Course Outline: YEAR 8 Humanities Term I
Teachers: Mr Hurworth and Mrs Liebenberg
Geography Weeks 1-5
There are two units of study in the Year 8 curriculum for Geography: Landforms and landscapes and Changing nations. Landforms and
landscapes focuses on investigating geomorphology through a study of landscapes and their landforms. This unit examines the processes that
shape individual landforms, the values and meanings placed on landforms and landscapes by diverse cultures, hazards associated with
landscapes and management of landscapes. Landforms and landscapes develops students’ understanding of the concept of environment
and enables them to explore the significance of landscapes to people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These distinctive
aspects of landforms and landscapes are investigated using studies drawn from Australia and throughout the world.
Medieval History Weeks 6-10
The Year 8 curriculum provides a study of history from the end of the ancient period to the beginning of the modern period (c. 650 CE–c.1750).
This was when major civilisations around the world came into contact with each other. Social, economic, religious and political beliefs were
often challenged and significantly changed. It was the period when the modern world began to take shape.
The content provides opportunities to develop historical understanding through key concepts, including evidence, continuity and change,
cause and effect, perspectives, empathy, significance and contestability. These concepts may be investigated within a particular historical
context to facilitate an understanding of the past and to provide a focus for historical inquiries.
The history content at this year level involves two strands: Historical Knowledge and Understanding and Historical Skills. These strands are
interrelated and should be taught in an integrated way, and in ways that are appropriate to specific local contexts. The order and detail in which
they are taught are programming decisions.
A framework for developing students’ historical knowledge, understanding and skills is provided by inquiry questions through the use and
interpretation of sources. The key inquiry questions at this year level are:

How did societies change from the end of the ancient period to the beginning of the modern age?

What key beliefs and values emerged and how did they influence societies?

What were the causes and effects of contact between societies in this period?

Which significant people, groups and ideas from this period have influenced the world today?
Week
1-4
Syllabus Content
Introduction to Landscapes and
Landforms
Different Landscapes
The geographical processes that
produce landforms, including a case
study of one type of landform, such as
mountains, volcanoes, riverine or
coastal landforms (ACHGK050)
Key Teaching Points
Resources
Geography for the Australian
Curriculum Year 8 Cambridge
Assessment Tasks
Assessment I Weeks 4-5
5-6
The causes, spatial distribution, impacts
and responses to a geomorphic hazard
(e.g. volcanic eruption, earthquake,
tsunami, landslide, avalanche)
(ACHGK053)
Geography for the Australian
Curriculum Year 8 Cambridge
How the effects caused by geomorphic
hazards are influenced by social,
cultural and economic factors (e.g.
where people choose to live, poverty,
the available infrastructure and
resources to prepare and respond to a
hazard) (ACHGK053)
Medieval History Weeks 5 – 10 to Term
2 Week 5
7-8
The transformation of the Roman

world and the spread of Christianity
and Islam
Define the terms: empire,
kingdom and feudal system.

Identify the major faith that
Key features of the medieval world
survived the fall of the Roman
(feudalism, trade routes, voyages of
Empire. Describe its growth
discovery, contact and conflict)
from the fifth century BC up to
the modern period.
Cambridge History for the
Australian Curriculum

List the major changes that
occurred in Europe after the
fall of the Roman Empire.

Outline the differences
between Christianity and Islam.
Explore why the crusades
happened and briefly describe the
events. Include a timeline of events
in your response.

9-10
Analyse the differing
Significant developments and/or
perspectives of Islam and the
cultural achievements, such as
West on the Crusades.
changing relations between Islam
and the West (including the
Crusades)
(ACDSEH050)
Course Outline: YEAR 8 Humanities
Create a mind map of the Crusades
(1095–1270) in which you outline
the following: their origins, key
events, key individuals and
consequences.
Jonathan Riley-Smith, The
Crusades
Assessment Task II:
Historical Investigation –
The Crusades Weeks 9-10
of Term 1 and Weeks 1-2
of Term 2 – Due Friday
Week 2 of Term 2