Society and Environment

Academic

Mr Lucio Cicchini

Head of Society and Environment

What is Society and Environment?

Society and Environment incorporates the knowledge, skills and values from the disciplines of Geography, History, Economics and Politics. In Years 11 and 12, Trinity students have the option to study Geography, History, Economics and Political and Legal Studies.

Outcomes Approach

Our Year 8 and 9 curriculum adopts an outcomes approach. This allows learning to be more studentcentred with the use of a greater variety of learning strategies to meet the individual needs of students. We recognise that students learn in different ways. Students are offered a variety of learning opportunities and assessment methods to cater for individual differences.

What happened in Year 8?

The focus in Term One was on the development of Geography key skills and understandings. In Term Two, students developed their own web page that explored their personal family history. Year 8s also explored the history of the College and the culture of Aboriginal Society. A representative from the department of Conservation and Land Management’s Indigenous Heritage Unit instructed students, allowing them to participate in a bush string making activity and a spear/boomerang throwing activity.

What happened in Year 9?

The focus of the Year 9 curriculum is on Australia. In Term One, students explored a number of issues related to the use of money, budgeting and investment. In Term Two students looked at our cultural and natural environments, and the relationship between the two. This included urban planning and the environmental impact of developing one of our national parks. In Term Three, students examined Australian identity, and the different events and factors that have contributed to the development of an Australian identity in the 21st Century.

What happened in Year 10?

All Year 10 students studied a unit of each of the four disciplines of Economics, Geography, History and Politics. Each unit was studied for a period of nine weeks As a result of studying these units; students received the necessary background to enter the upper school subjects of their choice. Each unit incorporated the use of information technology as a tool for learning. Students were exposed to the rigors of examinations at the end of each semester. Some Year 10 students also participated in the National Geographic Australian Geography Competition achieving outstanding results. Out of the fifty six Year 10 students that sat the Competition, thirteen students achieved a High Distinction (the best result possible). Congratulations to Zakarie Anderson, Tom Antoniazzi, Kwan Chia, Sean Chia, Christian Dannolfo, Luke Douglas, Riccardo Faraone, Xuan Ji, David Ker, William Schwab, Justin Soon, Michael Wright and Aaron Davidson.

Year 11 and 12 Subjects

We have been able to maintain and in some cases increase the numbers of students in the upper school subjects of Economics, History, Political and Legal Studies and Geography.

Year 11 Economics

Economics students in Year 11 participated in the Australian Stock Exchange Stock Market Game throughout the year, with some of our students rating quite high in the overall state and national rankings. Students participated in the Australian Economics Competition. Six of our students: Matthew Bouwman, Benjamin Creighton, Gianni Di Giovanni, Andrew Hislop, Jemin Jo and Daniel O’Connell achieved a high distinction.

Year 11 Geography

In Year 11 Geography students participate in a wide range of filed activities. In Semester One students investigated the physical processes at work at Trigg Beach and assessed the impact that human activity has had. In Semester Two students visited the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Reserve run by the Gould League at Wembley. At this location students were required to complete a series of data collection activities which would allow them to gain a clear insight into the workings of this ecosystem.

Year 12 Geography Camp

Year 12 Geography were involved in a two day camp in Term Two which enhanced their specialised studies of economic activities in the South West of WA. Students travelled to Harvey to study the economic base of the town, assess its infrastructure and study its location Credit should go to our wonderful Society and Environment teachers who have been able to capture the interest, imagination and enthusiasm of students.

Lucio Cicchini

Head of Society and Environment