Social Studies

2020 has been an interesting year to say the least, the ultimate being covid-19 sending us all home for a nation-wide lockdown during April and May. Whilst this gave us a chance to test out teaching and learning remotely – it also provided a special opportunity to be a part of for both staff and students from the Social Sciences.

We are all a personal witness to a global event of such significance that it will be talked about throughout the rest of our lifetime, and beyond. This is something that students of the future will study in the history books and from their Social Sciences classrooms wondering what it was like to be in a situation where whole countries were in complete lockdown and borders were closed. So, students were invited to make a primary document / daily diary entry that families could keep to pass down through the generations and maybe even become part of a bigger project or publication in the future. Just like we talk and read about other significant events of the past such as the Black Plague, September 11 or WWII – we are part of the Covid 19 Crisis of 2020.

With the disruption from Covid, some aspects of the Social Studies programme were altered to keep things moving under slightly different circumstances. While we did not go on our trip to the MTG Museum or Napier Aquarium to study the causes and impacts of the 1931 Earthquake and threat of Tsunami, we did get to learn about our political situation here in NZ in the lead up to the National Election. Classes had the opportunity to form their own political parties, debate on current policy and referendum issues before holding their own mock elections to pick a winning party and ultimately a prime minister for the class. Never has there been more relevant civic education for our students, helping them to form opinions and appreciate others, think critically and communicate their ideas working with others. It hasn’t been an easy year – but we have made it.