Social Sciences (Tikanga ā-iwi)

Mā whero, mā pango ka oti ai te mahi. 

With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.

1COM - Level 1 Commerce

Commerce has been overhauled under the new NCEA Changes to include aspects of Accounting, Business Studies, and Economics. Students will learn a range of concepts and skills that will build their foundation of knowledge across the major areas of Commerce. Students can then opt to specialise in Year 12 with Accounting, Business, and/or Economics.

Credits: 10 Internal Credits and 10 External Credits

Leads to: Level 2 Accounting, Level 2 Business, 2 Economics

Equipment: A 1B8 Workbook and a Laptop.

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

1GEO- Level 1 Geography

Geography is about people and places. This course investigates how people interact with their surroundings. We will look at a range of topics to do with people and the environment ranging from local to global.   

Sustainability - Looking at companies that use the environment in a sustainable way

Skills - Mapping, graphing, Geographic decision making

Population studies - Why do certain countries have higher fertility rates than others?

Earthquakes - Christchurch and Canterbury earthquakes (causes, processes etc)

Weather Systems - Comparing DHS and Metservices data, cloud types and rainfall.

Credits: 10 Internal Credits and 10 External Credits

Leads to: Level 2 Geography

Approx cost: Approx. $225 (This includes a trip to Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs) and $25 for the Skills book.

Contact: Chris Quinn (cq@darfield.school.nz)

1HST - Level 1 History

History presents students with the dilemmas, choices, and beliefs of people in the past. It invites them to ask, and helps them answer, today’s questions by engaging with the past and imagining and speculating on possible futures.

An awareness of history inspires students to become confident, questioning, and empathetic individuals. Students will employ robust research methods, critically evaluate evidence and learn to view events from differing perspectives.

There will be an enquiry-based assessment of events significant to New Zealand History, plus three comprehensive studies: The Origins of World War Two, the Black Civil Rights Movement in the USA, and the
invasion of Parihaka.

Credits: 10 Internal Credits and 5-10 External Credits (To be confirmed at the start of 2024)

Leads to: Level 2 History, Level 2 Classics

Approx cost: $35 (This includes a trip to Ripapa Island)

Contact: Anna Lee (al@darfield.school.nz)

2ACC - Level 2 Accounting

Level 2 Accounting continues the journey into the financial world. Topics in Level 2 Accounting include Cash Flow for Agribusiness, Accounts Receivable, and preparing Financial Statements. Students also get training in how to use Xero software for setting up and using it in the day-to-day running of a business.

Credits: 11 Internal Credits and 5 External Credits

Leads to: Level 3 Accounting

Equipment: A laptop

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

2BUS - Level 2 Business Studies

Level 2 Business Studies carries on from 11CMB where students will again, be given the opportunity to form businesses in groups for profit. Motivation theories and Market research are the other main topics for this course. Students will need to be comfortable with working in groups in 2BUS.

Credits: 15 Internal Credits and 4 External Credits

Leads to: Level 3 Business Studies

Equipment: A 1B8 Workbook and a laptop

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

2ECO - Level 2 Economics

Level 2 Economics largely explores the Macro-economy. Take a step away from individual firms and consumers and look at Inflation, International Trade, Economic Growth & Government Policies. This course thoroughly examines current issues also such as the Cost of Living crisis, trade agreements, and rising interest rates.

Credits: 10 Internal Credits and 4 L2 External Credits and 6 L3 External Credits.

Leads to: Level 3 Economics

Equipment: A 1B8 Workbook and a laptop.

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

2CLA - Level 2 Classical Studies

Much of what we do now, our entertainment, our education, and our democracy, has come to us from the ancient Greeks. In this course, we examine some of the people, events, and conflicts that not only changed Athens in the 5th Century but also had a lasting influence on our society. We look at some important literature, philosophy, and significant figures that changed the course of history.

Credits: 10 Internal Credits and 8 External Credits

Leads to: Level 3 Classical Studies and other Social Science courses.

Contact: Shawn Gough (go@darfield.school.nz)

2GEO - Level 2 Geography

Geography is about people and places. This course investigates how people interact with their surroundings. We look at how the South Island High Country was developed, the vegetation and scree slopes there, patterns of crime in Chicago, differences in development in Tanzania, geographic skills and… 

Credits: 14 Internal credits and 8 External credits.

Leads to: Level 3 Geography

Approx cost: Approx. $260. This includes a trip to Mt Cook and $30 for the Skills book.

Contact: Chris Quinn (cq@darfield.school.nz)

2HST - Level 2 History

Level 2 History builds on the skills learned in Level 1 History. As students develop their understanding of historical inquiry, they employ robust research methods. They learn to ask and answer important questions, evaluate evidence, identify and analyse different
interpretations of the past, and substantiate their arguments and judgments.

The course focuses on two broad studies: the Russian Revolution (one of the most significant revolutions in Modern History). This links to the long and controversial conflict in Indochina, more infamously known as the Vietnam War.

Students will also be able to explore conflicting perspectives surrounding the Vietnam War and carry out a major inquiry on an event of significance to NZ.

Credits: 28, all count for literacy (14 internal and 14 external, most students will do 10 external credits)

Leads to: Level 3 History

Contact: Anna Lee (al@darfield.school.nz)

2MED - Level 2 Media Studies

This course looks at the art of storytelling through and with a lens. What makes a great film? Is it simply the director or do the conventions and audience expectations/desires create its status? Media Studies at Level 2 looks at these questions and tries to figure out which one it is.

To make a great film, you have to study film and we will do plenty of that throughout the year. We look at how the storyline, film language, and directors shape a film so that you can make your own short film. You write a screenplay and prepare for your production and create a media product, all the while learning about the filmmaking industry.

Credits: 16 Internal credits and 4 External credits.

Leads to: Level 3 Media Studies

Approx cost: $8

Equipment: Adobe suite

Contact: Shawn Gough (go@darfield.school.nz)

2TOU - Level 2 Tourism

Tourism looks at the physical, economic, social, and cultural aspects of tourism, tourist markets, and destinations. You will explore the roles and conditions of tourism and the tourism industry. It is important to be able to look at tourism studies with a wider perspective, using knowledge from several Social Science subjects. This is NOT an NCEA or UE-approved course.

Credits: 20 - 30 Unit Standard credits

Leads to: Certificates and Diplomas at a tertiary level: Tourism and Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Aviation and Tour Operator roles, Travel Agent and Flight Attendant

Approx cost: $90 for workbooks

Contact: Chris Quinn (cq@darfield.school.nz)

3ACC - Level 3 Accounting

Level 3 Accounting continues to build on Accounting skills learned in 11CMA and 12ACC. This course takes on Accounting systems for Partnerships & Companies. We also analyse a New Zealand business with a focus on the Sharemarket. 

Credits: 13 Internal credits and 4 External credits.

Leads to: Tertiary Level courses in a range of subjects

Equipment: A laptop.

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

3BUS - Level 3 Business Studies

Level 3 Business Studies is a more theoretical course than 11CMB and 12BUS. This course adds more to the student's foundational knowledge of business and is useful for going to a Bachelor of Commerce degree. There is the opportunity for students to conduct a business activity if they wish to through the Young Enterprise Programme. Strong reading and writing skills are an advantage.

Credits: 15 Internal credits and 4 External credits. University Approved 

Leads to: Tertiary Level courses in a range of subjects

Equipment: A laptop.

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

3ECO - Level 3 Economics

Level 3 Economics returns to Microeconomics which is the study of individual firms and consumers. This course however dives into consumer behaviour, Government intervention in markets, and contemporary issues around social costs and income inequality.

Credits: 10 Internal credits and 4 External credits

Equipment: A 1B8 Workbook and a laptop.

Contact: Andy Lee (an@darfield.school.nz)

3CLA - Level 3 Classical Studies

This course presents you with a simple question? Ko wai koe? Who are you?

In answering this question, you will be challenged to discover who you are and what you will do when you enter the adult world properly. This course focuses on understanding the psychology and philosophy of Athens in the 5th Century BCE. How did art and tragedy of the ancient Greeks reveal the concerns and issues of the day? In addition, we examine ourselves in relation to the Pre-Socratic and Socratic philosophical principles which attempt to answer the question: Why do we exist?

As well as, how we behave and why do we behave the way we do?

Credits: 12 Internal credits and 10 External credits.

Leads to: University Approved.

An understanding of what it means to be a citizen in the world, tertiary education, and the development of academic skills; students will be able to use the research process as well as examine primary and secondary texts closely.

Contact: Shawn Gough (go@darfield.school.nz)

3GEO - Level 3 Geography

Geography is about people and places. This course investigates how people interact with their surroundings..

This course looks at how a range of Natural Processes form the Canterbury Coastline, and how the Cultural Processes of Tourism Development operate in the Queenstown region. There is a continuation of research, issues, and global studies. 

Natural Environments. Skills - Mapping, graphing, and applying geographic concepts. Tourism - The operation of tourism in Queenstown (field trip)

Coastal Processes - What processes operate and the features they produce in the Canterbury coastal environment. (field trip to conduct research).

Plastic in the Ocean- we look at this as an issue as well as a global study. 

Credits: 10 Internal credits and up to 12 External credits. (13 count for literacy, 4 count for numeracy, and 5 count for either). University Approved subject.

Leads to: Successful Geography students can enjoy careers in city planning, environmental management, geographic information systems, travel and tourism and resource management.

Approx cost: Approx. $300 (This includes a trip to Queenstown and the Canterbury coast) and $25 for the Skills book.

Contact: Chris Quinn (cq@darfield.school.nz)

3HST - Level 3 History

Level 3 History builds on Level 2 History. Students will focus on our early pre-contact Canterbury/Waitaha history and the lasting impacts from this time. Students also conduct an in-depth inquiry into the 1860s Otago Goldrush and will also explore other key events connected to 19th Century NZ and local History. Our second major topic is Strategic Bombing during WW2. Here students can really analyse the justifications of the Allied Bombing Campaigns and question the morality.

Level 3 History equips students with invaluable skills such as research techniques, skills needed to process complex sources of information, literacy skills to produce effective oral and written presentations, and the ability to articulate ideas and make them clear to others. With these skills, students enhance their employability and are able to participate actively and critically in their communities.
This course is very complementary to any University pathway.

Credits: 25, all count for literacy (15 internal and 10 external) University Entrance can be achieved through internal assessments.  

Leads to: Level 1 University History papers and is very useful for courses such as Law, Journalism, Political Science, Business and Commerce, Teaching Degrees,  and Travel and Tourism

Approx cost: $350 (This includes 4 day trip to Arrowtown in March and day trip to Akaroa)

Contact: Anna Lee (al@darfield.school.nz)

3TOU - Level 3 Tourism

Tourism looks at the physical, economic, social, and cultural aspects of tourism, tourist markets, and destinations. You will explore the roles and conditions of tourism and the tourism industry. It is important to be able to look at tourism studies with a wider perspective, using knowledge from several Social Science subjects. This is NOT an NCEA or UE-approved course.

Credits: 20-30 Unit Standard Credits

Leads to: Certificates and Diplomas at a tertiary level: Tourism and Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Aviation and Tour Operator roles, Travel Agent and Flight Attendant.

Approx cost: $340 for Queenstown trip (with Geography) and workbooks

Contact: Chris Quinn (cq@darfield.school.nz)