2013
Jan 2011:
Aug 2010:
I March
2010:
Draft of
Australian
History K 10
curriculum
March - May
2010:
National
consultation on
History K-10 draft
curriculum
Apr – June 2010:
Drafts 11 - 12
Ancient History &
Modern History
Australian History
curriculum K-10
scheduled to be
published
October 2010:
11-12 Ancient
History & Modern
History scheduled
to be published
Implementation
(in whatever form)
of History K-10
curriculum
commences from
January 2011
ACARA :
implementation
should be “well
under way” by
2013
The history curriculum is organised into two
interrelated strands:

Historical knowledge and understanding

Historical skills.
This strand includes personal, family, local, state
or territory, national, regional and world history.
There is an increasing emphasis on Australian history in its world
history context.
Historical understanding is developed through a range of
disciplinary concepts inherent to the discipline of history including
evidence, continuity and change, cause and effect, significance,
empathy, perspectives and contestability.
This strand includes skills that are used in the
process of historical inquiry associated with:

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historical questions and research
the analysis and use of sources
perspectives and interpretations and
comprehension and communication.
The historical skills included are the same for Years 7
and 8 and the same for years 9 and 10. They are not
mapped to the ‘knowledge and understanding’ content.
Content Descriptions:
The history curriculum is described around content
descriptions (NOT outcomes).
It includes:
Content descriptions which specify what teachers are
expected to teach (mandatory)
Elaborations which are examples that illustrate each
content description (non-mandatory).
An example of a Content description (mandatory) and
its Elaborations (non-mandatory) Year 8
1. Overview of the Medieval World
A chronological overview of key events and eras from the end of the
Ancient period to the beginning of the Modern period c. 500-1750
Elaborations
briefly describing key periods and developments such as the ‘Dark
Ages’, the Medieval period, the Renaissance, the Reformation and early
medieval and late medieval Ages of Exploration
identifying and mapping the major world sites of political and economic
power and influence (e.g. Western Europe, China, and Constantinople)
locating and mapping regions of the world where the major religions
were practised.
Achievement Standards
These are evident for each year K-10 through the
inclusion of :
An Achievement standard – a statement of the learning
typically expected of students for that year
(e.g. the depth of their understanding, the extent of their knowledge
and the sophistication of their skills)
Work samples that illustrate achievement of the
standard.
These typically describe student performance at level ‘C’
in the A-E reporting framework.
The (draft) history curriculum takes a world history
approach.
The rationale for this is “to equip students for the world in
which they will live. An understanding of world history
will enhance students' appreciation of Australian history.
It will enable them to appreciate Australia's distinctive
path of social, economic and political development, its
position in the Asia-Pacific region, and global
interrelationships that are essential to an informed and
active participation in Australia's diverse society.”
Each year has a focus e.g.
 The Year 7 curriculum focuses on history from the time
of the earliest human communities to the end of the
Ancient period (c. 60 000 BP - c.500AD).
and broad enquiry questions e.g.
 what are the defining characteristics of societies?
 how did people live in other times and places?
 who should rule in a society?
The history curriculum includes:
 An Overview in each year 7-10 designed to
introduce the broad content and contexts for study
 Depth studies in each year 7-10 to provide scope
for deeper investigation and the development of
historical skills
 School developed depth studies in each year 7-9
to provide an opportunity to teach content that
reflects the needs and interests evident in local
contexts.

There is no time allocation identified for the
Australian Curriculum: History.

Analysis and feedback should be based on how
successfully the curriculum can be taught in the
current time allocated to history.
Years K–2 curriculum focus: awareness of personal and
family history
Years 3–6 curriculum focus: state or territory and
national history and the relationship between past and
present
There is an increasing emphasis on Australian history in
its world history context. Historical understanding is
developed through a range of disciplinary concepts
inherent to the discipline of history including evidence,
continuity and change, cause and effect, significance,
empathy, perspectives and contestability.

Year 7 focuses on history from the time of the
earliest human communities to the end of the
Ancient period (c. 60 000 BC–c.500 AD).
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Depth Study 1. What is History?
What was the Ancient World? An Overview
Depth Study 2. The Ancient World – Egypt OR
Greece OR Rome
Depth Study 3. The Ancient World – China OR
India OR Australasia
Depth Study 4. The Ancient World – A schooldeveloped study
By the end of Year 7, students are able to describe the contribution
of different methodologies (eg stratigraphy) in finding out about the
past. Students use relevant concepts and chronological terms (eg
BC/AD, BCE/CE) to demonstrate a broad understanding of the
development of ancient societies. They describe the main features
of ancient societies and their legacy. When inquiring into the past,
students use a guided plan to conduct an appropriate historical
inquiry. They communicate their findings through structured
historical descriptions and explanations, with reference to evidence
derived from their analysis of historical sources.

Year 8 focuses on history from the end of the
Ancient period to the beginning of the Modern
period (c.500–1750).
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Overview of the Medieval World
Depth Study 1. Medieval Europe
Depth Study 2. Asian societies
Depth Study 3. Expanding horizons
Depth Study 4. The Medieval World - A schooldeveloped study
By the end of Year 8, students are able to identify the main features
of past societies and produce explanations of the significance of
these features to the development of that society. They identify
significant changes and continuities over time and show an
understanding of cause and consequence in their explanations.
They recognise why some events, people and changes might be
judged as more historically significant than others. When inquiring
into the past, students follow a deliberate research process such as
posing an inquiry question and sub-questions to develop a research
focus, identifying information needed and planning tasks. Their
inquiries show refinement through the incorporation of different
perspectives and evidence.

Year 9 focuses on the history of the Modern World
and Australia from 1750 to 1901.

The history of Australia is 40% of course time.
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Overview of the making of the Modern World and
Australia
Depth Study 1. Technology, progress and social
change
Depth Study 2. Asia and the Pacific World
Depth Study 3. The making of an Australian nation
Depth Study 4. The making of the Modern World
and Australia – A school developed study
By the end of Year 9, students are able to explicitly relate their
knowledge and understanding of the history of the period, readily
using a range of key concepts (social, cultural, economic, political).
They interrogate primary and secondary sources with consideration
of origin, purpose, context and usefulness. When inquiring into the
past, students investigate a range of sources to develop an
interpretation about the past, independently. They refer to
information from a variety of viewpoints and connect similar ideas to
form and support an interpretation.

Year 10 focuses on the history of Australia and the
Modern World from 1901 to the present.

The history of Australia is 60% of course content.
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Overview of Australia in the Modern World
Depth Study 1. The Great War and its aftermath
Depth Study 2. Struggles for freedom and rights
Depth Study 3. Social and cultural influences
By the end of Year 10, students are able to account for historical
events and developments by making links within and across
periods. They draw conclusions in the context of the actions,
motives, values and attitudes of people in the past. They understand
that the past is problematic and identify and explain reasons for
differences in historical interpretation. When inquiring about the
past, students consider issues of reliability and usefulness when
selecting sources and synthesise evidence by cross-referencing the
detail of a range of sources. They develop an historical argument in
written form that is coherent, structured and substantiated.
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What do you see as positives/improvements in the draft history
curriculum?
Do you see benefits from the move to a ‘world history approach’ to
teaching history? Do you support this approach?
How appropriate for your students is the content in terms of subject
matter breadth? complexity? opportunity for engagement?
Is the content (knowledge and understanding and skills) year level
appropriate?
Will the history curriculum meet the needs and interests of the range
of students you teach?
What impact do you envisage this curriculum may have on the
teaching and learning of both historical knowledge and skills and on
Quality Teaching?
What challenges/opportunities do you envisage in implementing
this draft history curriculum in your school context?
After your discussions and analysis of the history curriculum your
feedback would be appreciated:

Please you use the Curriculum Support online forum or
Send your feedback to
Brian Elliott Manager HSIE Phone 9886 7603
brian.elliott@det.nsw.edu.au
Pauline Sheppard SCA HSIE 7-12 Phone 9886 7692
pauline.sheppard@det.nsw.edu.au
To register for the forum:
http://currk12.janison.com/curriculum/register/register.htm


If you have any problems with registering please contact
Chris Dorbis via email or telephone 98867496.
If you have been issued a password, please click on the
following link to enter the forum.
To enter the forum:
http://currk12.janison.com/toolbox/desktop/logon.asp.

ACARA:
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
Board of Studies:
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/australiancurriculum/
Department of Education and Training:
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.
au/home/consultation.htm