YEAR 9 ELECTIVE DESCRIPTIONS

Humanities & Commerce

Financial Literacy (1 unit)

This unit is designed to equip young people with the skills to make informed and effective decisions about earning, using and managing money. Students learn about the concepts of money and income, budgeting, personal taxation and rational consumer behaviour. The Economics and Business curriculum explores the ways in which individuals, families, the community, workers, businesses and governments make decisions in relation to the allocation of resources. It enables students to understand the process of economic and business decisionmaking at the personal, local, national, regional and global levels and the effects of these decisions on themselves and others, now and in the future.

In studying economics and business, students will develop transferable skills that enable them to identify and investigate contemporary economic and business issues or events. They will apply economic and business reasoning and interpretation to solve problems and interpret issues and events. This will assist them to understand the behaviour of participants in the economy, business, society and the environment. Students will then be better placed, now and in their adult lives, to participate in economic and business activities actively and effectively. They learn how current decisions and actions will shape future consequences and are encouraged to think critically about probable and preferred futures. This will enable them to contribute to the development of prosperous, sustainable and equitable Australian and global economies, to secure their own financial wellbeing, and to face the future with optimism and confidence.

Geography (1 unit)

In Year 9 Geography, students study many large scale issues from different places around the world. They consider how and why natural environments are different based on their location and climate and explore how these places are being impacted by the increased food production needed to support our growing population. They also study different regions from developed and developing countries, exploring the factors that determine food security. Students investigate their choice of case studies, looking at some modern forms of managing these issues such as harvesting and eating insects, using drones and autonomous farming equipment and growing meat in a laboratory. Students practise their fieldwork skills by assessing the vegetation in the Freeway Reserve Drainage Basin, estimating tree heights and canopy cover. They also use a range of geospatial technologies including Google Earth Pro, Augmented Reality and various digital mapping platforms.

Enhancement History (1 unit)

The Year 9 Enhancement History course is a new elective that will run as a single semester course. It is aimed at high achieving Humanities students, many of whom might have been involved in the History Enhancement program in lower year levels, and forms part of the accelerated History pathway that leads to the option of taking VCE History Revolutions in Year 11. In this course, students learn to argue effectively using evidence collated from a number of sources. In doing so, they also learn the basic research skills needed to appraise evidence for significance and reliability. The first unit focuses on debating/argumentative skills and preparation for the major assessment of the year: the research essay. The second unit is primarily an opportunity to learn the structures, methods and nuances of advanced essay writing. The course strongly emphasizes student choice, especially in terms of the themes picked for essay writing and research. Students who select this elective will still study mainstream History throughout Year 9. Please note that entry to this course is subject to application and approval, and places will be limited.

Politics (1 unit)

Major global events from every corner of the world are now broadcast on 24 hour rolling news. Now, at the click of a mouse or button, ordinary citizens can upload and share videos of state terror with the outside world. The Politics course digs deeper, to learn about the individuals and organisations that dominate modern world affairs, whilst engendering a critical analysis of contemporary global issues. It provides an introduction to the study of the modern international world, political science and international relations. This course provides a pathway to studying VCE Politics in senior years.

The course applies a thematic approach, drawing on relevant case studies, and is designed to incorporate a significant student-led investigative approach. Political issues covered include:

• Gun ownership controls in the USA and Australia

• Should Australia adopt a new flag?

• The challenges presented by mass migration

• Compulsory voting in Australia

• The rise of international terrorism

• FIFA and the corruption scandal