Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) is an exciting and challenging learning area. At Calwell High School, HaSS incorporates the disciplines of History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business Studies. It primarily involves the study of people, as social beings, as they interact with one another, with the natural and social environment, and in various places throughout time.
Subjects are studied as set out by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and in all subject areas, student critical thinking and inquiry skills are developed that can be used to build knowledge of the world around them.
Year 7
In semester 1, Year 7 students study the History Curriculum which covers The Ancient World (60 000 BCE to 650 CE). In semester two they study Civics & Citizenship, which covers the topics of Australia’s systems of government and law as well as the diversity of Australian society. They also undertake studies in Geography, exploring the concept of place and liveability and water as an environmental resource.
Year 8
In semester 1, Year 8 students also study the History Curriculum which covers The Ancient to the Modern world (650 CE to 1750 CE). In semester two they study Business and Economics, with particular focuses on understanding consumers, businesses and markets as well as exploring issues of people and work.. They also undertake studies of Geography, focusing on investigating geomorphology through the study of landscapes and landforms, as well as exploring the changing human geography of countries around the world.
Year 9 and 10
In semester 1, Year 9 and 10 students are offered a range of history elective choices that cover the Modern World (1750 CE to present day). Units offered include, but are not limited to, Rights and Freedoms, Wars & Battles, Popular Culture and Societal Change. Each history unit is focused on building student capability across all the skills required to explore any aspect of history, from analysing and interpreting historical sources to building college-ready inquiry skills.
In Semester 2, Year 9 and 10 students are offered elective units that incorporate all areas of the Humanities, and allow students to explore areas of interest within the core learning areas of Geography, Civics and Citizenship and Business and Economics, but also
allow learning from other areas of the curriculum. the other major topics in HaSS are delivered through a different series of electives, although students may also continue in their study of history if this is of interest to them. Units include, but are not limited to, Society and Change, Ancient History, Big History, Workplace & Life Skills, Legal Studies, Business Studies, Environmental Change and Global Studies.
In addition to their core Humanities and Social Science class, some HaSS Subjects are offered on elective lines, including First Nations Studies, Psychology and Leadership & Service Learning.
Students studying HaSS will develop particular skills, such as:
- Research skills using a range of resources (including Information Technology)
- A general understanding of “how the world works” by examining historical and contemporary issues
- Skills in collecting, analysing and organising a variety of information
- Working in teams
- Communicating ideas and information
- Problem solving
- Independent and critical thinking
- Composing a variety of written texts with explanation and discussion
Students studying HaSS are assessed in a range of different ways to give students the opportunity to achieve success in meeting the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards. Assessment items may include research/project work, tests, creative production, portfolios of work, oral presentations, group work, essays, film studies, reports, posters or source analysis.