History

WHAT IS HISTORY?

History is the study of people, events and societies from the past and how they influence the modern world. Students will conduct their own research into historical issues, engage with a range of primary and secondary source material and consider the impacts on historical events upon New Zealand. Through doing this, students will develop a range of skills in academic writing and research, analysis and critical thinking.

History is offered from Years 11 - 13 in both the NCEA and IB programme.

YEAR 11 HISTORY

Level 1 focuses on War and Peace. We begin by introducing students to the key concepts that they will need for the year, through the context of Medieval and Early Modern Warfare. We then study the First World War, including the causes of the war, the significance of trench warfare and the peace process at the end of the war. This then leads us into the attempts at peace during the inter-war years, the failure of the League of Nations and the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party. We will also consider the impact of The Second World War on New Zealanders. Finally, we study key flashpoints during the Cold War and how global war was avoided. This then will take us to the present day and how conflict and attempts at peace have impacted the current geopolitical climate, such as the relationship between the USA and China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

YEAR 12 HISTORY

History at Level 2 considers racism and intolerance, and the ways in which minority groups have been affected by historical events. We begin by studying the Black Civil Rights Movement in the USA. Students study a range of topics, before choosing one to complete a personal research project in. There are opportunities to draw comparisons between the USA in the 1960s and current events. We then consider the Dawn Raids in the 1970s and early 1980s, and their impact on New Zealand, and the Polynesian community. Finally, we study the Wannsee Conference and the impact of the Final Solution on the Jewish community.

YEAR 13 HISTORY

History at Level 3 deals with the clash of Capitalism and Communism. This begins with an assessment of the use of the Atomic Bomb in 1945, which many historians view as the beginning of the Cold War. We then conduct a breadth study of the Vietnam War, before students select one aspect to conduct an academic research project on. Finally, we study the Russian Revolution and its impacts. Students will prepare for an external assessment which includes unseen sources. Students will develop the skills needed to succeed in this throughout the course. The Level 3 History programme is designed to allow students to gain literacy credits and University Entrance.

IB HISTORY

The IB Diploma is a 2 year course. If students select History as their Group 3 subject they will cover a variety of topics related to world History. Over this course, students will be aiming to:

Develop an understanding of, and continuing interest in, the past.
Engage with multiple perspectives and appreciate the complex nature of historical concepts, issues, events and developments.
Promote international mindedness through the study if history from more than one region of the world
Develop an understanding of history as a discipline and to develop historical consciousness including a sense of chronology and context, and an understanding of different historical perspectives.

Topics covered include:

Causes and effects of 20th century wars
20th Century Authoritarian States
Japanese Expansion in East Asia (1931 - 1941)
German and Italian Expansion (1933 - 1940)
Authoritarian states (20th century)
Inter-war domestic developments in European states (1918–1939)
Diplomacy in Europe (1919–1945)

FIELD TRIPS IN HISTORY

LEVEL 1 HISTORY FIELD TRIP

Level 1 Historians will visit Auckland War Memorial Museum to gather evidence for one of our internals and to help better understand how the World Wars impacted New Zealanders.

Report abuse