Developing Active Citizens For The Future

The Society and Environment Learning Area provides opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge, skills and values to become active citizens in a rapidly changing world. During the course of the Lower School Society and Environment Program students will develop an understanding of how individuals and groups live together and interact with their environment.  This will involve developing a respect for:

• our cultural heritage
• social justice
• the democratic process
• ecological sustainability

Students will be equipped with the skills to self-manage the process of social inquiry.  This will involve investigation, communication and participation.  By using this process to acquire understanding students will be able to make reasonable and informed decisions regarding our society and environment.  This will enable students to demonstrate the behaviours of an Active Citizen.

The following is a brief summary of each outcome:

• Investigation, Communication and Participation
  Provides the skills and processes students need to investigate and apply their understandings and values.
• Place and Space
  Explores the interaction people have with places in which they live and how it is shaped by the location, patterns and processes associated with natural and built features.
• Resources
  Examines the way people attempt to meet their needs and wants by making optimum use of limited resources in enterprising ways.
• Culture
  Investigates the processes of people forming groups due to shared understandings of the world and in turn, being influenced by the particular culture.
• Time, Continuity and Change
  Recognising that people’s actions and values are shaped by their understanding and interpretation of the past.
• Natural and Social Systems
  Considers the order that systems provide to the natural and social relationships which occur in the world.
• Active Citizenship
  Provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their commitment to the principles and values associated with the democratic processes, social justice and ecological sustainability through their behaviours and practices in the school context.

Upper School Courses of Study
The knowledge, skills and values acquired during the Lower School Program will equip students to successfully complete one or more of the Upper School Courses of Study:

• History
• Geography
• Economics
• Politics and Law

Links to Course Outlines
Year 8:    2009 Year 8 S&E Information Booklet.doc
Year 9:    2009 Year 9 S&E Course Outline.doc
Year 10:  2009 Year 10 S&E Course Outline.doc