Year 10 Geography

Geography provides insight into a range of issues affecting environments and communities world-wide. An inquiry approach is used to investigate global, regional and local issues, with an emphasis on research, field work and geographical skills (including Geographic Information Systems software). Topics investigated include coastal systems, developing countries, urban environments and global contemporary issues like movements of people and climate change. Year 10 Geography provides students a sound base from which to go on and study the Queensland Authority Subject, Senior Geography.

Year 10 History

History provides students with critical thinking skills and essential knowledge they need to make sense of the world they enter when they leave school. The objectives of the Year 10 course are to introduce the concepts and historical inquiry skills needed to study Senior Ancient and Modern History, to provide students with an understanding of key themes in Australian History and to give students the opportunity to find out why the world is the way it is today! History is all about working with historical evidence. The key inquiry question for Year 10 is; how World War II, the changing nature of conflict and other significant events and changes of the 20th Century, shaped Australia and the modern world.

Year 10 Philosophy

Philosophy provides students with the opportunity to read and understand some the powerful ideas which have shaped our culture. This course introduces students to methods of philosophical argument and their application. Philosophy demands independent thinking, problem-solving and open-mindedness. It develops within students good reasoning skills which are transferable to other curriculum areas, contemporary issues and personal situations. 

Geography

Geography is a Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) Subject offered across four semesters in Years 11 and 12. Geography brings the world to students’ fingertips! It caters to students who enjoy learning about world environments and the issues confronting their people. An inquiry approach is used to investigate global, regional and local issues with an emphasis on research, field work and geographical skills (including Geographic Information Systems software) where appropriate. The course includes studies on how best to respond to natural disasters, feeding the world’s people, impact of political conflict on development, making urban communities more sustainable and managing vulnerable physical environments like rainforests and coral reefs. Topics are investigated with a problem solving focus. Geography is an elective in the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Ancient History
Ancient History is a Queensland Studies Authority Subject offered across four semesters in Years 11 and 12. The subject allows students the opportunity to focus on a wider range of topics and a time period extending into the Middle Ages. The first year of the course allows Year 11 students to develop an understanding of the basics and foundations of archaeology, venture into the Stone Age and an opportunity to compare and contrast conflict and technology in ancient societies as diverse as Egypt, Rome and South and Central America. In Year 12 students examine the changing landscapes and civilisations of Ancient Europe, culminating in a final topic- The Ethics of Archaeology. Ancient History allows students to build skills in research, investigation and analysis and evaluation of written and non-written sources. The course also covers an appraisal of Australia’s indigenous heritage.

Modern History

The objective of Modern History at Townsville Grammar School is to have students fully engage with History, as an academic discipline, and develop an understanding and appreciation of the tentative and interpretive nature of history and the consequent value of critically scrutinising sources to identify perspectives and biases. The Modern History course on offer is a four semester Queensland Studies Authority subject, studied across Years 11 and 12. The course begins with an overview of ‘world history’ from the French Revolution to the present day before settling into studies of the 20th and 21st Centuries’ political, social, cultural and military developments. Using a rigorous historical inquiry approach students delve into a range of topics including what life would have been like for everyday people at great moments in history, the plight of the Jewish people during the Holocaust and how their experiences translated into the establishment of Modern Israel and the impact this has had on the Middle East and the wider world up to today, the Cold War and the consequent rise of the USA and American cultural dominance, Australia’s role in the Asia Pacific region since Federation and the contribution of great individuals to history.

Psychology

The commencement of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) at the school has introduced the study of Psychology to the curriculum. Psychology is offered to students involved in the Baccalaureate program and to students studying Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) subjects as their sixth elective. Psychology aims to promote an understanding of the different influences on human behaviour and how psychological research can be applied for the benefit human beings. No prior study of psychology is expected as students will develop relevant skills throughout the course.