Year 7 Strand Humanities and Social Sciences skills

Questioning and researching

Identify current understandings to consider possible gaps and/or misconceptions, new knowledge needed and challenges to personal perspectives

Construct a range of questions, propositions and/or hypotheses

Use a variety of methods to collect relevant information and/or data from a range of appropriate sources, such as print, digital, audio, visual and fieldwork

Select the best method for recording selected information and/or data (e.g. graphic organisers, such as structured overviews for classifying; mind maps, for identifying relationships and overviews; fieldwork, which may require sketch drawings, a list of observable features and photographs)

Identify differences in terms of origin and purpose between primary sources (e.g. a cartoon, speech, artefact) and secondary sources (e.g. reference books, such as a dictionary or encyclopedia)

Use appropriate ethical protocols to plan and conduct an inquiry (e.g. seek permission to use personal photos, seek permission when planning a visit to Aboriginal cultural land, use specific formats for acknowledgi ng other people's information)

Analysing

Use criteria to select relevant information and/or data such as accuracy, reliability, currency and usefulness to the question

Interpret information and/or data to identify key relationships and/or trends displayed in various formats (e.g. change over time in a series of images, identify spatial distributions from a map)

Identify points of view/perspectives, attitudes and/or values in information and/or data (e.g. from tables, statistics, graphs, models, cartoons, maps, timelines)

Translate information and/or data from one format to another (e.g. from a table to a graph)

Apply subject-specific skills and concepts in familiar and new situations

Evaluating

Draw evidence-based conclusions by evaluating information and/or data to generate a range of alternatives and plan for action in response to contemporary events, challenges, developments, issues, problems and/or phenomena; make comparisons; evaluate costs
(disadvantages) and benefits (advantages); and infer relationships

Use decision-making processes (e.g. share opinions and personal perspectives, consider different points of view, identify issues, develop possible solutions, plan for action, identify advantages and disadvantages of different options)

Communicating and reflecting

Represent information and/or data using appropriate formats to suit audience and purpose (e.g. tables/graphs, visual displays, models, timelines, maps, other graphic organisers)

Develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations, using appropriate subject­specific terminology and concepts that use evidence to support findings, conclusions and/or arguments, from a range of sources

Reflect on learning to review original understandings and/or determine actions in response to events, challenges, developments, issues, problems and/or phenomena