The Humanities faculty believes in the importance of students understanding the social and economic world that surrounds them. This understanding enables students to participate effectively in the modern world and appreciate how the legacy of the past has shaped the world today. An understanding of the humanities empowers students to actively engage in public affairs.
Students learn best in the humanities through the use of mixed teaching methodologies. Students learn best where they receive direct instruction in those areas where their level of expertise is low. As student expertise grows student learn best by engaging in independent authentic problem solving projects that link with outside communities and allow students to apply and demonstrate their skills.
Humanities 7-10 at Thomastown Secondary College consists of History and Geography.
History
History is a disciplined process of investigation into the past that develops students’ curiosity and imagination. Historical knowledge is fundamental to understanding ourselves and others. It promotes the understanding of societies, events, movements and developments that have shaped humanity from earliest times. It helps students appreciate how the world and its people have changed, as well as the significant continuities that exist to the present day.
History is interpretative by nature, promotes debate and encourages thinking about human values, including present and future challenges.
The study of history also provides opportunities to develop transferable skills of critical and creative thinking, such as the ability to explore questions, imagine possibilities and construct arguments.
Over a two year period, the following topics are studied in History:
Junior History
- The Ancient past before farming
- Ancient Greece
- Ancient China
- Investigating an ancient mystery; the Olmec….
- Ancient Rome
- Ancient India
Mid History
- World War 1 (1914-1918
- World War 11 (1939-1945)
- Movements of people 1750-1901
- French Revolution
- Industrial Revolution
Geography
Geography presents a structured way of exploring and understanding the characteristics of the places that make up our world. It uses the concepts of place, space, environment, interconnection, sustainability, scale and change. It addresses scales from the personal to the global and time periods from a few years to thousands of years.
Geography integrates the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to build a holistic understanding of the world. Students learn to question why the world is the way it is and propose actions designed to shape a socially just and sustainable future.
The Geography curriculum aims to ensure that students develop a sense of wonder, curiosity and respect for places, people, cultures and environments throughout the world
Over a two year period, the following topics are studied in Geography:
Junior Geography
- Water in the world
- Place and liveability
Mid Geography
- Biomes and Food security
- Environmental change and management