MBCC has a strong history of excellence in the Humanities, both in and out of the classroom.
At ATAR level, Geography students often score well above the state average and have made the WACE Top 10 list in Geography on numerous occasions. One past student also topped the State in Geography and was named WA’s Young Doctor of the Year. Many others have gone on to careers where their Geography studies have served them well. History is also a strength with a strong collaboration with Great Southern schools.
Excursions are an important part of education and provide rich learning experiences. In Year 7, students travel to Rottnest Island to study water in the world as well as place and liveability. Year 8 students visit Camp Quaranup and study coastal environments. In Year 9 and Year 10 students travel to Canberra and Sydney to be a part of the democratic process in our nation’s capital. Year 9 students also visit the forts in Albany to reflect on Australia’s involvement in conflict at home and abroad.
Year 12 Geography students travel to Perth to study urban challenges and climate change which gives them a rich experience for their ATAR exams. Students work with city officials as well as community members in selected suburbs, at the same time becoming experts on Perth’s public transport (helpful in future years).
In all, the Humanities and Social Sciences provide students with numerous opportunities for learning in and out of the college context, in the hope of creating socially responsible and critically thinking members of society.
In terms of the Western Australian Curriculum students study:
Year 7 – Water in the world, place, and livability, the ancient world, civics, and citizenship, economics.
Year 8 – Landscapes and land use, changing nations, medieval world, black death, civics, and citizenship, economics.
Year 9 – Biomes, interconnections, Industrial Revolution, World War 1, civics and citizenship, economics.
Year 10 – Environmental change, human wellbeing, World War 2, civil rights, civics, and citizenship, economics.
Year 11 Geography – Natural hazards, tropical diseases, bamboo production, architecture.
Year 12 Geography – Urban Challenges in Perth and Tokyo, land cover change and climate change.
Curriculum Leader Humanities and Social Sciences – Sarah Taylor