This year, our Year 7 students embark on an enriching journey through the HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) curriculum, enhancing their understanding of History, Geography, Business and Economics, Civics and Citizenship.

In History, students examined Deep Time, from the emergence of humans out of Africa to the arrival of First Nations peoples in Australia, exploring how and where people moved, as well as the changing nature of the land through the Pleistocene and Holocene periods. All Year 7 classes participated in an excursion to the Cataract Gorge as part of the unit. Ancient civilisations of Rome, Greece, and China were studied with interactive wall displays created to support learning.

Civics and Citizenship saw students develop an understanding of Australia’s Constitution and explain how Australia’s legal system is based on the principle of justice. Classes also studied the diverse nature of Australian society and identity, as well as the impact of shared values in promoting a cohesive society.

In Year 8, History students reviewed the period between 650 CE and 1450 CE.  A focus study of Medieval Europe saw students develop an understanding of Feudalism and its impacts. They researched the roles and responsibilities of different social classes, the culture, conflict, (including weapons), crime and punishment, and the influence of the church on everyday life. A short unit on the Black Death had students develop an understanding of what it was, how it spread, some of the treatments used, and how the influence of the church started to decrease.

In Civics and Citizenship, students learned how to be informed about and participate in their democracy. The characteristics of laws, how they are made, and the different types of laws in Australia.

Year 9 students recognised diverse historical perspectives, reflecting on episodes such as the Industrial Revolution and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, highlighting child labour through the documentary series Children of the Revolution. Additionally, the Australian Wars unit explored the impact of British Imperialism on colonisation, with particular emphasis on truth-telling and the experiences of First Nations people. This included studying the podcast Stuff the British Stole: Shots Fired.

As part of the Year 10 curriculum, students examined pivotal events such as the Interwar years, the Treaty of Versailles, and the socio-political climate leading to World War II. Their study led to a comprehensive examination of World War II, including the rise of Hitler and the Holocaust, fostering critical assessments of history and the enduring legacies of colonisation and conflict in contemporary Australia.

This work culminated in the students testing their understanding in their recently completed exams.

Ben Gadsby