Units, Stage 1 – HSIE
Stage 1 sample units to support implementation of the HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024).
Syllabus
HSIE K–6 Syllabus (2024) © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024.
HSIE K–6 sample units align with the department’s scope and sequence. The structure follows NESA’s sample whole school curriculum plan and is organised on an 8-term-per-stage basis.
This unit teaches students to explore continents, oceans and Australia on physical and political maps and consider reasons people are connected to places worldwide. Students distinguish between Aboriginal Country and/or Torres Strait Islander Places using language maps and describe the diversity of Australian places and communities.
This unit teaches students to explore stories, myths and legends from ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome. They identify and describe designs, sites and structures from these ancient times that are still seen today, and locate places on maps, globes, and images. Students recount stories and sequence events. They compare or describe the past using simple and compound sentences.
This unit teaches students to explore how Aboriginal Peoples are connected to Country and examine how spiritual, cultural and physical responsibilities shape these relationships. Students identify and describe significant Aboriginal sites across NSW, including places connected to Dreaming Stories and investigate how stories, objects and sites provide evidence of the oldest living continuous culture in the world.
This unit teaches students to explore community connections by investigating how people are connected to places, groups and communities across Australia. Students learn about community roles, celebrations, symbols and participation, including ways Aboriginal Peoples share and celebrate cultures and histories.
This unit teaches students to examine how communication has changed over time. Students describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples communicated using stories, images, objects or sites as evidence. Students compare changes in communication in Australia and the world and use Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to draw conclusions about these changes.
This unit teaches students to compare ancient objects from China, Egypt, Greece and Rome to understand how these artefacts provide evidence of historical times and places. By learning about the role of archaeologists, students study objects and sites as sources of evidence.
This unit teaches students to observe and describe the natural and human features of Australia's waterways by collecting and representing data. Students explore the unique characteristics of the Great Barrier Reef, using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to enhance their understanding of freshwater and saltwater bodies across the country.
This unit teaches students to explore the significance of Aboriginal Country and the ways Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples connect to and care for land, water and sky Country. They investigate how Aboriginal Knowledges, stories and cultural practices support the sustainable use and care of water environments. Students examine how people across Australia use water in everyday life and compare water use in different environments and communities.
Resource and vocabulary lists
Resource lists to support the teaching of these sample units, outline the materials required for each unit. These resource and vocabulary toolkits cover all K–6 stages.
Feedback
We value your insights to inform the ongoing refinement of these units. After teaching, we invite you to provide feedback on the unit's effectiveness, what worked well and what could be improved.
To access the survey, scan the QR code or go to HSIE K–6 units survey.
