STAGE 1 UNIT 2 NSW DET aligned HSIE unit- learning about the past

This complete unit is designed to compliment and is aligned to the recent unit rolled out by NSW Education Department 2025. It is based on the unit of work

Unit 2 HSIE STAGE 1 -People learn about the past by engaging with stories, images, objects and sites

Duration: 8 weeks + 2 weeks optional consolidation (( 16 lessons with 4 optional lessons for consolidation)

This unit teaches students to explore how stories, myths and legends from China, Egypt, Greece and Rome help people understand life in the ancient past. They identify and describe enduring sites, designs and structures such as the Great Wall of China, Great Pyramid of Giza, Parthenon and Colosseum, and locate these places using maps and images. Students discover that the stories, structures and ideas of ancient civilisations continue to shape aspects of modern life.

Syllabus outcomes

HS1-HIS-01 describes the ancient past and changes in communication over time, using stories, images, objects and sites as evidence

What is included in this pack?

• PowerPoint with over 470 slides (editable)
• Student workbook and assessment tasks
• PDF for easy printing
• Teaching notes under each slide
• Quick links to units.
• Sections for each lesson included in the PowerPoint presentation.
• Self Assessment tasks.
• Video links
• Created for use with the IWB.
• Suggested teaching prep for each lesson.
• Outcomes and indicators included for each lesson.

This is a comprehensive unit which will save you hours of preparation time. It is important at the start of each lesson that you read the teaching notes as there is some Lesson preparation needed for some lessons. These include printing sets of cards in some lessons, printing worksheets for assessment purposes so that work samples are available for each child.

Some things you will need for this unit:

• Writing materials
• A world map (links are provided to online versions within the presentation)
• Globe
• craft materials

Important note

The font which has been used in this presentation is the Google font Edu NSW ACT foundation which needs to be downloaded onto your computer (this can be done by clicking on the blue link provided). You must restart your device once installed and all of the formatting will be correctly in place. This step is VERY important otherwise your units will be misaligned.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures: when planning and programming content relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures, teachers are encouraged to:

• involve local Aboriginal Communities and/or appropriate Knowledge Holders in determining suitable resources
• use Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-authored or endorsed publications
• read the principles and protocols relating to teaching and learning about Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander histories and Cultures and the involvement of local Aboriginal Communities.

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources has been developed to assist teachers in selecting appropriate resources for teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, Cultures and Languages respectfully and effectively.

TOU

• Printing and Use: You may print this product for your personal use or for use within your own classroom. Sharing printed copies with other teachers, schools, or organisations is not allowed.
• You MAY make one copy for backup purposes, but not with the intent to redistribute.
• Please buy additional licenses if more than one teacher in your school is going to be using it.
• This is not to be sold for commercial use.
• You may not repackage, sell or give away part of all of this product to others.
• You may not offer or share part or all of this product anywhere on the internet as a download or copy including, but not limited to, personal sites or school sites that are on a page that is open to the public, sharing google drive links with others that are not your students or their family, internet or email small sharing groups, shared databases , open education resource groups such as Amazon inspire.
• You may not use on commercial sites such as OUTSCHOOL

Attribution is given to © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2026.