Planning, programming and assessing ancient history
Resources to help you plan, program and assess ancient history in Years 11–12.
Ancient history examines past societies using a wide variety of written and archaeological sources. A study of ancient history allows students to:
- investigate past people, societies, events and historical sites using the methods of historians and archaeologists
- understand the influence the ancient past has on the present and future
- analyse written and archaeological evidence, question interpretations of available evidence, appreciate the need to conserve historical sites and consider changing interpretations of the past
- communicate about history in a variety of forms.
Ancient history (NESA) contains the syllabus and support materials including a sample assessment schedule, standards packages, HSC exam specifications and specimen papers.
Support materials
The Ancient history planning tool maps topics across the ancient history syllabus, highlighting complementary areas of study and key connections. It will support you to create a strong scope and sequence to develop student understanding of course content and concepts, ensuring the best learning path through the syllabus for your context.
HSC revision resources
Use the following resources to support students in their studies as they prepare for the HSC exam. Use the included activities as part of classroom learning or set for independent study. The resources are designed to be used in part or in full to fit the contextual needs of your teaching.
Programming
Many of the following support materials were developed by NSW public school teachers as part of the Stage 6 mEsh project where 62 teachers led writing teams (over 150 teachers) across NSW.
Year 11 – the nature of ancient history
Year 11 – case studies
- Palmyra and the Silk Road learning sequence (DOCX 100 KB)
- Teotihuacan program (DOCX 58 KB)
- Teotihuacan assessment task (DOCX 55 KB)
- Ancient Australia learning sequence (DOCX 115 KB)
- Ancient Australia assessment task (DOCX 55 KB)
- Roman games sample unit of work (DOCX 59 KB)
- Persepolis learning sequence (DOCX 194 KB)
Year 11 – features of ancient societies
- Weapons and warfare Mycenae and Carthage (DOCX 74 KB)
- Weapons and warfare assessment task (DOCX 59 KB)
- Weapons and warfare see think wonder activity (DOCX 45 KB)
- Mycenaean armour activity (DOCX 44 KB)
- Carthaginian military tactics table (DOCX 44 KB)
- Mycenean weaponry workstations (DOCX 45 KB)
- Mycenaean weaponry table (DOCX 47 KB)
- Mycenaean weaponry fresco resource (DOCX 325 KB)
- Greece – weapons and warfare program (DOCX 1021 KB)
Year 11 – museums, history and future careers
Learn about aspects of ancient history through a virtual excursion of the Chau Chak Wing Museum containing interviews with experts:
- in the field about their work
- about some of the ancient artefacts.
This learning sequence (DOCX 82 KB) and accompanying virtual excursion integrate components from 2 areas of investigating ancient history – the nature of ancient history section of the syllabus. The introduction to the Chau Chak Wing Museum provides students with an overview to the museum and artefacts.
The virtual excursion has been developed in collaboration with the The University of Sydney – Chau Chak Wing Museum, Career and Workplace Learning and DART Learning.
Pompeii podcasts
These podcasts, featuring renowned Australian archaeologist and physical anthropologist from Sydney University, Dr Estelle Lazer, cover a range of topics from the Year 12 ancient history core topic: Cities of Vesuvius: Pompeii and Herculaneum.
HSC hub
The HSC hub contains quality resources aligned to NSW syllabuses. Access resources designed by our curriculum experts to support the delivery of HSIE subjects in the lead-up to the HSC examinations.
30min presentation with tips for studying and completing the written examination.
HSC hub - Ancient history - success in the written examination