Social Sciences
Compulsory
- Learning Area:
- Social Sciences / Media / Commerce
- Course Level:
- Year 10
- Year(s):
- 2021 - 2022
- Approx Cost:
- Nil.
- Technology Requirements:
- A laptop is essential for this course
- Course Outline:
This year long course follows Level 5 of the Aotearoa-New Zealand Social Science Curriculum. Our vision is to produce ākonga who explore how societies work and discover how they themselves can participate and take action as critical, informed, empathetic and responsible citizens.
Our junior course provides foundation knowledge in the breadth on Social Science areas, namely Classical Studies, History, Geography, Senior Social Studies, Business Studies and Media.
The teaching and learning programme are based on core knowledge common to all classes. Learning strategies, activities and specific emphasis will be designed by the kaiako/ teacher to suit the needs of the learners in those individual classes.
Topics include:
Who Runs the World - how people and organisations gain control over other people and the environment in which they live
Get Up; Stand Up - how people have exercised their right to protest against injustices to bring about change
Human Rights - what are human rights and what challenges have people faced in regard to their rights
Can't Buy Me Love - how branding and the media influences our lives
The Winner Takes It All - how people create wealth and the consequences of this
Sustainability - how the present generation can make sure the planet's resources remain available for the future generations
- Assessment:
Assessment is designed around 3 skills:
Information Gathering
Understanding Perspectives of Groups & Individuals
Explaining Outcomes
- Where Does It Lead:
History, Social Science, Classical Studies, Media and Tourism courses.
- For further information see:
- Mr Gilpin.
In Year 9 students start the first year of their two year junior programme. Year 9 consists of two semesters (half year-long) with a combination of compulsory courses and option courses chosen by the students.
In Year 9 students will take 12 semester (half-year) courses that include:
a) Compulsory Courses - 2 semesters of Health & PE, Mathematics, Science, and one Semester of English and Social Studies. (the reverse happens in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
b) Option Courses - Four semesters of option courses (note: students choose 5 option courses in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
Year 10 students study five compulsory courses (English, Mathematics, Health & Physical Education, Science and Social Sciences) and six semester (half year) options (see individual course details). You can choose to do one semester course from a subject area eg: Drama - Part 1 or take two semester courses from a subject area, which is equivalent to a whole year course eg: Drama Part - 1 and Drama - Part 2. Pathways for all course at all levels are summarised on the Course Planning Chart.
A few Year 10 semester two courses require you to complete semester one first, before doing semester two.
Students won't be gaining Level 1 NCEA in Year 11. There will be up to one internal NCEA assessment per semester course, giving students the opportunity to gain approximately 45 credits but not the 80 needed for Level 1 NCEA. Some assessments maybe at Level 2 NCEA. These internal assessments will expose students to the way different subject areas assess NCEA in preparation for Year 12 and the completion of Level 2 NCEA.
Year 12 students study six year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart). There are no compulsory courses, however, English and Mathematics are strongly recommended.
Students have the option of studying five courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their five courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
Year 13 students study five year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart) and have an Independent Study (IST). A sixth course can be selected in place of IST. Students have the option of studying four courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their four courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
For students that are intending to gain University Entrance it is strongly recommended that they select at least four University Entrance approved courses. Refer to individual course details to check if a course is a University Entrance approved subject
Year 13 (IST) is independent, unsupervised learning that can take place at school or at home. Students are responsible for managing their work during this time.