History Elective is additional to the mandatory History course all students in Stage 5 complete. The aim of the History Elective course is to encourage students’ interest in and enjoyment of exploring the past, to develop a critical understanding of the past, and to enable them to participate as informed, responsible, and active citizens. The History Elective course offers opportunities for students to explore people, events, and societies other than those covered in the mandatory course and allows students to investigate areas of individual interest.
Students will investigate a number of topics that explore the past through the close study of a historical period or through a thematic approach. Students will experience topics from the ancient, medieval, and modern periods and will have the opportunity to undertake individual investigation into periods, events, and people of their own interest. Student interest will help decide on class topics studied.
Ancient History and Modern History are popular courses in Stage 6. History Elective is not a prerequisite for either of these courses but experiences in this course may help students decide which of these courses appeals most to them.
This course supports students to develop their critical thinking and their ability to construct logical arguments in a range of forms.