Oakhill College Catholic High School

Human Society and its Environment Course Outline

The general aim of the HSIE Faculty is to examine the world around us – contemporary, past and future. At Oakhill more than 20 teachers teach the various HSIE courses, allowing us to offer a wide range of subjects and approaches.

The courses by stage are:

Stage 4: History and Geography;
Stage 5: History and Geography with Commerce as an elective;
Stage 6: Business Studies, Economics, Geography, Legal Studies, Ancient History, Modern History, Extension History.

HISTORY

Year 8

This course is formally called World History, introducing students to the past cultures of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Medieval Japan, Medieval Europe. It also looks critically at contact between the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztecs, and between the European settlers and Australian Aborigines. To encourage students’ skills in gathering and interpreting historical evidence, an excursion to an historical site such as the old Quarantine Station at Manly is organised.

Years 9 - 10

This is a NSW-mandatory course in Australian History since 1901. Key topics in the Year 9 course include Federation, WW1(Gallipoli), the Depression and WW2(Pacific Theatre). Year 9 students hone their skills by choosing their own topic and completing a Research Essay. The Year 10 course treats Australia in the post-war era: the Vietnam War, the 1960s, Whitlam and the Dismissal, and Changing Rights of Aborigines and migrants. The Historic sites include Chowder Bay and the SCG.

Years 11 - 12 Modern History

This is an elective course leading to the HSC. It begins briefly with the French and Industrial Revolutions, then does two Depth Studies: Tzarist Russia and Meiji Japan , followed by the Core: the World c.1900 and the causes of WW1. Skills in source analysis and writing historical responses, especially essays, are intrinsic to this course. Students work for six weeks on their Research Essay. The HSC course extends source skills via the Core: WW1(Western Front), examines interwar Germany , particularly Nazism and Albert Speer (as the Personality) and concludes with the international topic, Europe in Conflict from 1935-45.

Years 11 - 12 Ancient History

This is an elective course leading to the HSC. In general it exposes students to Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt . The Year 11 course introduces basic skills and concepts via Case Studies like the Body in the Bog and the Iceman, followed by Depth Studies such as Tut’s Tomb and Thera. In Term 2, students conduct their own Research Task. In Year 12 the Core is Pompeii and Herculaneum , the Personality is Akhenaton and the final units are New Kingdom Egypt and Spartan Society.

Extension History

This is a one unit course available in Year 12 only. It is taken by a small group of students who excel in one of the Year 11 courses. It develops students’ understanding of how historians work; and how and why interpretations change over time. As a Case Study Oakhill students examine the Crusades and associated historiography. Independently, students develop, investigate and construct their own Research Project.

LEGAL STUDIES

This is an elective course for the HSC. Legal Studies challenges students to assess critically the role of the law. The first Year 11 unit, the Legal System, provides fundamental knowledge before the specialist topics of Women, Migrants and the Individual which consider issues like accessibility, fairness and justice. In Term 4 students witness application of the law by seeing cases being heard at the Downing District Courts and by involvement in a Mock Trial at the Police and Justice Museum. This is a useful adjunct to the Year 12 Focus Studies of Crime and Law and Society, followed by the two final units, Family and Global Environment.

GEOGRAPHY
Geography at Oakhill is studied throughout the year in Year 7 (Stage 4), on a semester rotation basis with History in Years 9 and 10 (Stage 5) and as an elective in Years 11 and 12 (Stage 6).

§ Year 7

Geography is basically a study of the interaction between people and environments. Year 7 students study this interaction at a global level. This involves students in activities such as researching a World Heritage Site, listening to a Guest Speaker from Antarctica , emailing a global organisation such as Greenpeace and completing a PowerPoint presentation on an endangered species. Students also visit the wetlands at Bicentennial Park , Homebush to develop fieldwork skills.

§ Years 9 and 10

Years 9 and 10 students study the interaction between people and environments in an Australian context. This involves students in activities such as researching a natural hazard, comparing and contrasting different Australian communities, examining contemporary issues such as salinity and water recycling and analysing our trade, aid and defence links with other countries. In Year 9, students visit Warragamba Dam and Penrith Lakes as part of their water management study and Year 10 students complete coastal management fieldwork at Long Reef and Collaroy Beaches .

§ Year 11

Year students study the changing nature, rate and distribution of the world’s population and the issues facing developing countries. They also study the human impacts on a variety of environments and consider possible management strategies. This includes fieldwork in the Parramatta River Catchment and a visit to Rouse Hill Sewerage Treatment Plant. In addition, Year 11 students complete a Senior Geography Project or a “Major Work” on a geographical problem or issue which interests them at a local scale.

§ Year 12

Year 12 students complete a case study on viticulture which includes a trip to McGuigan’s winery in the Hunter Valley . They also investigate the economic and cultural authority of world cities, the challenges confronting mega cities and complete a fieldwork study on urban consolidation in Pyrmont. Students complete their course with a study of ecosystems including reference to the fragile environments of Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef .

COMMERCE STAGE 5

The aim of Commerce is to guide students towards personal competence and responsible participation in the changing commercial environment and to develop an effective level of financial literacy.

The Commerce course includes planned learning experiences, which in their totality provide opportunities for students to:

Þ Develop their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of commercial information and concepts;

Þ Develop a range of skills, and

Þ Explore and develop attitudes and values related to the commercial environment and their involvement with it.

Year 9 Topics

1. Consumer Choice

2. Personal Finance

3. Investing

4. Promoting and Selling

5. Running a Business (Market Day)

6. Travel Estate

Year 10 Topics
1. Law and Society

2. Law in Action

3. Employment Issues

4. Towards Independence

5. The Global Consumer

§ Market Day

A feature of the Commerce Course at Oakhill is Market Day, which takes place in Term 3 of Year 9. In groups of 5-8, Oakhill “businesses” are established and operated by Year 9 Commerce students. This then culminates in two Market Days during which students offer their products for sale to the school community. Market Day is designed to allow students a ‘hands on’ experience in establishing, operating and making decisions in the business environment, which is a central part of the Year 9 course.

BUSINESS STUDIES STAGE 6

Business Studies investigates the role, operation and management of businesses within our society. Factors in the establishment, operation and management of a small business are integral to this course. Students investigate the role of global business and its impact on Australian business. Students also develop research and independent learning skills in addition to analytical and problem solving competencies through their studies.

Preliminary Course Topics

1. Nature of Business

2. Key Business Functions

3. Developing a Business Plan

4. Establishing a Business

5. Employment Relations

HSC Course Topics
1. Financial Planning and Management

2. Business Management and Change

3. Global Business

4. Marketing

ECONOMICS STAGE 6

Economics provides an understanding for students about many aspects of the economy and its operation that are frequently reported in the media. It investigates issues such as why unemployment or inflation rates change and how these changes will impact on individuals in society. Economics develops students’ knowledge and understanding of the operation of the global and Australian economy. It develops the analytical, problem solving and communication skills of students. There is a strong emphasis on the problems and issues in a contemporary Australian economic context within the course.

Preliminary Course Topics HSC Course Topics

1. Introduction to Economics 1. Australia ’s Place in the Global Economy

2. Consumers and Business 2. The Global Economy

3. Markets 3. Economic Policies and Management

4. Labour Markets 4. Economic Issues

5. Financial Markets

6. Government in the Economy