At Cheltenham Secondary College our diverse Humanities curriculum allows students to study a broad range of units within the fields of History, Geography, Economics and Business and Civics and Citizenship.

In Year 7 students begin their study of Humanities by looking at a range of ancient civilisations, such as Ancient Australia, Ancient Rome and Ancient China. Within these studies, students will take on the persona of a historian and begin to make evidence-based inferences from primary sources thousands of years old. Students will then continue their Humanities journey in Year 7 by commencing a Geography unit that looks at place and liveability and the use of natural resources, such as water. Within our Civics and Citizenship unit, students undertake a study of our Parliamentary system, looking at how a democratic system runs and what the role of the government is.

In Year 8 students begin the year by looking at different types of landscapes and their distinctive features. While studying mountains students build volcanoes and have some fun watching them erupt. Students also spend the day on a field trip to Cape Schanck and Gunnamatta beach where they view the coastal environment and see how the land is being maintained against the elements. In our next unit of Year 8 Humanities students will learn about the infamous Medieval history. They will take part in a Medieval Day incursion where experts come into the school and students get to participate in a range of hands-on activities. Students will also get involved in an Economics unit about chocolate. This unit aims to build an understanding of the production, manufacturing and distribution of goods and our ethical roles as consumers and producers. 

In Year 9 students complete a semester of History and a semester of Geography. Within the History unit, students will explore the Industrial Revolution and learn how new technology changed the way we live, work and move. Students will also commence a study of World War 1. They will learn about the causes and consequences of the Great War and how it impacted families and people living in Australia and across the world. Students will then enter a semester of Geography. This entails a study of different biomes and their geographic characteristics. Students will understand the types of foods that grow in these environments and how we can manage them to ensure global food security for the years to come. 

At Year 10 all students will complete one semester of History. The History subject focuses on World War 2. Students will learn about how this war occurred, Hitler’s dictatorship and the Holocaust. Also within Year 10 students will complete a semester subject titled Global Consumers. This subject is a combination of legal studies, economics, financial literacy and business. 

Within Humanities we also have a range of elective subjects that students can select in addition to the core subjects. At Year 9 these include Crime and Punishment and Around the World in 60 Days. 

The Year 10 Humanities electives are The World Around Us and Global Politics.  The World Around Us studies places and people. Students use new-age GIS technology to view different local and global environments.  Global Politics is a contemporary study of global events of the past 10 years, providing an introduction to the concept and significance of politics, power, and authority. Students are introduced to the political spectrum; left, right, radical and conservative.

On a Wednesday afternoon Year 10 students can also partake in the following electives: Entrepreneurship: Mini Business and Physical Geography & Sustainable Tourism: Sun, Surf and Sand. These subjects give the students a taste of different topics within the Humanities realm so that they can see what interests them and if they would like to continue with these studies in VCE. 

Once students get to a VCE level there is a broad range of Humanities subjects on offer. 

Accounting is the study of data and numbers. Accounting plays an integral role in the successful operation and management of businesses. Within this subject students will collect, record, report, analyse and interpret financial and non-financial data and accounting information. 

In studying VCE Business Management, students develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to participate effectively as socially responsible and ethical members, managers and leaders of the business community, and as informed citizens, consumers and investors. 

Unit 1 and 2 Geography looks at the interaction between human activities and natural processes and develops the understanding of the distribution of human and natural phenomena on or near the surface of the Earth from a spatial perspective. 

VCE History is the practice of understanding and making meaning of the past. Students learn about their historical past, their shared history and the people, ideas and events that have created present societies. 

The study of VCE Legal Studies enables students to become active and informed citizens by providing them with valuable insights into their relationship with the law and the legal system. They develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to access and participate in the legal system.  

As you can see our Humanities curriculum is diverse and extensive and something we are very proud of at Cheltenham Secondary College. Please refer to the relevant year-level curriculum under the LEARNING tab for more information about Humanities at Chelt.Sec.