Social Subjects

Welcome to the Social Subjects Department

Our aim within the Faculty is to create a fun, motivating and stimulating learning environment where learners gain skills and knowledge that will assist them in their studies whilst also providing them with invaluable life skills. We are very passionate about our subjects and strive to make the learning relevant to what is happening in the world today, to the lives of pupils and their experiences.

Geography

In Geography we are committed to delivering a wide range of topics that are relevant to the lives of our students. Geography helps young people to understand the ever changing world around them.

We study Human, Physical, and Environmental Global Issues in Geography and how these aspects interact with each other. We encourage pupils to consider the importance of sustainability and Global Citizenship when learning about their world

History

Studying History provides us with an insight into our own lives and of the society and the wider world in which we live. Through an understanding of the concept of continuity, you can better appreciate change and its significance, both in your own times and in the past. It is also intended to enable you to develop skills in explaining historical developments and events, evaluating sources and drawing conclusions.

Modern Studies

Studying Modern Studies helps pupils to understand important issues in the world today which may affect them. It helps them to be able to gather information about these issues, evaluate the information and, most importantly, it helps them to make up their own mind and come to drawn conclusions about these issues.

Faculty StafF

Mr P McShane

Ms L Wildman

Mr D Wark

Ms C Harrigan

Mr T Strain

Ms M Doherty

Mr J McLaughlin

Ms H Burns

BGE Geography
Senior Phase Geography
BGE History
Senior Phase History
BGE Modern Studies
Senior Phase Modern Studies
Useful Links

Geography Learning Journey

S1 Curriculum

In the first year of Geography we study two six week courses which investigate environments across the globe

Our first unit of work covers a variety of Natural Environments and the interrelationship between climate, physical features and living things. For example, Rainforests, Tribes and the influence of Latitude on climate zones.
The second unit of work studies six weeks of Urban Environments. This includes places and spaces which are produced by human activity and the various problems, solutions and innovations which come with managing them. For example, managing housing problems in shanty towns in Rio De Janeiro and city planning to ease traffic in megacities like Tokyo and London.

S2 Curriculum

In the second year of Geography we study two six week courses which look at two global issues

Our first unit of work looks to investigate Earth Forces. This includes Earthquakes, Volcanoes and plate tectonics. Within this topic we learn how to evaluate strategies to manage the risk of these hazards as well as the reasons why certain areas are more affected than others.
The second unit of work looks at the geography of diseases and health. This unit investigates the transmission, impacts and management strategies of global diseases and how they vary between climates and development.

S3 Curriculum

In third year we learn about a variety of topics and seek to build a foundation of knowledge and understanding which supports the learners’ transition into their National courses in S4 and the Senior phase.

Firstly we look at Climate Change. This takes into account the physical and human causes of climate change, the impacts of the climate change (e.g. sea level rising) and the management strategies at local, national and international levels.
Secondly we learn about physical geography. Specifically the Weather affecting the UK and Glaciated Environments. These units build map skills, synoptic charts and the geological processes which have shaped the UK landscape.
Finally, we look at human geography. This covers both the Urban environments of Glasgow and Mumbai. This introduces Ordnance Survey maps and the use of ICT to investigate the changes of cities in both the developed and developing world.

S4 Curriculum

In fourth year, we consolidate the learning from S3 and start to build skills and knowledge required to be successful in the National courses.

The courses we cover include Population, Rural environments and Health and Disease. Population and Rural units are both human geography topics and investigate case studies from the developed and developing world. The Health and Disease unit is a global issue unit which will build upon their knowledge from S2. It includes statistical analysis, global distribution mapping and how uneven development impacts of the transmission of diseases.

S5/6 Curriculum

In the senior phase, the learner will complete the Higher Geography course. They will develop a wide range of important and transferable skills, including using, interpreting, evaluating and analysing a wide range of geographical information.

The course consists of three sections:

Physical environments: Candidates develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the processes and interactions at work within physical environments on a local, regional and global scale. Key topics include: atmosphere; hydrosphere; lithosphere; and biosphere. Personalisation and choice is possible through case studies and areas chosen for study.
Human environments: Candidates develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the processes and interactions at work within urban and rural environments in developed and developing countries. Key topics include: population; rural land degradation and management; and urban change and management. Personalisation and choice is possible through contexts chosen as case studies.
Global Issues: Candidates develop and apply knowledge and understanding of global geographical issues which demonstrate the interaction of physical and human factors, and evaluate the strategies adopted to manage these issues. Key topics include: river basin management; development and health; global climate change; and energy. Personalisation and choice is possible through the issues selected for study

S1 Curriculum

Over the course of S1, pupils will study 2 history courses each lasting 6 weeks.

Pupils will learn about the Scottish Wars of Independence, focussing on the big questions of why it happened? Who were the significant individuals? What happened? Who was victorious?
Pupils will then study Ancient Civilisations of the World such as the Romans, Egyptians and Greeks. This course will challenge pupils to compare civilisations and examine the key aspects of each civilisation.

S2 Curriculum

Building on the experiences of S1, Pupils will again study 2 new history courses each lasting 6 weeks.

Pupils will look at the Holocaust in S2, examining who were the Nazis, how did they discriminate against minority groups, what was life like in the Ghettos and Concentration Camps. This course will challenge their understanding of humanity through the stories of survivors.
Pupils will then study the period of the 1960s. They will study the technological advancements of the time and key events such as the assassination of JFK & Space Race. They will also look at how society changed over that decade.

S3 Curriculum

If pupils continue to study History in S3 they will study American Society between 1890-1968. This course will look at key areas such as

Immigrants experience of life in the USA
Jim Crow & White Terror
Black American experience of WW2
Peaceful protests
Martin Luther King
Riots of the 1960s
Black Radicalism of the 1960s

S4 Curriculum

Pupils will study two topics in S4.

Pupils will learn about ‘The Making of Modern Britain’ and how British society changed its attitudes towards poverty over the 20th Century. Pupils will learn about the various acts passed to make Britain more of a welfare state.
Pupils will then learn about World War One from a Scottish perspective. They will study life on the Western Front and how the war changed Scotland in terms of economy, politics and society.

S5/6 Curriculum

National 4/5

Pupils will over the course of the year study the following topics

Making of Modern Britain
Scotland & WW1
Nazi Germany 1918-39

Higher

Pupils will over the course of the year study the following topics

Britain 1880s-1951
Scotland & WW1
Nazi Germany 1918-39
The Cold War

S1 Curriculum

In S1 pupils have the opportunity to learn about two different topics.

They start off learning about Global Inequalities, comparing the country we live in to another, this introduces pupils to concepts such as developing and developed countries. Within this topic, pupils will learn about their rights in Society and looking at abuses of Human Rights across the world.
Pupils then move on to a unit about Democracy, which provides them with facts and information about the country we live in. This introduces pupils to rights and responsibilities that they are entitled to living in our society. Pupils will look at the differences between democracy and dictatorship as well as how the political system in the UK works.

S2 Curriculum

In S2 pupils study the topic of terrorism in the world today. They learn all about what are the different types of terrorism, what responses there are to terrorism and well known attacks that have changed the way people and the world think about terrorism.
The second topic pupils look at is the USA. This section helps to give pupils an insight into the interesting topics they will study at National level. Pupils have the opportunity to learn about rights, responsibilities and social and economic problems different groups experience in the USA.

S3 Curriculum

In S3 pupils study 3 different units, which provides them with a breadth of knowledge and skills that will be transferrable for when they move on to preparing for National qualifications in S4.
Pupils will study a range of topics from units such as Crime and the Law, Democracy in Scotland and the USA. We use this as an opportunity to introduce pupils to content and skills that will help them to be successful in S4.