Glen Waverley Secondary recognizes the importance of developing our students’ ability to be active global citizens. Consequently, Humanities is considered as an important and integral component of every student’s course of study. What better way to learn about our world, the processes that have formed it, as well as how people have used and interacted with their planet. Humanities subjects are compulsory for all students in Years 7 -10.

In Years 7, 8 and 9 all students study Humanities. It offers students a wide range of engaging learning experiences. This includes developing knowledge and skills in the Domains of History, Geography, Economics, as well as Civics and Citizenship. In contrast, at Year 10, History and Geography are taught as separate entities. At the senior level, the subjects students are able to select broadens enormously and individuals are encouraged to pursue areas of personal interest and passion.

Middle School

In the Middle School, many learning opportunities take place outside of the classroom. Field trips to Point Nepean or the Mornington Peninsula coastline are frequent destinations for geographic studies. We also take full advantage of visiting exhibitions at museums across the city to enhance the study of History. Primary artefacts have brought to life our study of ancient civilisations such as Rome, Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Each year a highlight for Year 8’s is the visit of presenters from Medieval Education. Students may get to take up arms and challenge a knight bedecked in armour, attempt archery, marvel at the strength required to wield medieval weapons and armour or be shocked by the cruelty of the punishment practices from this period.

In Year 9, we recognise that students require different learning challenges. Feedback received from students who have undertaken the ‘Can I bring about change?’ project indicate that not only do students find this task extremely testing, but its rewards are significant.

We have now completed and presented our change project. I’m so happy with how the overall project went. We started pretty slow, not really getting anything done, but we finished on time. We changed over 95% of people’s perceptions of homeless or disadvantaged people - youth especially. I know this is a significant change and I think I would have to put it down to having a video, not just talking; I believe this gets the message across better because its different from someone just ‘rambling on with facts’, I feel like it connected with people. Looking back I have realised that this project made me go through so many different emotions – I went through everything; happiness, excitement, joy, guilt, empowerment and was even moved to tears at one point, and these were just a few! These emotions, I think, were inevitable when doing a project about such a devastating issue. It opened my eyes. I don’t think I would change anything, apart from organisation, because I don’t regret anything; I loved doing this project and I would do it again in the blink of an eye! The most important thing I learnt out of everything was that we all have the power to change; we just can’t do it alone! Thankyou to everyone who was involved in making and bringing this project to my class; you’ve inspired me and I’m sure a lot of others to make a difference! I recommend that every single class from now on complete this project, it lets us get excited and passionate about something that we feel really strongly needs to change!!

In the Middle School, in addition to their Humanities core studies, Year 9 students have Elective blocks from which that may choose from a selection of subjects related to Business Studies, Sustainability or History. None of the options available are considered pre-requisites for V.C.E. studies, rather, students are encouraged to select according to their natural curiosity.
Subjects offered include;

• Dollars and Sense
• Small Business
• Environmental Studies
• Sustainable Living
• History – Power, People and the Past

Senior School
It is in the senior school where Humanities offers a plethora of learning opportunities. The range of subjects is extensive and most Unit 3 and 4 subjects do not have prerequisites. This provides students with the added opportunity of selecting a new subject in Year 12.

Subjects required Units 1 and 2 Unit 3 and 4

• Accounting
• Business Management
• Economics
• Geography Unit 1 – Year 10
• 20th Century History
• Australian History
• History - Revolutions
• Australian and Global Politics
• Global Politics
• Legal Studies
• Legal Studies/ Business Management Package

University enhancement studies are offered to Year 12 studies who are excelling in their V.C.E. studies. Our close association with Monash University also provides opportunities’ for senior Business Studies students to attend special programmes run by the institution.

Many V.C.E. subjects offered in Humanities are the basis of careers in business. A reason for many students deciding to undertake study in this faculty is due to the direct transferability of subjects into the workplace or tertiary courses.
Undertaking subjects that are experiential in nature appeals to many students. These experiences are not unique to the Middle School, with excursions for Business Studies, Economics, Legal Studies and Global Politics used to enhance students understanding of course outcomes. Students who study 20th Century History visit the Jewish Holocaust Museum, learning much from the exhibits but even more from the personal stories of the few remaining survivors.

Humanities subjects in the senior school aim to engage students within the broader community. Students are encouraged to pursue activities that complement their studies. Many students are actively involved in co-curricular activities such as the YMCA Youth Parliament, Model United Nations Conferences and Schools Constitution Convention. Not only do these serve to enhance their coursework, but also develop their understanding of civic responsibilities and rights.