A very important and wonderful statement that the syllabus makes is one of my favourite sayings and is also the name of my first blog, “Love of Learning” – which hopefully is instilled in the students through this key learning area.
Human Society and Its Environments K-6 provides the knowledge that allows students to gain understandings about a range of topics and areas. These make up the four content strands of HSIE:
· Change and Continuity
Changes occur in society and environments. Need to know about the past, in order to understand the present and then seek about the future. Sites, places and their significance in Australia
· Cultures
Understanding themselves and members of groups they may belong to. People have a variety of viewpoints that determine certain behaviours. Cultures - certain people share language, beliefs, religion, customs and practices. Cultures are dynamic and evolve.
· Environments
Identify places, sites and environments. Use location tools to locate themselves and others in environments. Protection of our environment and the natural resources. Learn about the rights to protect their environments and really get involved.
· Social Systems and Structures
Importance of needs and wants and how interacting with other people is contributing to society. Also the rights and responsibilities and roles within social systems.
The aim of HSIE as stated in the syllabus aims to develop the skills and knowledge to understand their identity in a number of different levels (personal, community, national and global) and also participating in their society and environment. It also aims to focus on “developing inquiry learning skills and providing experiences that are meaningful for students, engaging them with actual people, places and issues wherever possible” and allowing them to “make responsible decisions about social, economic, religious, civic and environmental issues that may affect them now or in the future” (K-6 HSIE Syllabus, 2007, p. 7).
Through students studying HSIE, they will “develop a sense of personal, community, national and global identity and the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will equip them to participate as responsible citizens in maintaining and improving the quality of their society and environment” (p. 7).
According to the Board of Studies syllabus, the “knowledge and understandings, skills, and values and attitudes that are embedded in the content of this syllabus are vital to learning about human society and the environment” (p. 9). It also provides “opportunities to learn to acquire information, to use an inquiry process and to participate in social and civic life” (p. 10).
We have already spoken about the four different strands, however as stated above students will also become familiar with particular skills. These skills will be gained through, acquiring information, the process of inquiry and lastly social and civic participation. Through the students taking part in these three, they will be able to:
Acquiring Information:
- Locating information
- Reading, viewing and discussing a range of subject matter
- Usefulness, reliability and accuracy of sources
- Purpose, intended audience
- Using a variety of different source and much more
Using an Inquiry Process:
- Identify and gather information
- Start an investigation
- Analysing and organising information
- Communicate information
- Reapplying the information gained and much more
Social and Civic Participation:
- Listen to others
- Participate in range of activities
- Work collaboratively
- Cooperate
- Be informed of issues and much more.
The stages of the HSIE Syllabus are as follows:
- Early Stage 1: Kindergarten
- Stage 1: Year 1 and Year 2
- Stage 2: Year 3 and Year 4
- Stage 3: Year 5 and Year 6
Within this blog, the particular stage I have chosen to look at Stage 2 and the strand is Cultures.
Reference: Board of Studies. (2007). K-6 Human Society and Its Environment Syllabus. Australia: Board of Studies NSW.
Marlena
