History: Level 1

Course Overview

History provides an opportunity for students to understand how our historical narratives are shaped and how they influence our understanding of ourselves, our local society, our country, and the world around us.

HIstory is a research-led subject. Students/ākonga will have the opportunity to look at causes and effects, as well as continuity and change of historical narratives. When working with historical sources, ākonga will learn how to critique historical narratives and various perspectives around them which is invaluable to research in NCEA and into university life.

History presents ākonga with the dilemmas, choices, and beliefs of people in the past. They will build on their understanding of differing perspectives and contested historical events. They learn to apply whakapapa as a framework to connect to Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider world, building connections with their own identities and sense of place. This encourages a greater level of critical thinking and engagement with sources of knowledge.

History prepares our students for the future because it equips them with knowledge and skills, such as the ability to articulate ideas and make them clear to others, that are valuable and useful throughout life and a wide range of careers. History also supports ākonga in growing an informed understanding of Aotearoa’s diverse society. They will learn how to think critically about local, national, and global historical narratives/events.

Big Ideas

Nature of History: Historical narratives are constructed

Nature of HIstory: Historical narratives are contested

Knowledge: Power relationships often drive history

Knowledge: Place shapes the historical narratives of peoples

Knowledge: Identity is interwoven with history and is shaped by tūrangawaewae, whakapapa, and whanaungatanga

Topics Covered

In our Level 1 course, we look at the theme of racial and other forms of injustice in the C20th. Particular topics we cover include: Black Civil Rights in the USA; The Springbok Tour; Women’s Rights Campaigns, Whina Cooper and The Land March, Anti-Nuclear New Zealand and international anti-nuclear campaigns; and the Arab/Israeli Conflict. Choice depends on student interest.