James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

ED2096 - Humanities and Social Sciences for Early Childhood Education

Subject Description

This subject seeks to develop in pre-service teachers the critical faculties and dispositions required to be a strong Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) thinker and teacher in early learning contexts. Through a series of discipline-specific and thematic topics, pre-service teachers will learn how to create knowledge in the disciplines of HASS using the key thinking concepts of the discipline, therein strengthening their ability to create rich and appropriate disciplinary knowledge. Pre-service teachers will learn how to think critically about the role of perspectives in HASS knowledge, and the role of active citizenship in setting a purpose for HASS teaching. Particular attention is paid to translating HASS thinking into learning experiences for young children that reflect on early years policies, principles and practices.

Learning Outcomes

• 1. apply discipline-specific thinking concepts in support of rich content knowledge development across the Humanities & Social Sciences disciplines
• 2. analyse and create Humanities & Social Sciences knowledge that is critically-informed by local issues and those relevant to the personal lives of young learners
• 3. identify and evaluate different cultural, historical and/or social perspectives including, but not limited to, Indigenous perspectives on Humanities & Social Sciences topics
• 4. develop a sequence of learning experiences that translate subject concepts and knowledge into a rich, critical and active citizenship-oriented program of learning, suitable for young children
• 5. apply knowledge of the concepts, substance and structure of the Early Years Learning Framework, the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline and the F-3 Australian Curriculum: Humanities & Social Sciences

Subject Assessment

• Written > Critical appraisal/review - (40%) - Individual
• Written > Learning plan - (60%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities