History

The Year 9 Curriculum provides a study of the history of the making of the modern world. It covers the period of industrialisation looking at the rapid change in the ways people lived, worked and thought. It looks at nationalism and imperialism, and the colonisation of Australia as part of the expansion of European power.

The content provides opportunities to develop historical understanding through key concepts, including evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, perspectives, empathy, significance and contestability. These concepts may be investigated within a particular historical context to facilitate an understanding of the past and to provide a focus for historical inquiries. The framework for developing students’ historical knowledge, understanding and skills will be provided by inquiry questions through the use and interpretation of sources.

The Year 9 course is broken into 2 components:

Overview (10% of course time)

Overview content identifies important features of the period as part of an expansive chronology that helps students understand broad patterns of historical change. Overview content for the making of the modern world includes: the nature and significance of the Industrial Revolution; the nature and extent of the movement of peoples in the period (slaves, convicts and settlers); the extent of European imperial expansion and different responses; the emergence and nature of significant economic, social and political ideas in the period, including nationalism.

Depth Study (90% of course time)

There are three depth studies for this historical period. Core Study 3 is compulsory and one study is to be chosen from each of Depth Study 1 and 2.

1 Making a Better World?

ONE of the following to be studied:

• The Industrial Revolution

• Movement of peoples

• Progressive ideas and movements.

2 Australia and Asia

Students investigate the history of Australia OR an Asian society in the period 1750 – 1918 in depth. ONE of the following to be studied:

• • Making a nation

  • Asia and the world

3 Core Study – Australians at War

• • Australians at War (World Wars I and II) MANDATORY

The Year 10 Curriculum provides a study of the history of the modern world and Australia from 1918 to the present, with an emphasis on Australia in its global context. The course looks at how the twentieth century became a critical period in Australia’s social, cultural, economic and political development. It further concentrates on the transformation of the modern world during a time of political turmoil, global conflict and international cooperation provides a necessary context for understanding Australia’s development, its place within the Asia-Pacific region, and its global standing.

The history content at this year level involves two strands: Historical Knowledge and Understanding and Historical Skills. A framework for developing students’ historical knowledge, understanding and skills is provided by inquiry questions through the use and interpretation of sources.

The Year 10 course is broken into 2 components:

Overview (10% of course time)

Overview content for the Modern World and Australia includes the following: the inter-war years between World War I and World War II; continuing efforts post-World War II to achieve lasting peace and security in the world; the major movements for rights and freedom in the world and the achievement of independence by former colonies ; the nature of the Cold War and Australia’s involvement in Cold War and post-Cold War conflicts; developments in technology, public health, longevity and standard of living during the twentieth century.

Depth Study (90% of course time)

There are three depth studies for this historical period. Core Study 4 is compulsory and one study is to be chosen from each of Depth Study 5 and 6.

4 Core Study – Rights and Freedoms

Students investigate struggles for human rights in depth. This will include how rights and freedoms have been ignored, demanded or achieved in Australia and in the broader world context. Rights and Freedoms (1945–present) MANDATORY

5 The Globalising World

ONE of the following to be studied:

• • • • Popular culture

      • The environment movement

      • Migration experiences

6 School-developed Topic

Students investigate one study drawn from

• • • • The Roaring Twenties

      • The Great Depression

      • The Holocaust

      • The Cold War

      • Australia in the Vietnam War era

      • A decade study

      • Women's history

      • The history of workers' rights

      • The United Nations

      • UN peacekeeping

      • The Gulf Wars and the war in Afghanistan

      • Developments in twentieth and twenty-first century Technology

      • The rising influence of China and India since the end of the Cold War

See more on the NESA website