KLA: Humanities
Year 7 & 8
Humanities
For Year 7 and 8 Humanities, students develop an understanding of both history and geography.
In Year 7, the history component focuses on the ancient world, including the development of early civilizations, the impact of significant individuals and groups, and the analysis of primary and secondary sources. The geography component covers landforms and landscapes, exploring the processes shaping the Earth's surface and how people interact with these environments.
In Year 8, history shifts to the medieval and early modern periods, examining key events, societies, and cultural developments, while geography explores urbanisation and global settlement patterns, including the rise of megacities and their influence on people and places.
Throughout both years, students refine skills in research, critical thinking, and evidence-based reasoning, and apply these during fieldwork excursions to various locations. These include a comparison of the coastal processes, use and management at Ricketts Point, Hampton Beach and Brighton Beach, as well as a comparison of place and liveability at an inner and outer Melbourne suburb.
French
For Year 7 French, students are introduced to the basics of French language and culture. They learn to introduce themselves, express likes and dislikes, and engage in simple conversational routines, such as asking and answering questions. Key grammar concepts include the gender of nouns, use of adjectives, numbers, dates, and colours. Students apply their knowledge by creating personal projects, such as an identity card and a mini-family album where they describe family members.
In Year 8 French, students consolidate and extend their linguistic and cultural knowledge. They revisit numbers (1-60) and learn to tell time in French. Students practice discussing school-related topics, such as timetables and opinions about subjects. They expand their grammar skills by studying regular and key irregular verbs and refine their writing by describing daily routines and free time activities. Students also complete tasks that involve presenting information about these activities, further developing their language proficiency.
Year 9
Geography
For Year 9 Geography, students explore key global issues across two units. In Unit 1: Biomes and Food Security, students examine biomes and ecosystems at local, regional, and global levels. They investigate how human activities impact these biomes and the complex challenges of producing food for a growing global population. In Unit 2: Interconnections, students study the concept of place and the ways places are interconnected through communication, information technologies, and tourism. Students participate in a range of activities, including mapping, research, surveys, fieldwork, and learning from guest speakers on environmental management, deepening their understanding of the geographical processes that shape our world.
History
For Year 9 History, students study the modern world from 1750 to 1918. The course begins with the Industrial Revolution, exploring the technological advancements and ideas that shaped this period and their impact on societies, including the settlement of Australia. Students then examine key events in Australian history, such as the founding of Australia, federation, and World War I. Through in-depth investigations, students analyse the causes and consequences of these historical developments, gaining insight into how they influenced both Australia and the wider world during this transformative period.
Out On Your Own
In ‘Out on Your Own’, students are prepared for the transition from the structured environment of school to the realities of adulthood and employment. The course focuses on practical skills such as creating resumes, practicing job applications and interviews, and researching potential career paths. Students also develop essential life skills in financial literacy, including budgeting and banking. Through these activities, the unit equips students with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the challenges of entering the workforce and managing adult responsibilities. In addition, students participate in the ESSI Money challenge, a longstanding competition where the student who achieves the highest net worth in ESSI Money will win an Eastland gift card.
Year 10
Geography
For Year 10 Geography, students explore critical global issues across two key units. In Unit 1: Environmental Change and Management, students investigate environmental geography, focusing on the changes and management of coastal environments through fieldwork. They compare a specific environmental change in Australia with that of another country to gain a global perspective on environmental management. In Unit 2: Geographies of Human Wellbeing, students examine disparities in human wellbeing at global, national, and local scales, exploring programs and initiatives designed to address and reduce these inequalities.
History
For Year 10 History, students study the history of the modern world and Australia from 1918 to the present, with a focus on Australia’s role in a global context. This period is critical to understanding Australia's social, cultural, economic, and political development. Key areas of study include the causes and consequences of World War II and the significant influence of the Civil Rights Movements in both the United States and Australia. As part of this course, students have the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Museum, where they engage with firsthand accounts and deepen their understanding of the historical impacts of World War II on both a global and personal level.
Courts, Parliaments and Markets
For the Year 10 elective 'Courts, Parliaments and Markets', students explore key economic and legal concepts to better understand how societies function. They study economic fundamentals, including the distinction between needs and wants, the challenges of scarcity, and the concept of opportunity costs. The course investigates how limited resources are allocated to produce goods and services that meet people's needs and wants, alongside the role of the Federal Government in improving living standards. Additionally, students examine the relationship between law, the legal system, and the community, investigating the effectiveness of adjudicating and decision-making bodies within the Australian legal system in enforcing the law and serving individuals and society.
Business, Finance and Enterprise
For the Year 10 elective 'Business, Finance, and Enterprise', students engage with business concepts from both management and accounting perspectives. In the Finance unit, students learn the principles of accounting, including the accounting equation and how to prepare and interpret various financial reports. The Enterprise unit covers different business structures, methods for assessing the size of a business, and the external environment factors that can affect business operations. Additionally, students explore various marketing strategies that businesses can use to enhance their operations and success. This unit provides a comprehensive foundation in understanding how businesses operate and manage their financial and strategic activities.
VCE
Accounting
VCE Accounting focuses on the financial processes of a sole proprietor small business. Students learn both the theoretical and practical aspects of accounting, including collecting, recording, reporting, and analysing financial data. They use both manual methods and ICT to classify, verify, and interpret accounting information. By applying critical thinking skills, students model different business outcomes and provide accounting advice to business owners. The course also emphasizes the importance of considering both financial and ethical factors, including social and environmental aspects, in business decision-making.
Business Management
VCE Business Management explores how businesses manage resources to achieve their goals. The course follows the journey from the initial business idea and planning stages through to day-to-day management and adapting for long-term success. Students gain insight into the complexities of business decision-making and management challenges. A variety of management theories are examined and compared with real-world practices using contemporary case studies from the past four years. Students also learn to propose and evaluate strategies in response to the modern challenges of establishing and running a business.
Legal Studies
VCE Legal Studies focuses on the key institutions and principles that underpin the Australian legal system. Students explore the rule of law, the role of law-makers and legal institutions, the Australian Constitution, and the protection of rights. They also examine the Victorian justice system and its effectiveness in achieving the principles of justice: fairness, equality, and access. By applying legal concepts to real or hypothetical scenarios, students learn to use legal reasoning to argue civil or criminal cases. They also analyse how individuals can influence legal changes and assess how effectively the justice system upholds justice for all.
History
VCE History (Units 1-4) provides a comprehensive study of significant historical periods, focusing on social, political, economic, and cultural transformations.
Unit 1 and 2: Modern History
Students explore the nature of change in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They examine significant events, ideas, and movements that shaped the modern world, such as the unification of Italy and Germany, the Meiji Restoration in Japan, and the effects of World War I. The unit also covers the rise of fascist governments, the Great Depression, and the lead-up to World War II. Students then investigate the Cold War's impact, the rise and fall of ideologies, and the changes in social, political, and economic systems from the mid-20th century to the early 21st century. The unit covers the establishment of the United Nations, decolonization movements, global terrorism, and significant events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 9/11 attacks. Students also study the role of social movements and the influence of technological advancements in shaping the modern world. An excursion to the Vietnam War Museum provides an immersive experience to complement the study.
Units 3 and 4: Revolutions (Russia and China)
These units delve into the causes and consequences of the Russian and Chinese revolutions. Students examine how these revolutions led to the collapse of existing political orders and the extensive changes that followed. The course covers the interplay of events, ideas, individuals, and popular movements that contributed to the revolutions, as well as the challenges faced by post-revolutionary societies. Students analyse historical sources to construct arguments about the past and evaluate the extent of change brought about by the new regimes. The focus is on understanding the complex and often violent processes that define revolutionary periods and their lasting impacts on society.