Brief overview australian curriculum

Summarised from Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, Australian Curriculum Documents [2010]

Australian Curriculum: Summary

(Australia) July 2010

Annabel Astbury History Teachers’ Association of Victoria

Brief Overview

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Prepared by Annabel Astbury History Teachers’ Association of VictoriaMarch 2010

Personal and Family Stories

›what is my story?› what stories do other people tell about their past?

› how are stories told?

Broad Inquiry Questions

Personal and family stories› Generational structure› The telling of personal histories› How families commemorate

Knowledge and Understanding

Skills: Years K - 2Historical questions and research

Analysis and use of sources

Comprehension and communication

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Past and Present› what happened and when?› how do we measure and describe time?› how can we show that the past is different from the present?

› has family life changed over time?


Past and Present› Measurements of time

› Birthdays, celebrations, seasons

› Differences of family structures› Changing roles of individuals and groups





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Heritage› why do you think the past is important?

› how can we preserve these signs of the past?


Heritage› Significance of local places

› Significant events and people in the local community.

› Importance of local communities preserving their heritage





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Community and Remembrance

› who lived here first?› how has our own community changed over time?› why do we choose to remember particular events from the past?


Our Community› Beliefs and practices of traditional owners of our country› Key changes and continuities in region or state› The significance of an important heritage site or a site of cultural or spiritual significance in the local community, region or state

We Remember› The significance of selected celebrations, commemorations, symbols and emblems› National commemorations› Significance of emblems and symbols


Skills: Years 3 - 6Historical questions and researchAnalysis and use of sourcesPerspectives and interpretationsComprehension and communication

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› what was life like for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before the arrival of the Europeans?

› who were the early navigators and explorers of the Australian continent and what were their reasons for these explorations?

› what other explorations of this kind had taken place or were taking place elsewhere in the world at that time?

› what was the nature of contact between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and early explorers?


First Australians› Diversity of cultures of A&TSI peoples and social structures› The Dreaming› Contributions of A&TSI peoples to the nation

Early Contacts› Early European and Asian Contacts› Navigators and explorers› First Fleet› Impact of colonisation upon A&TSI peoples› Aspects of daily life in the colony



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› what do we know about the lives of people in Australia’s past?

› how did Australian colonies develop during the nineteenth century?

› why and how did Australia become a nation?


Colonial Lives› Overview of development of colonial Australia› Characteristics of convict settlement› Individuals or groups important to colonial development› A key event that demonstrates a milestone in colonial history for Australia

Stories of Nationhood› Federation› Australia’s form of government and how representative it was at the time› Australia’s form of government compared with other nations at the time and different stories of nationhood



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Australia and the world› how did Australia’s links around the turn of the 19th century to Britain and the Asia-Pacific influence Australian society?

› what significant world events contributed to Australia’s migration patterns?

› how has Australia evolved into a culturally diverse society?


Australia, The British Empire and Asia› Significance of Australia’s British Heritage› Australia’s links with Asia-Pacific Region›Other countries’ perceptions of Australia during the early 20th Century

New Australians› The development of a culturally diverse society from 19th century› Stories of and reasons for migration› Contributions of migrants to Australian life› A migrant narrative



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What Was the Ancient World?› what is history?

› what are the defining characteristics of societies?

› how did people live in other times and other places?

› who should rule in a society?


› Depth Study: What is History?

› Overview: What is the Ancient World?

› Depth Study: The Ancient World (Egypt or Greece or Rome)

› Depth Study: The Ancient World (China or India or Australasia

› Depth Study: The Ancient World (School developed study)• May be based on previous contexts or

other contexts. • could focus on ONE or more of the

following: a significant event, person, group, movement, mystery or discovery


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The Ancient World: Egypt or Greece or RomeKey Knowledge for Depth Study

› A chronological account of the significant periods, events and people

› The economic, social and strategic importance of the main geographical features, including landforms and resources, and the geographic location of the society in the broader region

› The social, military and political structures of the society, particularly how people lived, how they fought and how they were governed

› Significant developments in the areas of art, architecture, technology, thinking and literature

› The important cultural practices, beliefs, values and customs and the impact on people’s way of life

› The short and long term impact in and beyond the region of the key events, ideas and people

This is typical of the kinds of points that would have to be covered in a depth study

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The Medieval World›how do beliefs and values influence people’s way of life?

›how do societies interact?

›why do societies change?


› Overview: The Medieval World

› Depth Study: Medieval Europe

› Depth Study: Asian Societies

› Depth Study: Expanding Horizons› The Renaissance and exploration

› Depth Study: Medieval World (School Developed Study)

› May be based on previous contexts or other contexts.

› could focus on ONE or more of the following: a significant event, person, group, movement, mystery or discovery



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The Making of the Modern World and Australia› what is progress?

› how are societies influenced by global changes?

› how do societies understand their indigenous past?


› Overview: The Making of the Modern World and Australia

› Depth Study: Technology, progress and social changeIndustrial Revolution

› Depth Study: Asia and the Pacific World

› Depth Study: The Making of an Australian NationAustralia in the 19th centuryFederation

› Depth Study: The Making of the Modern World and Australia (School developed study)


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Australia in the Modern World› why do nations go to war and how does war change a society?

› how do people struggle for rights and freedoms?

› how does a nation deal with its past and attempt to shape the future?


› Overview: Australia in the Modern World

› Depth Study: The Great War and its aftermathGallipoli / Western Front campaignsAnzac LegendHomefrontReturned Service peopleThe effect of the Great Depression on Aust. Origins of WW2 and Aust’s role in it. Significance of WW2, incl. Holocaust

› Depth Study: Struggles for Freedoms and RightsAttempts at peacemaking gaining human rights through organisations and treaties.Effects of Cold War on Human Rights.The origins and consequences of anti-colonial movements and civil rights movements (one of four contexts to be chosen)Case Study of individual, group, movement and event


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Australia in the Modern World› why do nations go to war and how does war change a society?

› how do people struggle for rights and freedoms?

› how does a nation deal with its past and attempt to shape the future?


Depth Study: Social and Cultural Influences The nature and type of change in popular culture during this century.

A decade in Australia’s twentieth century history, compared with the present, with a particular emphasis on the following: family, work, education, health, leisure, transport and communications.

The impact on the Australian way of life of ONE the following developments:migrationwomen’s liberation movementsconcern for the environmenturbanisationand ONE other significant social development


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Prepared by Annabel Astbury History Teachers’ Association of VictoriaJune 2010

Unit 1: Investigating Modern History (Year 11)

Unit 4: Asia & Australia 1937 – 2000 (Year 12)

Choose One: Year 12

Choose One: Year 11Unit 2a: The Nation State and National Identity

Unit 2b: Recognition and Equality

Unit 3b: RevolutionsUnit 3a: International tensions and conflicts

Unit 3: Ancient People, Power and Politics (Year 12)

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Unit 1: Investigating Ancient History (Year 11)

Unit 4: Ancient Societies, Sites and Sources (Year 12)

Choose One: Year 11Unit 2a: Representing and Interpreting the Ancient Past

Unit 2b: Ancient Lives

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FAQ

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When will the senior course be implemented in Victoria?It is expected that the new Australian curriculum for English, Mathematics, the Sciences and History will then be introduced in all Victorian schools and providers for students in P – 10 in 2012. This includes the new content and achievement standards and associated reporting of student achievement.For Years 11 and 12, it is expected that new Australian curriculum-based VCE courses in the subject areas of English, Mathematics, the Sciences and History will be introduced at Units 1 and 2 in 2013 and Units 3 and 4 in 2014.

Will students be able to undertake a Unit 3 & 4 sequence only?This is still to be determined. There are still some important issues to decided by both ACARA and the local curriculum and assessment authorities regarding implementation.

Will it be compulsory for all Australian students to undertake History at Years 11 & 12?No.

How many hours is the senior history draft expected to be delivered in?The indicative time given to writers for each unit was 50 – 60 hours.

Will Australian Curriculum courses be considered more important that state / territory offerings?No. When finalised, Australian Curriculum Courses will be implemented into the study design with other courses.