9 Social Studies

He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata! –It’s people, it’s people, it’s people!

This sums up the essence of Social Studies. It is the study of how societies operate and how people participate as individuals and groups in their communities. A society and people’s involvement in it is shaped by its past, the place of its people in it, and its resources.

Students will study the influences which shape people and their communities in the following topics:

• Time Moves On - a study of the impact of people’s actions and ideas over time.
• When Cultures Meet - a study of cultural interaction.
• People Power - a study of the New Zealand systems of government; a comparison with another system of government and the impacts of these systems on people.
• Aotearoa - Our Place - a study of the impact of change on the people and the landscape of New Zealand from Polynesian migration to European migration.

In addition to the topics the class teacher will determine a time during the year when the students will experience the Community of Thinking (CoT) programme. The students will be given a fertile question connected with their current topic and they will then become responsible for the direction their research takes them in with the aim of finding a unique answer to the fertile question.

Woven into Social Studies and the various topics is the key skill of Social Inquiry; the Key Competencies; the Vision, Values and Principles as detailed in the New Zealand Curriculum. These skills are crucial in the empowering of young people to participate responsibly in our local, national and international communities.

He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata! – It’s people, it’s people, it’s people!

Welcome to Year 9 Te ao tangata|Social Studies. This course is about how societies work and how people can participate as thinking, active, informed, and responsible citizens. The aim of the course is to help you to understand the culture, traditions, lifestyle, and environment of New Zealand, as well as countries and societies that have significance for Aotearoa New Zealand. Te ao tangata|Social Studies is a compulsory subject in Year 9 and 10 and you will be taught by specialist Social Scientists. In this subject you will have the opportunity to practice your Literacy and Numeracy skills as Te ao tangata|Social Studies synthesises these skills into the case studies we study throughout the year.  

During the year, you will study three units. Each unit takes about twelve weeks to complete and during that time you will do at least one formal assessment. The assessments are designed to demonstrate your understanding of the key content covered, as well as a range of Te ao tangata|Social Studies skills. You will also do a current events quiz each week. 

• Turangawaewae - a case study of the local rohe and Social Science skills
• When Cultures Meet - a study of the decisions behind immigration and different cultures 
• People Power - a study of Aotearoa's political system and comparing it to another 
• Te Tiriti - a study of Te Tiriti and how it impacts society today

Social Studies has continued to be as relevant and important as ever for our Year 9 and 10 students as national and international current events capture the interest and help our students to understand more about different societies and cultures. Our refreshed programme adds a richness to the learning experiences of our students as they learn about the history and tikanga of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. This year all Year 9 students will focus on Bastion Point and the Orakei block as a place of significance as a way to practise key social science skills, for our starting unit Taurangawaewae. The course will include, where appropriate, the school values of compassion, community, curiosity, and courage. These skills are crucial in the empowerment of young people to participate responsibly in our local, national, and international communities.

Our programme is rounded out by investigating current events  alongside our planned course. This helps students to make connections between what they learn in the classroom to what is currently evolving and happening in real life. This two year course aims at developing students' Literacy, Numeracy, critical thinking, and research skills. These fundamental skills will be assessed over the year in a variety of assignments.