Pre VCE History

year long

Purpose

To get students excited about History and start preparing them for the skills required at VCE. It will also broaden their general knowledge and help deepen their understanding of the world around them; where we have come from and what events have impacted humanity. 

Content

Over the four terms the course will cover a range of historical periods, while also providing room for students to investigate parts of history that they find the most fascinating as it’s a very flexible course. Some topics we cover are:  

  • Vikings

  • Medieval Europe

  • The Spanish Conquest of the Americas

  • The Industrial Revolution

  • Australia and World War One

  • World War Two

  • Rights and Freedoms (people’s movements from the 20th century)

This list isn’t definitive, though, and students are welcome to suggest topics at the start of the year that they think would be fun to learn about. For example, a few students opted out of the Spanish Conquest and chose a mini-unit on cowboys and the Wild West instead!

Skills

Students will engage with historical inquiry and research skills, construct historical debates and complete document and source analysis tasks (from political cartoons to physical objects). They will look into key concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, historical significance, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.  

This course will provide students with a way of looking at the past and making meaning from it, as well as giving them opportunities to engage with their own passions and interests.  

Reasons to choose Pre-VCE History

  • If you are interested in the learning about the ‘big stuff’ – crazy leaders, wild world events and momentous movements

  • If you enjoy History or are interested in the past

  • If you want to know more about how we got to where we are today

  • If you are looking to study other humanities subjects and broaden your general knowledge

Student testimonials:

I really enjoy Pre-History due to the flexibility and structure of the work. The class really allows you to work the way you like too. The topics are also very interesting and are presented in a captivating and engaging way! – William (FLE2)

Pre-History class, is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, as it is a activity based research into key fundamentals of how we have arrived at this point in history. – Ezra (FLE3)