance and contestability. They apply research and communication skills, including the use of ICT, and examine different perspectives and interpretations to develop an understanding of a wide variety of viewpoints. Students are provided with opportunities to construct a logical historical argument supported by relevant evidence and to communicate effectively about the past for different audiences.

Course requirements

Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in History Elective in Stage 4 and/or Stage 5.

The History Elective course consists of three topics which include a range of options for study.

100-hour course

A 100-hour course should be structured in the following way:

• ONE option from each of Topics 1, 2 and 3 must be studied

200-hour course

A 200-hour course should be structured in the following way:

• ONE option from each of Topics 1, 2 and 3 AND
• at least TWO other options from any of the topics.

Topics

• Topic 1: History, Heritage and Archaeology
• Topic 2: Ancient, Medieval and Modern Societies
• Topic 3: Thematic Studies

Topics may be integrated in teaching and learning programs.

Record of School Achievement

Satisfactory completion of 100 or 200 hours of study in History Elective during Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) will be recorded with a grade on the student’s Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

Students undertaking the History Elective course based on Life Skills outcomes and content are not allocated a grade.

Content Endorsed Course

Course numbers:

• 500 Work Education 200 hours
• 501 Work Education 100 hours
• 504 Work Education Life Skills 200 hours
• 503 Work Education Life Skills 100 hours

Exclusions: Students may not access both the Work Education Years 7–10 outcomes and content and the Work Education Life Skills outcomes and content.

Course description

Work Education provides students with opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of the world of work, including its dynamic and diverse nature. Students prepare for the working world by developing an understanding of the roles of education, training and employment, and an appreciation of the role of lifelong learning in career development and managing transitions. They develop transferable work-related skills, including interpersonal skills and entrepreneurial behaviours.

The Work Education Years 7–10 course includes Life Skills outcomes and content for students with disability.

What students learn

Work Education provides opportunities for students to explore the nature of work and current workplace issues, including the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers, and workplace safety. The purpose and roles of education, employment and training organisations in planning and managing their own transitions are investigated. Students are encouraged to explain their personal goals, attributes and values to inform choices and career pathway plans.

Students develop skills, attributes and entrepreneurial behaviours for effective participation in work and society, including skills related to career development and managing transitions. They develop research and communication skills that relate to the world of work and have opportunities to use appropriate forms to communicate information for different audiences.

Work Education provides opportunities for community and work-based learning, enabling students to explore possible future work options and career pathways.

Course requirements

Students may undertake either 100 or 200 hours of study in Work Education in Stage 4 and/or Stage 5.

100-hour course

A 100-hour course may be structured in the following ways:

• THREE core study topics and a minimum of FOUR options
• FOUR or FIVE core study topics and a minimum of THREE options
• SIX core study topics and a minimum of TWO options.

200-hour course

A 200-hour course will comprise all SIX core study topics and a minimum of SIX options.

Record of School Achievement

Satisfactory completion of 100 or 200 hours of study in Work Education during Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) will be recorded with a grade on the student's Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

Students undertaking the Work Education course based on Life Skills outcomes and content are not allocated a grade.