Year 8 Humanities

Students continue their exploration of the Humanities in Year 8 primarily through the studies of Geography and History, with Economics and Business and especially Civics and Citizenship also becoming more prominent. The week long trip to Canberra is a highlight of the Year 8 calendar and is a key learning experience regarding Civics and Citizenship.

In Geography, students explore two main units: Landforms and Landscapes, and Changing Nations. Landforms and landscapes focuses on investigating geomorphology through a study of landscapes and their landforms. It also develops students’ understanding of the concept of environment and enables them to explore the significance of landscapes to people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Changing nations focuses on the concept of change by investigating the changing human geography of countries, as revealed by shifts in population distribution, a sensitive indicator of economic and social change. It explores the process of urbanisation and how it interconnects with low and middle-income economies and societies. It investigates the reasons for the high level of urban concentration in Australia and examines issues related to the management and future of Australia’s urban areas.

In History, students pick up where they left off in Year 7 and investigate the Medieval World. There are three main units for students in Year 8: Medieval Europe, Medieval Japan, and the early exploration by European nations, with a specific focus on the Spanish Conquest of the Americas. Particularly through their comparison of the two Medieval societies, students gain an understanding of the development of the human species, and an appreciate for history as a necessary cultural tool. History is a disciplined process of investigation into the past that develops students’ curiosity and imagination. Awareness of history is an essential characteristic of any society, and 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.

Areas of Study / Historical Knowledge and Understanding

• Geography: Landscapes and Landforms
• Geography: Changing Nations
• History: Middle Ages (Europe and the Mediterranean)
• History: Middle Ages (Asia-Pacific: Japan)
• History: Spanish Conquest

Assessment

• Fieldwork Report
• Investigative Report
• Analysis of the Black Death
• Comparative Project of Medieval Societies
• Argumentative Essay
• Semester Examination