Teaching Stages 1 to 3 (Kindergarten to Year 6)
Link to Primary HSIE NSW workshop information for Semester 2 2008
Human Society and its Environment K-6 is a dynamic learning area. The teaching and learning in this area is influenced by a range of social and environmental changes. These affect the way teachers address the syllabus outcomes and related subject matter in all of the strands: Change and continuity, Culture, Environment and Social systems and structures. Implementing the HSIE K-6 syllabus is a PowerPoint presentation that unpacks the syllabus, use the save function to view notes. Key messages in HSIE video presentation, including HSIE in COGs.
Local, national and global events are constantly impacting on the way communities maintain and improve the quality of societies and environments. Since 1999 when the HSIE syllabus was distributed to schools, Australia and the world have experienced change. The effect of these changes should be reflected in teaching and learning in this area. The BOS support document: HSIE units of work, distributed with the syllabus is now dated. There is now a range of support materials and a variety of teaching resources that includes the HSIE Multistage units of work and the DET Curriculum Planning, Programming, Assessing and Reporting to parents * to support the teaching of HSIE K-6 as part of the K-10 continuum with new Years 7-10 History and Geography Syllabuses introduced in 2005.
The Connected Outcome Groups (COGs) * within the Curriculum Planning Framework * with Programming support * can provide a flexible planning and programming framework for schools. The Descriptions of the connected outcomes groups * can be used by schools to develop a school plan.
Planning considerations for HSIE include the balanced teaching of the four HSIE content strands of Change and continuity, Culture, Environment and Social systems and structures. Components of each of these four strands should be addressed in each year of schooling with the aim of addressing all the stage outcomes and related subject matter by the end of each stage. All syllabus outcomes and subject matter have been included in the Connection descriptions *. The syllabus requirements of HSIE need to be balanced with those of the other KLA’s. Teachers can use the Connection descriptions * to develop their own units of work or alternatively the sample COG units can be taught.
The HSIE teaching and learning in the sample COG units * now provide alternative support material for the teaching of the HSIE syllabus. Assessment tasks, with specific HSIE criteria have been included in the COG units. Teachers wishing to enhance their understanding of assessment in HSIE, using assessment criteria and moderating some examples of student work, the two PowerPoint presentations with detailed notes provide support: Using the HSIE Syllabus for consistency of assessment and Using the HSIE Syllabus for consistency of moderation use the save function to view notes.
* denotes links that are only accessible via the DET intranet, using portal log for permanent DET teachers.
HSIE student work samples
Samples of student work in HSIE are being sought that reflect the full range of student achievements. Teachers are encouraged to submit work samples showing a diverse range of student achievement. The work samples will be annotated and published to assist teachers to make consistent judgements about what students know, understand and can do. These samples will enable teachers to compare and assess the work of their students against that of other students in relation to the achievement of the HSIE outcomes.
Teachers sending work samples will need to include completed and signed Permission to print consent forms. Specific information on the unit taught, the actual task the student work sample fits, the outcome and indicator of the task. Limited samples showing a range of achievement would be ideal. The consent form Permission to print Student permission (pdf - 95 KB)
For further information contact:
Anne Southwell
Senior Curriculum Adviser HSIE K-6
Phone: 02 98867156
Fax: 02 9886 7305
Post student work samples to:
Anne Southwell
HSIE
Private Bag 3
Ryde 2112
Please include your contact details.
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