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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

7–10History 7–10 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Stage 5

The process of historical inquiry

Through historical inquiry, students investigate and analyse historical events, individuals or themes, make connections, construct coherent accounts or interpretations of the past, and so deepening their knowledge and understanding of history.

The focus areas provide context for developing and applying these inquiry skills, which should be integrated with the content.

Acquiring historical information
  • Choose a specific historical event, an individual, a period or topic of interest

  • Formulate appropriate historical questions

  • Plan an inquiry that identifies appropriate historical methods and concepts

  • Research and select relevant historical information from a range of appropriate sources

Processing historical information
  • Draw conclusions about the value and limitations of sources, by assessing the purpose, context, reliability, credibility and perspective of the source

  • Interpret sources, taking into account the intended audience and the historical context to support historical narratives and arguments

  • Synthesise and organise information in selected forms, such as plans, narratives, explanations and arguments based on themes, to convey a thorough understanding of the focus area

Communicating historical information
  • Present findings and ideas in a range of communication forms and technologies, using relevant and appropriate historical terms, concepts and information from sources to develop a historical inquiry

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