YEAR 7SOCIAL SCIENCES

Term One – Geography: The concepts of place, space, environment, interconnection, sustainability and change continue to be developed as a way of thinking and provide students with the opportunity to inquire into the nature of water as a natural resource. The concept of place is expanded through students' investigation of the liveability of their own place. They apply this understanding to a wide range of places and environments at the full range of scales, from local to global, and in a range of locations.

Term Two – Civics & Citizenship:Students continue to build on their understanding of the concepts of the Westminster system and democracy by examining the key features of Australia's democracy, and how it is shaped through the Australian Constitution and constitutional change. The concepts of justice, rights and responsibilities are further developed through a focus on Australia's legal system.

Term Three – History: Students develop their historical understanding through key concepts, including evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, perspectives, empathy, significance and contestability. These concepts are investigated within the historical context of how we know about the ancient past, and why and where the earliest societies developed.

Term Four – Economics:An understanding of the concepts making choices and allocation is further developed through a focus on the interdependence of consumers and producers in the market, the characteristics of successful businesses, including how entrepreneurial behaviour contributes to business success. Work and work futures are introduced, as students consider why people work. Students focus on national issues, with opportunities for the concepts to also be considered in relation to local community or global issues where appropriate.

DIFFERENTIATION IN HASS CURRICULUM – YEAR 7

All students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning programs drawn from the Western Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences. Teachers take account of the range of their students' current levels of learning, strengths, goals and interests and make adjustments where necessary. In order to cater for the diverse needs of students across Western Australia and to personalise their learning, the skills required in understanding the curriculum content differ in each course. These skills will be the focus of lesson activities and assessments in each course.

In Year 7 Course 2, the further building of Questioning and Researching skills and Communicating and Reflecting skills as well as the building of Analytical skills are the focus of lessons. These skills are in addition to those listed in Course 1.

  • Construct a range of questions, propositions and/or hypotheses
  • Use a variety of methods to collect relevant information and/or data from a range of appropriate sources, such as print, digital, audio, visual and fieldwork
  • Select the best method for recording selected information and/or data (e.g. graphic organisers, such as structured overviews for classifying; mind maps, for identifying relationships and overviews; fieldwork, which may require sketch drawings, a list of observable features andphotographs)
  • Use criteria to select relevant information and/or data such as accuracy, reliability, currency andusefulness to the question
  • Interpret information and/or data to identify key relationships and/or trends displayed in variousformats (e.g. change over time in a series of images, identify spatial distributions from a map)
  • Reflect on learning to review original understandings and/or determine actions in response to events, challenges, developments, issues, problems and/or phenomena.

YEAR 7 SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

Throughout the year, you will be marked on the following assessments. Each of these will contribute to your overall mark. You are required to keep your assessments in your assessment folder.

TERM/WEEK / ASSESSMENT / WEIGHTING
Week 4 Term 1 / Liveability Test / 12%
Week 8 Term 1 / Recycled Water Task / 12%
Week 5 Term 2 / Australia’s Constitution Task / 12%
Week 8 Term 2 / Semester 1 Exam / 14%
Week 4 Term 3 / Archaelogical Dig Task / 12%
Week 8 Term 3 / Confucius Research Task / 12%
Week 5 Term 4 / Economics Entrepreneurs Task / 12%
Week 8 Term 4 / Semester 2 Exam / 14%

HOW TO ENSURE YOU ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS POSSIBLE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES:

  1. BRING REQUIRED MATERIALS TO CLASS:
  • An exercise book for you to complete set activities
  • A pencil case with pens, pencils, coloured pencils, glue and scissors
  • A display folder for each topic (one per term)
  • A display folder in which to keep all assessments
  • Your computer with ebooks, charged and ready for use.
  • Your school planner
  1. BE EFFECTIVELY ORGANISED:
  • Bring all materials needed
  • File handouts in date order in your display folder
  • Date your work in your exercise book
  • Answer all activity questions in full sentence answer
  • File all Assessments in your Assessment folder and keep track of your results on SEQTA
  • Keep up to date with lessons on SEQTA, especially if you are absent – it is your responsibility to catch up missed work!
  • Write in homework and assessment due dates in your planner
  • Create a study and homework routine and stick to it!
  1. COMPLETE ALL ASSESSMENTS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY:
  • Plan your assessments and write notes in point form under headings
  • Explain all answers to questions in as much detail as you can, giving examples or using diagrams to help where possible
  • Always include a bibliography to reference your work
  • Always check your work carefully and hand in by the due date