Social Subjects
Principal Teacher | Ms Day
Faculty Overview
- Mr Dargie (RME)
- Mr Kelly (History)
School & Pupil Support Assistants - Ms Whitton
Curriculum Overview
- Economics at Nat 5
- Geography at S3 BGE
- History at S3 BGE, Nat 4/5, Higher, Advanced Higher.
- Modern Studies at S1-S2 BGE.
- RME at BGE S1-S3, Core S4
- Travel and Tourism at Nat 5
BGE S1-S3
Social Subjects is delivered by a rotation of the three main subjects through S1 and S2. Pupils will study two topics from each of the subjects for three periods per week. In S3 pupils are able to choose either History or Geography, with the option to take both if they choose History enhancement. RME is delivered throughout the year as a Core subject with one period per week
|
Subject |
S1 |
S2 |
S3 |
|
History |
Invasion, Siege and Plague Wars of Independence |
World War Two Slavery and the USA |
The Holocaust Women and the Vote Causes of the First World War |
|
History (Enhancement) |
Mary Queen of Scots and the Reformation The Russian Revolution |
||
|
Geography |
Maps and the Local Area Weather and Climate |
Earth Forces (volcanoes and earthquakes) Rich World, Poor World |
Tourism: Spain Climate zones: Tundra and Rainforest River Landscapes Settlements |
|
Modern Studies |
Rights and Responsibilities Democracy and Participation |
Terrorism |
|
|
RME |
What is Religion? Who am I? Islam |
Buddhism Hinduism Animal Ethics Racism |
Crime and Punishment YPI (Charity Project) Morals |
History S4-S6
History is currently the most popular of the Social Subjects in the Senior School. Pupils will all be entered for National 5 at the beginning of S4 and depending on how well they perform will continue at that level to sit the examination. Pupils can also be entered for National 3 and National 4. In S5, they can continue with history at Higher level and if successful can choose to study in S6 at Advanced Higher level. A wide range of topics which are aimed at stimulating the interest of pupils as well as developing key skills such as literacy, research, analysis and evaluation are shown in the table below.
|
National 4-5 |
Scottish: The Era of the Great War, 1910-1928 |
British: Changing Britain 1760-1914 or The Making of Modern Britain, 1880-1951 |
European and World: Hitler and Nazi Germany, 1918-1939 or Free At Last: USA 1918-1968 |
|
Higher |
Scottish: The Era of the Great War, 1910-1928 or Wars of Independence |
British: Britain 1850-1951 |
European and World: USA 1918-68 |
|
Advanced Higher |
Northern Britain: From the Iron Age to 1034 |
||
Useful Links:
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45628.html
https://mrmarrhistory.wordpress.com/
https://www.bbc.com/education/levels/z6gw2hv
https://www.bbc.com/education/levels/zkdqxnb
Geography S4-S6
Geography is the study of the world we live in, its environments, landscapes and natural disasters, and the relationships between people and environments.
Geography is considered to be a subject which provides pupils with a wide variety of skills for life because it spans both the arts and the sciences.
Pupils will all be entered for National 5 at the beginning of S4 and depending on how well they perform will continue at that level to sit the examination. Pupils can also be entered for National 3 and National 4. In S5, they can continue with Geography at Higher level and if successful can choose to study in S6 at Advanced Higher level. A wide range of topics which are aimed at stimulating the interest of pupils as well as developing key skills such as literacy, numeracy, research, analysis and evaluation are shown in the table below. Pupils will also learn how to gather and process data in the field.
|
National 4-5 |
Physical Glaciation and coasts: landforms, land use and conflict Weather: Factors affecting weather. High and low pressure systems. Synoptic charts and the impact of weather |
Human Population: Distribution and demographic change Rural: Hi-tech agriculture and intensive peasant farming in Asia Urban: Urban models. The development of cities in developed and developing countries |
Global Issues Environmental Hazards: Volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes Global Climate Change: Causes, effects and management |
|
Higher |
Lithosphere: Glaciation and coasts: landforms, land use and conflict Atmosphere: global circulation patterns and the ITCZ Hydrosphere: River landforms and flood hydrographs Biosphere: Soils |
Population: Collecting data. Demographic transition Rural: environmental conflict and solutions in the tropical rainforests Urban: Housing and transport issues in the developed and developing world |
Global Climate Change: Causes, impacts, solutions Development and Health: Development indicators. Differences in development between and within countries. Malaria. |
|
Advanced Higher |
Geographical Study: Student’s own choice- either physical or human geography |
Geographical methods and techniques. Data gathering and statistical analysis |
Essay on a current global issue: student’s own choice of topic. |
Useful Links:
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/45627.html
https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/znbw2h
https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zmhs34j
Modern Studies S4-S6
Modern Studies is being introduced this year as a Higher/National 5 bi-level class.
The purpose of Modern Studies is to develop the learner’s knowledge and understanding of contemporary political and social issues in local, Scottish, United Kingdom and international contexts. In these contexts, learners will develop an awareness of the social and political issues they will meet in their lives.
|
National 5 |
Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom: Learners develop knowledge and understanding of the place of Scotland within the UK’s political system. |
Social Issues in the United Kingdom: Learners develop knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of social issues within the UK. |
International Issues: The study of the political system of a world power, its international relations and socio-economic issues. |
|
Higher |
Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom: Candidates develop knowledge and understanding of the UK’s political system, including the place of Scotland within this system |
Social Issues in the United Kingdom: They develop knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of social inequality and attempts by government, other organisations and individuals to tackle it. |
International Issues: The study of a world power focuses on the political system of the world power, its international relations and socio-economic issues within the major world power |
Useful links:
https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/ztsvr82
https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47924.html
https://www.edubuzz.org/plhs-humanities/for-learners/subjects/modern-studies/higher-modern-studies/
Philosophy S4-S6
Philosophy teaches not what to think, but how to think. You learn how to question, how to look ‘underneath’ the commonly accepted viewpoints and also how to come up with good reasons and evidence for your beliefs and opinions.
The courses develop reasoning skills by focusing on abstract concepts and philosophical problems. Learners develop basic knowledge and understanding of philosophy and encourages the ability to engage with abstract thought.
|
National 5 |
Arguments in Action Examining and assessing the reliability of simple arguments. |
Knowledge and Doubt Examine theories regarding the nature of knowledge and how it is acquired. |
Moral Philosophy Examine theories regarding moral decision-making and how these theories might be applied to specific situations. |
|
Higher |
Arguments in Action Developing knowledge and understanding of argument structure, philosophical techniques and errors in reasoning. |
Knowledge and Doubt Develops the ability to explain, analyse and evaluate two theories of knowledge. |
Moral Philosophy Developing the ability to explain, analyse and evaluate two moral theories. |
Useful Links:
https://www.edubuzz.org/jburt/higher-phil/
https://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_CourseUnitSupportNotes_Higher_HealthandWellbeing_Philosophy.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgBARSXbJZ1lMeTlGnNQmg/playlists?disable_polymer=1
Other subjects (available but not currently taught):
Economics
Travel and Tourism