Level 4 – Literacy Demands within the VELS: History
Discipline-based Learning
History
The standards for History at Level 4 of the VELS have the literacy skills that students are required to demonstrate to achieve these standards identified in bold.
Standards - History
Historical knowledge and understanding
At Level 4, students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of significant events in Australian history including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, European settlement, the development of the colonies, the development of the wool industry, the 1850s gold rushes; the moves to self-government, Federation; and World War I. They demonstrate an understanding of the histories of some cultural groups which make up Australia today. They make links and appropriate comparisons with contemporary Australia.
Students demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of an Asian country or countries within the Australian region. They explain significant events and people in the history of that country or countries. They describe aspects of governance, customs, religious traditions and daily life. They explain the values important to other societies and their own and links between other countries and Australia.
They compare and contrast the values and beliefs of Australians and people of other cultures. They compare aspects of different cultures and countries, in both the past and present, and ask questions about their own society. They sequence events and describe their significance in bringing about particular developments.
Historical reasoning and interpretation
At Level 4, students use a range of primary and secondary sources to investigate the past. With support, they frame research questions and plan their own inquiries. They comprehend and question sources and make judgments about the views being expressed, the completeness of the evidence, and the values represented. They use appropriate historical language and concepts to develop historical explanations. They present their understandings in a range of forms.
Introduction to the domain
History is the study of the past from ancient civilisations to today’s news. Learning in the History domain provides students with knowledge, skills and behaviours to understand themselves and their world, to apply their understanding in their present lives and consider futures they desire.
The past is a great narrative of people’s lives, events both trivial and major, ideas and ways of thinking. The past gives students inspiration and alternatives for their own lives. It helps them understand how the world has changed in the past and how it might be changed again in the future. It assists students to distinguish between the ephemeral and what is of lasting worth.
The study of history encompasses the broad time sweep of human history from ancient and medieval times to today. It develops in students an understanding of cultures, ideas and values that are important to other societies as well as their own. It considers the way societies have changed and also the significant continuities which exist. Key concepts include time, continuity, change, motivation, cause and effect as well as concepts that relate to particular historical contexts.
Students learn that all history, including Australian history, reflects multiple influences and connections to an array of other countries, cultures and times. They learn about the key events in the history of the Australian nation and how it has evolved over time. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) history is an integral perspective within Australian history.
Students learn about the histories of the various people who live in Australia today, the diverse heritages, experiences, perspectives and aspirations. They learn that Australian identity is dynamic, has changed over time and is evolving still. This provides the basis for developing a sense of personal, cultural and national identity in a diverse multicultural nation and provides the understanding to develop perspectives on our nation, our region and our world.
Students explore the ATSI perspectives in Australian history and develop an understanding of traditional life encompassing social, political, economic and spiritual dimensions. They learn about the impact of, and response to, enforced change and the dynamism of current ATSI societies.
The study of history develops particular historical understanding - key concepts and skills that are fundamental to the everyday lives of students. These include skills in analysing and evaluating a range of primary and secondary sources such as artefacts, written documents, graphics, film, the Internet and media. Students learn that there are many perspectives on events and that explanations are often incomplete and contested. They develop skills in research and critical inquiry: framing questions, organising inquiries, identifying the origins of sources, identifying values and beliefs underpinning them and using the language of history. They demonstrate their understanding in a variety of forms such as timelines, oral presentations, reports, essays, narratives, multimedia presentations and film.
Learning focus level 4
As students work towards the achievement of Level 4 standards in History, they develop an understanding of change and continuity over time through the history of the establishment and growth of Australia. They learn about the organisation and lifestyle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the past, the impact of European settlement and as enduring cultures today. They learn about the significance of key events, such as European settlement, the establishment of the colonies, the development of the wool industry, the gold rushes, the moves to self-government, Federation and World War I. They learn about key people in Australia’s history (for example, James Cook, Caroline Chisholm, Edmund Barton, Vida Goldstein, William Barak) who have brought about change. Through structured activities they explore links and comparisons with contemporary Australia.
Students develop an understanding of the histories of the cultural groups which have contributed to the Australian identity. This could include some history of source countries for Australian immigration such as Italy, Greece, Poland, Sudan, Ireland, Chile or Vietnam. They explore the concepts of nation, culture and identity in both Australian and regional contexts, and learn that identity is complex, multifaceted and evolving.
Students apply their understanding of culture by investigating the history of an Asian country or countries in the Australian region such as Indonesia, East Timor, India, China and Japan. They consider how other societies are organised, how they express their beliefs and make meaning of their world. They investigate significant people and events in that country’s recent history and learn about daily life, religious traditions, customs and governance. They learn about links between other countries and Australia, develop ideas about Eastern and Western traditions, and about the values that are important to other societies and their own.
Students use a range of written, visual, oral and electronic sources to study the past. With support, they frame research questions and plan their own inquiries using historical language and concepts such as time, sequence, chronology, continuity, change, culture and, tradition. They begin to question sources and make judgments about the viewpoints being expressed, the completeness of the evidence, and the values represented. They learn to develop explanations in a range of forms such as timelines, oral presentations, posters, multimedia presentations, reports and narratives.