The Humanities Level 2 (Years 1 and 2)
Learning focus
As students work towards the achievement of Level 3 standards in the Humanities, they develop their understanding of the concepts of time - chronology and sequencing, and change and continuity - through a study of changes in the local community over time. By comparing the experiences and artefacts of their daily lives with those of their parents, grandparents and other community members, students reflect on how life at home and in the community has changed.
Students develop their awareness of spatial concepts and use terms that demonstrate an understanding of absolute and relative locations. With guidance, they recognise and point to their street, town or city and state on an appropriate map. They recognise the globe as a model representation of Earth and can locate Australia and other places with which they have links. Students learn to identify and name physical features and distinguish them on the basis of variables, including size (scale/height/distribution) and colour. Through observation, they investigate and describe elements of the natural and built environments in their local area.
By examining artefacts and listening to the oral history of relatives, teachers and community members, students become aware of the various types of geographical and historical evidence. They begin to make basic comparisons between ‘then’ and ‘now’ and learn to construct simple timelines to show their understanding. By observing the characteristics of different places, and prompted by questions, students think about environmental differences, locally and in other parts of Australia and the world, and why these differences exist. They begin to grasp the role and importance of the various cultural groups that make up the Australian community, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They explore what their local area might have looked like before European settlement.
Students are introduced to the concept of resources and their management, and begin to understand how resource use reflects community interdependence and economic sustainability. They begin to understand how local resources are used to make products which meet local people's needs and the needs of people in other places. They also begin to understand that resources from other places may be used to make products locally to meet their needs.
Standards
In the Humanities, standards for assessing and reporting on student achievement are introduced at Level 3. Specific standards for Economics, Geography and History are introduced at Level 4. The learning focus statements for Levels 1 and 2 provide advice about learning experiences that will assist students to work towards the achievement of the Humanities standards at Level 3 (which focus on historical and geographical knowledge and skills) and the Economics standards at Level 4.
Downloads
- The Humanities standards table (Doc - 34KB)
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Victorian Essential Learning Standards Level 2 (
PDF - 591KB)
